Skip to main content

The Enterhealth Approach to Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Enterhealth uses a holistic, scientific approach to treat alcohol abuse and addiction. Our team of board-certified addiction psychiatrists, physicians, and psychologists are equipped with the latest evidence-based therapeutic and pharmacological techniques to help those with alcohol addiction regain control, sobriety, and stability in their lives.

Proven to be more effective than traditional addiction treatment programs, our treatments and protocols are based on the latest medical research from the National Institute of Health (NIH) identifying alcohol and drug dependency as a treatable chronic brain disease.

CALL NOW
Three column stats: 8% Recovery Rate, 5000 patients treated, and 1:5 Clinical staff to patient ratio.

Call today and get help. Our alcohol addiction treatment experts are here for you.

1.800.388.4601

Treatment options for alcohol addiction

Enterhealth offers inpatient and outpatient services that are highly personalized to each patient and their place in the recovery journey. Our goal is to help people understand all the factors that contributed to their alcohol addiction and give them the tools they need to successfully recover.

Our comprehensive, science-based alcohol treatment programs include the following:

  • Medically supervised alcohol detox without the need for a hospital stay
  • Expert assessment and diagnosis
  • Anti-addiction medications to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms
  • Multiple psychotherapies
  • Health and nutrition education
  • Family involvement

Plus, Enterhealth Ranch is the only drug and alcohol treatment center in Dallas/Fort Worth with exclusively private accommodations.

Our full-time, board-certified psychiatrists and high therapist-to-patient ratio enable us to effectively treat those dealing with addiction and co-occurring psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder – what’s known as dual-diagnosis treatment.

Because they begin with the knowledge that addiction is a brain disease, they employ the latest medical advances to combat the damage done to the brain's neurotransmitters. This helps to restore serotonin levels and combat cravings, giving the brain a chance to heal so that recovery can move forward.

ROBIN HARPER

Enterhealth Ranch is the top addiction treatment because of the comprehensiveness of the program, its practices, its scientific approach, its dual-diagnosis specialization and the skill level of their physicians and therapists.

DR. WALTER LINGProfessor of Psychiatry, UCLA

A visionary facility, Enterhealth Ranch is raising the bar in drug and alcohol addiction treatment by providing the best outcomes. As the choice for employees of Baylor Health Care System, as well as the students and faculty of Southern Methodist University, I truly believe it will soon be the country’s leading addiction recovery management program.

ALBERT BLACKSystem Chair, Baylor Healthcare System
DISCOVER WHY WE'RE DIFFERENT

Get Help with Alcohol Abuse Today

Inpatient rehab for alcohol at Enterhealth Ranch means your loved ones can move beyond their addicted world and into a supportive, comfortable environment where they can begin a life of sobriety and happiness.

Have Questions About Our Alcohol Treatment Program?

If you have any questions or would like to arrange a personal tour of one of our Dallas-Fort Worth facilities — Enterhealth Ranch or Enterhealth Outpatient Center of Excellence – our intake team is available to help 24/7 at 1.800.388.4601. You can also use our contact page to send us a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

RESIDENTIAL

PROVIDING A HEALING PLACE FOR NEW BEGINNINGS

Enterhealth Ranch offers inpatient care that’s on your side, not on the clock. It’s a nurturing environment where treatment is highly personalized and intensified. Every patient has a private room and 24/7 access to addiction trained specialists who use evidence-based treatments and comprehensive care, including medical detox, in-depth medical and psychological assessments, individual and group therapies, life skills and more.

LEARN MORE
Enterhealth Ranch and man with coffee mug looking into distance.

OUTPATIENT

PROVIDING EXCELLENCE IN YOUR CONTINUUM OF CARE

Enterhealth’s Outpatient Center of Excellence, conveniently located in the Park Cities, is expertly staffed with board-certified addiction specialists. Our comprehensive program is designed for continued recovery care and provides individuals and families the support they need to reconnect with each other and thrive in recovery.

LEARN MORE
Man and women talking in therapy session with Enterhealth Outpatient Center of Excellence sign.

ALUMNI

FINDING CONNECTIONS TO STRENGTHEN RECOVERY

The Enterhealth Alumni Association offers a unique opportunity for our patients to continue and thrive in their recovery by building relationships through shared experiences. This one-of-a-kind support environment provides a nurturing space where participants can gain understanding, learn from others and continue to rebuild their lives.

LEARN MORE
Silhouettes of people with sunlight in the background and man on phone looking at a laptop.

