Why is Alcohol Harder to Quit than Other Drugs?

If you have ever struggled with quitting alcohol and drugs, then you know how difficult it can be, especially around the holidays. Overcoming an addiction and staying sober are essential to leading a healthy and fulfilling life. For those who do not know, addiction is considered to be a disease of the brain that can permanently alter the brain's circuitry patterns and affects how the brain functions on a daily basis. It is often characterized by the inability to stop using drugs or alcohol despite the user having experienced severe and negative consequences throughout their lives. While any addiction is hard to overcome, there are some that are more difficult than others.

What can make a substance more difficult to quit is how addictive it is. Alcohol or drug addiction is formed when the brain begins to depend on the excess release of certain chemicals, like dopamine, due to the use of drugs or alcohol. These chemicals send signals back and forth between neurons, helping to establish good habits that are normally dependent on survival, such as eating or having sex. When a person takes drugs or alcohol, they are releasing the same chemicals inside the brain that give us feelings of pleasure, essentially tricking our brain into believing that we need drugs or alcohol in order to survive. The repeated release of these chemicals without a natural reward is what eventually causes a person to become addicted, although, sometimes all it takes is just one time for someone to develop a substance abuse problem.

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Alcohol and Factors for Addiction

It can be difficult to determine how addictive a drug is to any one person, but in the United States alone, alcohol is the most commonly used and addictive substance. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, over 14 million people in the United States over the age of 18 suffered from an alcohol addiction in the year of 2017. That translates to 1 in 8 Americans experiencing an addiction to alcohol. Furthermore, 1.8 percent of youth aged 12-17 also suffered from a problem with alcohol abuse that year. With so many other harmful substances out there, why is it that alcohol seems to remain the biggest problem for addiction in America? Research and science has shown that there are 5 common factors for addictiveness when it comes to drugs and alcohol.

Dependence- Dependence rates on alcohol are very high. As mentioned earlier, Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in America. This can partially be attributed to the fact that alcohol is the most socially acceptable drug and it is also one of the most highly marketed substances since it is legal in all 50 states. Alcohol can be seen at most social gatherings and is also widely available as it is sold at gas stations, restaurants, grocery markets, and liquor stores. Not many people would bat an eye if you had a drink at dinner, so it can make someone with an alcohol dependence that much harder to spot.
Withdrawal- Research suggests that nicotine withdrawal is worse than the symptoms for recovering heroin addicts or people who use crystal meth. However, withdrawal symptoms for alcohol are even worse as it is one of the very few addictions where fatal symptoms can occur during the withdrawal process, killing the person going through them. Symptoms from alcohol withdrawal can include;
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Seizures
- Insomnia
- High Blood Pressure
- High Fever and Excessive Sweating
- Delusions
- Auditory and Visual Hallucinations
- Delirium Tremens (DT)

If you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms of any kind from alcohol, it is always suggested you seek professional care as any number of complications can arise. Delirium Tremens are the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal and, out of those who experience them, 5-25% of people will die without medical treatment.

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Tolerance- While increased tolerance is a big concern for any drug, most people will tell you that they can drink more now than they could when the first began drinking, even if they don't have what is considered to be an alcohol problem. Again, thanks to the social acceptability of alcohol, it is common to go out drinking on the weekends with your friends or to have a few drinks with family on special occasions like Christmas, New Year's Eve, or the 4th of July. What makes alcohol even more dangerous is that its effectiveness can depend on many factors like how much a person ate that day.
Reinforcement- Reinforcement as a factor for addiction refers to how likely a person is to seek out the same substance again after using it. Alcohol has a high reinforcement rate as it is a common substance used in social experimentation. It also creates feelings of increased self confidence and “liquid courage”. It is a common drug for peer pressure early on in life and, unfortunately, can cause an unexpected addiction at a young age. Research suggests that the younger a person is when they are exposed to an addictive substance, the more likely they are to develop an addiction.
Intoxication- How high a person gets on a drug is also a factor for how addictive it can be. When it comes to alcohol, how high a person gets on the substance can greatly vary. However, people who consume alcohol can become very intoxicated before reaching the point of overdose. Due to the consequences of heavy drinking, when compared to other substances, most people believe that binge drinking is not an issue. Sadly, this is not the case, as an estimated 88,000 people die annually from alcohol related causes, making it the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States alone, behind tobacco and poor diet.

With all these factors combined, it is not difficult to understand why alcohol is one of the hardest drugs to quit. Not only is it commonly accepted but it is widely available and has many common misconceptions about its use. Even many members of the US military and their families are prone to alcohol abuse. No one deserves to struggle with an addiction by themselves, if you or someone you know are having a difficult time quitting drugs or alcohol, then we are here to help. A new life begins with making one simple step and there is life without drugs or alcohol.

