Thinking about changing your drinking?

Start with an individual assessment

A website cannot tell you whether cutting back, stopping, a particular medicine, or a specific programme is appropriate for you. Your circumstances matter. NIAAA's alcohol-treatment resource can help you begin finding professional options.

Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous. If you have been drinking heavily and are considering a change, seek medical help to plan it. This page does not provide a tapering schedule, a medication recommendation, or instructions for managing withdrawal at home.

Prepare questions rather than a self-prescribed plan

• What information should I bring to an appointment?
• How will the professional assess my needs and explain the options?
• Who should I contact with questions about medicines or symptoms?
• What support is available between appointments?

Keep personal notes private. You do not need to publish a detailed medical history to ask a community how they found support or prepared for an appointment.

Use the community for shared experience

A peer can describe what it felt like to ask for help or join a meeting. That experience can be worth hearing without becoming a recommendation for your health. Read the source-checking guide when a post makes a medical claim, and use the meeting guide for current organiser links.