CORPORATE SERVICES

SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES IN THEIR RECOVERY

Recovery is one of the most important benefits you can give your employees. Enterhealth provides comprehensive, evidence-based residential and outpatient programs and continued 24/7 technological support with Enterhealth Connect. It’s a tool employees can use to access expert care that fits their schedule for online consultations with highly trained addiction specialists, dynamic content including blogs, podcasts, videos, and continuously updated tools and resources that will aid in their recovery journey.

LEARN MORE
Man holding black-rimmed glasses, and women looking into distance from behind a window.
Father hugging sun with sunset in background.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alcohol Addiction

How do drugs like Vivitrol help with treatment?

Vivitrol makes it easier for patients to stop abusing alcohol by blocking certain receptors in the brain that give users the “buzz” or “rush” by releasing feel-good chemicals such as dopamine into their systems. In other words, if someone taking Vivitrol drinks alcohol, they cannot get drunk.

This makes alcohol less appealing and prevents relapse by decreasing cravings by up to 90% and blocking the euphoria they would normally get from drinking.

*Note that drinking on Vivitrol will still produce symptoms of intoxication, like slurred words or poor balance, but patients won’t benefit from any of the positive (pleasant) effects of alcohol.

Other medications for alcohol abuse include:

  • Disulfiram (Antabuse), which deters people from drinking by making them physically sick if they consume alcohol.
  • Acamprosate (Campral), which diminishes the physical distress and emotional discomfort people often experience after they quit drinking.

Learn more about anti-addiction medications at Enterhealth.

What is alcohol addiction?

Alcohol dependence, or alcohol addiction, is a chronic and progressive disease that creates a strong need to drink despite repeated social or interpersonal problems such as losing a job, legal trouble, or deteriorating relationships with friends and family.

Because alcohol addiction alters the brain’s chemistry and physically affects the deepest parts of the brain, quitting is difficult without help – even for those who are ready to do so. Alcohol addiction generally has a predictable course, and there are recognizable alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which include:

  • Craving– a strong need or urge to drink alcohol.
  • Loss of control– not being able to stop drinking alcohol once drinking has begun.
  • Physical dependence– alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking alcohol.
  • Tolerance– the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol just to get “high”.

How does alcohol affect the brain?

Alcohol is what’s known as a Central Nervous System depressant. It affects the areas of the brain responsible for controlling our cognitive and motor functions, inhibiting their function and slowing them down.

In the short term, alcohol causes:

  • Impaired memory, judgment, and coordination
  • Disrupted sleep patterns
  • Slurred speech
  • Drowsiness
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Upset stomach
  • Headaches

Long-term use can cause:

  • High blood pressure, stroke, and other heart-related diseases
  • Liver disease
  • Nerve damage
  • Permanent brain damage
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Vitamin deficiencies

What are alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal range from mild to serious depending on how much the person drinks and how long they’ve been dependent on alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms follow a progression, getting more and more serious as with time.

Early alcohol withdrawal symptoms (~6 hours without a drink):

  • Anxiety
  • Tremors
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Insomnia
  • Sweating

Later alcohol withdrawal symptoms (~12-72 hours without a drink)

  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Tremors
  • Confusion
  • Racing heart
  • High blood pressure
  • Fever
  • Heavy sweating
  • Seizures

How long do alcohol withdrawal symptoms last?

While the most severe symptoms usually subsist after a few days, some patients experience persistent withdrawal symptoms. These usually include problems sleeping, fatigue, and mood changes, and they may last for weeks or even months in some cases.

How do you treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

Because of the health risks involved with the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, treatment needs to begin with supervised medical alcohol detox. Attempting to detox outside of a medical facility could be deadly.

In addition to closely monitoring a patient’s vitals, medical staff may also prescribe medications to mediate some of the more severe and dangerous symptoms. This can include benzodiazepine medications to prevent seizures, anti-psychotics to control hallucinations/delusions, as well as vitamins (particularly B vitamins) and other supplements to make up for deficiencies that commonly accompany alcohol addiction.

Can an alcoholic be functional?

“Functional alcoholic” (or “high-functioning alcoholic”) is not a formal medical diagnosis. Rather, it’s a turn of phrase an alcoholic who is still at a point where they can still function in society. That is to say, their drinking hasn’t reached the point that it causes them to miss work, school, or other obligations and they are still able to manage a job, home, and family life.

It would be more accurate to describe the person as “currently-functioning,” however, as it’s unlikely they will remain “functional” for a long period of time. Eventually, they will have to contend with powerful cravings and obsessive thoughts about their next drink, as well as a host of withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit.

*State standard is 1:10 clinical staff to patient ratio