If you or someone you know is living with AUD, many treatment options are available. A doctor can help you choose the best one for you. They may recommend detoxification, medication, relapse prevention training, or a combination of these approaches.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a mental and physical dependence on alcohol.

AUD is a chronic (long-term) condition. Symptoms may include an intense urge to consume alcohol, even when drinking has become problematic. Serious symptoms can also include intense periods of withdrawal once you stop using alcohol.

Read on to learn more about how AUD is treated.

How is alcohol use disorder treated?

The road to AUD recovery can be a long process that requires various treatments or therapies.

Experts recommend your results from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria can help create your treatment plan as well as your personal circumstances, like:

history of alcohol use dependence and alcohol withdrawal
other physical or mental health conditions
interest in treatment options
physical and social environment

If you want to take steps to get treatment for AUD, make an appointment with a doctor. They’ll likely ask you a series of questions to determine the severity of your AUD. These questions can also help them determine the best treatment option for your needs.

Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatment options:

detoxification
medications
relapse prevention training, including therapy and behavior modification

Detoxification

Many treatment plans begin with a detoxification program to help treat withdrawal symptoms after you stop drinking alcohol.

Detoxification is often done in an inpatient therapy treatment center or hospital. It typically takes 1 week to complete. Because the physical symptoms of AUD withdrawal can be life threatening, healthcare professionals may give you medications to help prevent:

shaking
confusion
sweating
agitation
restlessness
irritability
nausea
vomiting
insomnia
tachycardia (rapid heart rate)
hallucinations
convulsions

Therapy and behavioral modification

Your doctor may refer you to one-on-one therapy or group counseling.

Benefits of therapy

Working with a therapist can help determine your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and can help get to the root cause of your AUD. Some other benefits of therapy can include:

developing coping strategies for your alcohol dependence
expressing yourself without fear of judgment
practicing self-awareness
learning to create healthier behaviors to help curb alcohol dependence

Behavior modification

People with alcohol dependence may need to learn skills and coping mechanisms to help avoid alcohol once they leave a treatment center or return to familiar environments.

A doctor may refer you to a counselor or other treatment program to help you learn those skills and coping strategies.

Find support groups

Support groups can be especially helpful when you’re going through treatment for AUD. A support group can help you connect with other people who are facing similar challenges. They can help answer questions, provide encouragement, and direct you to support resources.

Support groups aren’t for everyone, and they may not be helpful for some people. Your doctor can help you determine whether support groups may help your AUD.

Types of support groups

A few different support groups can specifically address alcohol dependence. There are also groups for family and friends helping their loved ones cope with AUD.

Some support groups to consider include:

Alcoholics Anonymous
Al-Anon (for friends and family of people living with AUD)
Alateen
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Medications

Several medications are used to treat AUD. They include:

Naltrexone: This blocks the feel-good effects that alcohol has on your brain. Without those good feelings, you may feel less inclined to drink.
Acamprosate: This may help reduce alcohol cravings by restoring the balance of certain chemicals in your brain.
Disulfiram: This is an alcohol-sensitizing drug that works by making you sick when you consume alcohol. When combined with alcohol, it can cause flushing, nausea, and headaches.
- This drug is the least preferred drug for AUD. Side effects can be dangerous for some people, and it doesn’t treat the core symptoms of AUD.

Naltrexone is available as an oral tablet or injection. Vivitrol is an injected form of naltrexone that a doctor can give you once a month. This may be more reliable and convenient than oral pills, especially if you think you may forget or not want to take a pill every day.

Long-term outlook for people with alcohol use disorder

AUD can take a physical toll on your body, causing a variety of complications. For example, it can raise your risk of:

heart disease
many kinds of cancer
scarring of your liver, known as cirrhosis
inflammation of your stomach lining, known as gastritis
dementia and other neurological disorders
erectile dysfunction

Alcohol dependence is often accompanied by certain mood or mental health conditions, like depression or anxiety. Along with your treatment for AUD, you may need to seek medical care for other complications you experience.

Takeaway

Treating AUD may be a long-term journey. Relapse is an expected part of the recovery process as you work toward recovery.

Some people recover from AUD the first time they seek treatment, while others may require several treatment attempts. The more you try, the higher your chances of success.

About the ASAM criteria. (n.d.). https://www.asam.org/asam-criteria/about-the-asam-criteria
Alcohol. (2021). https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/learn/alcohol
Overview: Alcohol misuse. (2022). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-misuse/
Understanding alcohol use disorder. (2025). https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-use-disorders

This article originally appeared on Healthline. © 2025 Healthline Media LLC. All rights reserved. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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