Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, in fact, we believe you will find life to be easier and more enjoyable. Left untreated, alcohol is required to manage anxiety and provide enjoyment. The idea of life without alcohol seems bleak. Once treated by Go Sober, our clients experience almost immediate relief and actual remorse that they waited so long. Hear what some of our clients have to say about this.

This attitude comes from remembering how we felt all the times in the past when we quit. By the time we’re seeking treatment, the condition has become so advanced that we need alcohol to feel ok. So, we dwell on the notion that someday, once things settle down we can return to “controlled” drinking.

Once we discover that life is easier and more fun without alcohol, we realize we’ve been ready for a long time. The thing preventing us from getting treatment in the past was our own fear that life would be just like all the other times we’ve quit drinking. This is what’s different about Go Sober. Go Sober makes quitting easy.

Some people who’ve consumed alcohol regularly for a long time are at risk of having a seizure if they quit drinking suddenly. Seizures can be very dangerous. Also, quitting suddenly creates anxiety as the brain signals the individual to replenish the depleted reward chemistry it needs to function properly. It takes the body between 72-78 hours to fully metabolize and withdraw from alcohol.

We feel it’s imperative to support the individual with medications that will prevent seizures and help reduce the anxiety the individual feels during the withdrawal period. The detox medications can be taken safely at home. In most cases, there is no need to detox in a separate facility. But, detox alone does not treat the underlying reward deficiency. That requires medications to restore the reward response and behavior changes to trigger the reward production.

You will feel better almost immediately. Our medical doctor will prescribe detox medications during your first visit as needed. Shortly afterward, you’ll receive treatment medications that reduce anxiety and curtail your thoughts about alcohol (cravings).

This is the biggest difference between Go Sober and other alcohol treatment programs. The behavioral health portion of Go Sober lasts for an additional eight weeks. During this time you should expect significant improvements in your overall health, your quality of sleep, your stress levels, and your outlook on life. Learn more about our alcohol treatment program.

Two things: we use medications that treat the underlying reward deficiency and we focus on behavior changes that trigger sufficient reward production to enable indifference to alcohol.

AA is a community experience. It is not a medical treatment. Therefore, people may find connections via shared experiences but when they leave their meetings, they’ll still have anxiety and they’ll still be thinking about alcohol.

Detox is not treatment.

Rehab, similarly, does not restore the reward response. Rehab is where people go to not drink and to learn about alcohol addiction. There may be individual and group activities, AA meetings, nutrition and stress management classes, counseling sessions, and yoga or meditation sessions. Rehab does not treat the underlying condition. When people leave the rehab facility, they still struggle with reduced reward production capacity, anxiety, and thoughts about alcohol.

Go Sober treats the underlying reward deficiency which makes it possible to quit alcohol and not feel like anything is missing.

Go Sober is a bundle of services we’ve found to be effective for most people not only during the short term but long term as well. Each segment of the Go Sober protocol is designed to support a unified shift in thinking about who we are and what we want out of life.

While the medications set the stage for change, the behavioral health aspects are also critically important to take advantage of the restored capacity for enjoyment.

Your healthy lifestyle will complement this protocol and allow deeper investigative focus into areas of your life that you most want to make improvements to. Our goal is to help you find and pursue your passions.

Go Sober’s success depends on methods and treatments we developed to treat the underlying failure mechanism. Those methods don’t necessarily conform to insurance companies’ criteria for approved care. In some cases, there may be reimbursement coverage for portions of your treatment. The coverage amount varies by insurance carrier and what clients are able to negotiate with their insurance company.

Payment for our alcohol treatment program can be made in one of several ways including self-pay, sponsorship, or short-term loans. Full payment is due at the time of intake. We accept ACH Payments or credit cards. Clients may also use non-taxable income from their frequently overlooked Health Saving (HSA) Account.  

Often, clients find that someone is willing to sponsor the cost of their treatment. We encourage clients to take advantage of this option when possible.   

As with other significant investments many clients choose to take out a loan or borrow money from a friend or family member. Short-term loans have the obvious benefit on cash flow via manageable monthly payments and they also provide accountability. Go Sober qualifies as a medical procedure and there are several lenders who will make unsecured healthcare loans to cover the cost of medical treatment.

No. Reintroducing alcohol will quickly reestablish diminished reward capacity, anxiety, and the need for more alcohol. At Go Sober, the goal is indifference to alcohol. In that case, there’s no sense of loss or lingering desire to drink.

Many alcohol treatment programs also use medications. Typically, they are for detox to ease the symptoms of withdrawal or treatment to reduce pleasure associated with drinking. They don’t treat the underlying reward deficiency. Other programs and primary care professionals often only prescribe medications to treat symptoms related to drinking like anxiety, depression, insomnia, or hypertension.

At Go Sober, we use medications to make detox less difficult and to restore the reward production capacity. Treating the real, underlying problem eliminates thoughts about drinking and the associated symptoms and may eliminate the need for other medications. All of the meds we use are safe, generally well tolerated, and approved by the FDA.