The Best Way to Stop Alcohol Addiction

Alcoholism is a disease that threatens the quality and length of life of not only the alcoholic but also his or her family and friends. In order to stop alcohol addiction, the alcoholic must foster a genuine desire to change. Several programs can assist the addict on the road to recovery; 12-step programs have helped millions of alcoholics recover and stay sober.

12-Step Recovery

• Enter a 12-step recovery group such as Alcoholics Anonymous---the best-known 12-step recovery group. Many other groups follow a similar format of weekly or daily meetings for the alcoholic who wants to get sober. Get a sponsor within the group to walk you through the recovery process. Read the literature slowly, and apply the principals of recovery under the guidance of your sponsor. Make sure you have the sponsor's phone number as well as the numbers of other people who have acheived sobriety for a longer period of time. Call them whenever you feel tempted to drink.

Practice Spirituality

• In addition to the meetings of your 12-step group, join a group that practices a religion or spirituality according to your belief system (12-step recovery programs refer to this as a "higher power").
  Spend time deepening your knowledge and insight into your spiritual life to gain the strength to break your addiction and begin to understand yourself better as you emotionally heal your wounds. Practicing prayer, reading spiritually based books and scriptures, and spending time with people who do not use drugs or alcohol to make life more manageable can only help you gain the personal strength you need to stay sober.

Substitute

• Substitute negative addictions with positive ones. Develop a regular excersize plan. Begin to develop hobbies and interests in activities that do not involve drinking or being in areas where others are using drugs or alcohol. Join a gym. Do community service to help the homeless. Offer to help others do something you know how to do---cooking, playing an instrument, reading to young children or speaking a language, for example. Involving yourself in productive activity will help you overcome your addiction.