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Discover the impacts of alcohol use Help is available What to expect on your treatment journey IH services and treatment options to help you reduce and/or quit alcohol use

Help with Alcohol Use

Changing our relationship with alcohol is not about willpower or good intentions. Many of us don’t realize that there are many treatment options and help is available. Learn how you can receive help if you're struggling with alcohol use.

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Discover the impacts of alcohol use

Alcohol use can become a health condition with intense cravings, a compulsion to drink and a lack of control—even if that means negative consequences to your health and/or losing personal, family and work connections.

Do you know how much you’re drinking?
  • If you’re not sure whether your drinking is putting you at risk for health and social harms down the road, the Canadian Centre for Substance Use published Knowing Your Limits with Alcohol, a practical, easy-to-follow guide. It helps you better understand your drinking patterns. Or if you prefer an online questionnaire the Alcohol self-test is a quick interactive option.
  • Have you ever asked yourself, “What are my health risks, costs and calories from drinking alcohol? What could I gain or save from drinking less?” Go to https://knowalcohol.ca/ and access an online tool to learn more.
  • Go to Help With Drinking for information and guidance about alcohol use based on evidence and lived experience. No bias. No judgment.
  • Consider what is safe when stopping drinking
    • If you drink daily, especially more than five drinks per day, stopping drinking altogether can be unsafe for your health
    • Consult your primary health-care provider or call 310-MHSU (6478) for assistance and advice

Help is available

Access Mental Health & Substance Use Services (MHSU) aims to provide a safe space where you can be connected to the service or services that meet your needs. Call 310-MHSU (6478) or visit your local Mental Health and Substance Use centre (MHSU). From there you’ll work with a care provider to access free or low-cost care options in your community, which may include:

  • Prescription medications
  • Individual or group counselling
  • Withdrawal management (detox)
  • Cultural and spiritual care
  • Peer support
  • Services for pregnant and parenting people 

What to expect on your treatment journey

On your journey to change your relationship with alcohol, you’ll meet different health-care providers who will support you in different ways. The steps in your treatment journey might not look like someone else’s, and that’s okay. What matters is that you get the help you need and feel respected and supported throughout the process. Help is Available is a video that explains what you can expect or ask for from your health-care providers.

In my experience: Alcohol Use Disorder treatment

Hear first-hand from Matthew. In this video he shares his experiences about accessing services at Interior Health for alcohol use treatment.

IH services and treatment options to help you reduce and/or quit alcohol use

Depending on your health needs and goals, your health-care provider may recommend the following services or treatment options. These include prescription medications, services in your community or at home, or services where you stay in a live-in setting away from home.

Understand the medications for alcohol use
Interior Health Virtual Addiction Medicine (VAM) Clinic

The Virtual Addiction Medicine (VAM) Clinic offers prescribed medications to help reduce your cravings for alcohol and to reduce how much or how often you drink. If you have already quit drinking, we can offer medications to help you from relapsing. 

Learn More

Request an Appointment

Outpatient Withdrawal Management (OWM) Services

The Outpatient Withdrawal Management (OWM) Service supports clients at low-risk of complications to undertake medically supervised withdrawal from their home. This service is available in Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon and Kamloops.

Learn More

You can read flyers about OWM services in the following language:

Bed-based treatment programs

If you are experiencing moderate to severe alcohol use issues and require a more intensive treatment setting than services available in your community, you may be able to attend bed-based services. These services may be a fit for you if your chronic health conditions are well managed and you are independent with daily activities.

Learn More

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