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Does Your Insurance Affect Your Drug Rehab Choices?

For most people, the cost of certain medical procedures are a major concern as the coverage for insurance can vary among providers. Unfortunately, the question for the cost of a drug treatment facility is no different. Perhaps you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction and now you are wondering what the cost may be and whether or not it is covered by your insurance.

It is never a good feeling when someone has to wonder whether or not they can afford the cost of going to rehab for an addiction to drugs or alcohol, but if you do find yourself in that situation, just know that you are not alone. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 19.7 million Americans aged 12 and older suffered from a substance use disorder in the year of 2017. Furthermore, out of those 19.7 million people who had reported having an addiction in 2017, only 19% of them had received substance abuse treatment of some kind. If you are one of those many americans still suffering, then we are here to help! There are many treatment options available.

If you are wondering if your insurance company can help cover any of the cost for treatment, then do not worry, thankfully, through the Affordable Care Act, every health insurance provider must offer coverage for substance use disorder services.

What is the Affordable Care Act?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also commonly referred to as Obamacare, was first signed into legislature in March of 2010. It defines 10 essential health benefits, one of them being services for substance abuse disorders and behavioral health, meaning that health insurance companies could no longer deny coverage for these type of services. It also extended coverage to millions of uninsured Americans and helped to lower the cost of health care. Also, due to the passing of this health reform, people cannot be denied based upon pre-existing mental health conditions or substance abuse disorders.

How Health Insurance Affects Rehab Choices

While having health insurance is a benefit when looking for drug and alcohol treatment, it can still affect your choices for a drug rehabilitation facility. There are many reasons why your insurance may affect your choice when thinking about admitting a loved one or yourself for treatment, one of them being the amount of coverage that is offered by your specific insurance plan and the individual insurance benefits that come along with it. Some insurance companies may have out-of-pocket expenses or additional copays, while others may cover the cost of treatment completely. Be sure to speak with your provider for more details.

Cost of Rehab

The cost of drug rehabilitation alone can greatly affect the options someone may have when considering drug rehabilitation. The cost for treatment can depend on many factors, including;

Whether the patients level of care requires inpatient rehab or outpatient treatment
How long the person needs to stay in the program
Whether the provider is a government funded program, a hospital program, or a privately funded facility
If the patient has a dual diagnosis or co-occurring mental health disorder that also needs to be treated
The type of amenities and luxuries offered at the facility, such as private rooms or spa treatments
Where the facility is located, i.e. if it is next to a beach or another desirable location
Travel costs to get there

The type of insurance you have, the deductible and copay can play a huge role in selecting the treatment facility that is best suited for your or your loved one.

In-Network/Out-of-Network

Another thing to consider when looking for the best option available is whether the specific treatment facility is considered to be in-network or out-of-network. In-network health insurance means that the specific provider has been approved for coverage and is typically contracted at a specific rate, helping to reduce costs. Out-of-network facilities have not been approved for coverage so it will not help in reducing cost for treatment. However, if there is a preferred option that is out-of-network, cash may cover any additional expenses needed to attend.

Length of Stay

The length of stay can also have a huge impact on where a person decides to check into for drug rehabilitation. While most insurance companies only offer coverage for 30 days, medical professionals at rehab facilities will work with insurance companies to extend that coverage for the needed stay for the intended individuals to have a full and healthy recovery.

How to Get Treatment Without Insurance

Statistics show that one of the many reasons why people do not seek treatment when it is needed is because they do not have insurance. What they may not know is that sometimes insurance is not necessary in order to get treatment. Here are some ways to get treatment without insurance:

There are many free, or low-cost, sliding scale, payment plan facilities and alternative programs that offer payment assistance
Many faith based organizations offer free rehab services to those in need
The government offers grants through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Medicare and Medicaid
S. Department of Veteran Affairs
State and locally funded treatment programs

Research suggests that for every dollar spent on substance abuse treatment, it saves $4 dollars in medical expenses and $7 in law enforcement and criminal justice costs. Finding a way to pay for treatment not only helps to save your life but will also save you money in the long run on expenses like medical treatments, court costs, and further loss of income related to drug use.

The sooner you reach out for help for either yourself or a loved one, the sooner the healing process can begin. There are many treatment services available that are designed to fit the needs of the individual. We will work with you, with or without insurance, to ensure that you are getting the best care needed for you or your loved ones recovery.