Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
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Alcohol hotlines offer confidential, free access to trained operators who help people struggling with alcohol abuse. These operators answer questions and recommend treatment options.
For many people, calling an alcohol addiction hotline is the first step toward sober living.
Alcohol addiction rehab centers, community support organizations, and government entities can all run these hotlines. Some operators might also be professional counselors who specialize in addiction.
Most hotlines operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are not designed to provide emergency support in place of 911, but they do offer helpful information and encouragement for people in need of treatment.
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Operators trained to counsel people struggling with alcohol addiction answer when you call an alcohol hotline.
This might be someone who works for a recovery or treatment facility, a counselor, or a volunteer. Sometimes, it’s someone who has experienced substance abuse issues of their own.
Some hotlines are directly connected to addiction treatment facilities. When you call these hotlines, you’ll typically speak with a staff member who might transfer you to a doctor, counselor, or other medical professional. These staff members are also trained to respond to calls.
Counselors often manage hotlines that are not affiliated with a treatment facility. Counselors can help people who are considering the idea of entering treatment for alcohol addiction. They might conduct a basic assessment of the caller and/or provide tips on taking the next step to enter addiction treatment.
You can call an alcohol hotline any time you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol consumption.
If you unsure about calling a hotline, consider the following:
If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, you would benefit from calling an alcohol abuse hotline.
Hotlines require no commitment to treatment. They are free and anonymous. Worst case scenario, if you don’t find help after calling a hotline, the operator can connect you with someone else.
They’ll connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor
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If you aren’t sure what to ask when calling an alcohol addiction hotline, consider the following questions:
Expect the hotine operator to also ask you questions such as:
There are several hotline options to call for alcohol abuse. If you aren’t sure who to call, one of the following options could help you:
Many hotline operators speak more than one language. In addition to brief, over-the-phone counseling, hotline operators can also direct you to various treatment options.
Remember, if you need emergency assistance, contact 911 immediately.
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