How to Wean Off Alcohol, Safely and Effectively

A standard (750 ml) bottle of wine at 12% alcohol contains 5 standard drinks. Some people may also find it easier to just taper off their alcohol use rather than jumping immediately into an abstinence day even if they do not have significant withdrawal symptoms. Figuring out where to start your alcohol taper schedule can seem impossible. It may seem simple to count https://goodmenproject.com/everyday-life-2/top-5-tips-to-consider-when-choosing-a-sober-house-for-living/ each drink you consume, but all drinks are not created equal. The alcohol content itself is important, and it depends on the percentage of alcohol, the proof of the alcohol and the actual amount of alcohol in the drink. Risky withdrawal symptoms are not limited to the above.3 Learn more about alcohol withdrawal here and, once again, speak to a doctor first.

It can be difficult to say no to people, especially when they care about you. This is why it’s essential to surround yourself with the right support system, such as a 12-step community that can help you maintain your progress. When you’re learning how to taper off alcohol properly, you will have to make a lot of decisions. One of those decisions will be what you will do when friends or family pressure you to drink.

Alcohol Tapering Schedule

Cold turkey is a common slang term for quitting alcohol (or any substance) all at once. Tapering or weaning means ramping down your alcohol use until How to Choose a Sober House: Tips to Focus on you get to zero—or to a more moderate level of drinking that you prefer. Alcohol detox medications can make the process safer and more comfortable.

Medical detox programs for alcohol dependency commonly offer medications to ease the discomfort or pain of withdrawal. This is a benefit that isn’t available to all who attempt to taper at home. Medicines can be used to reduce nausea, severe anxiety, other flu-like symptoms, and treat seizures. Maybe they don’t have peer support or maybe their alcohol addiction is too severe. Being surrounded by triggers can make it extremely difficult to stay on track and avoid overdoing it on alcohol. The best way to taper off alcohol is to find healthcare professionals who can assess one’s current intake.

Challenges of Quitting Alcohol

This will be the basis of the protocol to taper off the substance to increase the chances of success. Further, the severity of withdrawal symptoms can cause a person to resort back to drinking alcohol to relieve any symptoms. However, doing so without the guidance of a physician, can complicate tapering and ultimately delay when, if ever, sobriety is reached. Serenity Lane offers rehabilitation for alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder.

• Another big factor in how long a taper lasts is alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
• The more aware you are of potential risk factors and your individual needs, the more likely you will  succeed.
• More serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms may require medical attention.
• When he’s not busy treating The Freedom Center’s clientele, you might find Kevin engaged in his other passion as an actor/director in the local theater community.

If your BASELINE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION is less than 20 drinks per day then we recommend reducing consumption by two standard drinks per day. Likewise if your average consumption is 6 standard drinks per day you can set a taper schedule of 4, 2, 0. Quitting alcohol can be extremely hard, especially without medical support. Further, mental health disorders like anxiety and depression are extremely common in those who struggle with drinking, and these disorders can make it even harder to stay sober. The main difference between tapering and cold turkey is how fast you quit.

Client Care Manager

Licensed medical professionals and highly qualified addiction specialists at The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper can help guide you toward a life without alcohol. Some people try to reduce withdrawal symptoms by tapering off alcohol. This strategy gives your body more time to adjust to a lack of alcohol than quitting cold turkey, and you may experience fewer or less severe withdrawal symptoms. For those who are determined to stop drinking, it may be tempting to go “cold turkey”. However, quitting alcohol cold turkey isn’t recommended for moderate drinkers and heavy drinkers. You will be at serious risk of withdrawal symptoms, which can even prove deadly for some who suffer from alcohol addiction.

• Tapering off alcohol is a reasonable strategy for anyone who desires to stop drinking.
• I have been on both sides of the fence, active addiction and recovery, and continue to choose recovery every day.
• When you decide to get sober, there are two ways to approach withdrawal.
• As you navigate this question, it can be helpful to think about how you typically prefer to approach change.

He holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling and has over 26 years of experience as a substance use/mental health counselor with the Montgomery County Government. Whether he’s leading groups or providing individual and family therapy, Kevin’s passion for serving those suffering from substance use disorders is always on display. When he’s not busy treating The Freedom Center’s clientele, you might find Kevin engaged in his other passion as an actor/director in the local theater community. Alexandra oversees all operations with The Freedom Center to ensure clients are given the best chance at success. She works with The Freedom Center team to develop and implement policies, procedures and oversees Intakes and Transportation.