Alcoholism Treatment

Alcoholism is a serious condition that needs immediate treatment. When allowed to continue, the disease can lead to potentially fatal consequences, but not before leaving a broken family and relationships, damaged reputations, and even financial troubles.

A lot of people who are victims of alcohol addiction often find it difficult to get treatment for themselves, and the chances for recovery from this addiction are often affected by how severe the condition was before treatment was sought.

This is the reason why it is important to get immediate treatment for a friend or a family member who is suffering from alcoholism.

The earlier the condition is treated, the higher chance of a successful recovery.

Drug Therapy – There are Three Approved Medications for Alcoholism Treatment – Disulfiram, Naltrexone, and Acamprosate. Disulfiram was the first medication approved for the treatment of this disease. Disulfiram works by causing a severe physical reaction in the body when the person taking the drug consumes alcohol. Naltrexone is another approved medication for the treatment of alcoholism. It blocks the high or relaxed feeling that an alcoholic feels when he or she consumes alcohol. This medication is also used for the same effect by recovering drug addicts.

Acamprosate is another medication used for alcohol dependence. Its effects are limited to reducing the intensity of withdrawal symptoms felt by a person when he or she quits drinking alcohol. Acamprosate was only approved for use in the US in 2004, although it has long been used in Europe. Aside from eliminating the emotional discomfort felt during withdrawal, this medication also reduces anxiety, sweating, and sleeping problems that often accompany alcohol withdrawal.

Counseling – All alcoholics need counseling since this problem is most often caused by an underlying psychological problem which the person may have attempted to avoid by consuming alcohol. Counseling helps the person work through the phases of recovery, starting with the admission that there is a problem. Counseling helps a person identify the common justifications that he or she uses for his or her actions and helps him or her recognize that these justifications are only helping him or her continue his or her addiction.

Counseling may be done on a one-on-one basis or may be conducted with family members, which is especially helpful if the alcoholism developed due to underlying psychological problems. Family therapy is also useful in helping family members deal with the effects of alcoholism on the family as a whole. It is well known that with alcohol addiction, the alcoholic is not the only one hurt by this, but that their loved ones are almost always negatively affected in some way.

Behavioral Therapy – Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most widely used therapies for alcoholism. The aim of this type of therapy is to change the way the person thinks and behaves. The therapist looks at the events that led to the addiction to gain an understanding of the root of the dependence. Through this, the therapist is able to formulate various cognitive strategies to help the person cope with the desire to drink whenever sensitive situations arise, also known as triggers. The therapist helps the client assess the situation and look at how his or her faulty thinking patterns provide the stimulus that in turn lead to the addictive behavior.

Clients are allowed to assess their self-defeating patterns of behavior and are provided alternative adaptive behaviors that they can use in these situations. Cognitive behavioral therapy is often used in conjunction with the 12-step program, but goals may vary according to the individual’s needs and history. Patients who undergo cognitive behavioral therapy are allowed to set their own goals, which makes it easier to achieve them.

Alcohol Treatment Programs

Alcohol treatment programs are multi-faceted treatments which are composed of medications and counseling designed to treat a person’s alcoholism. There are Two General Types of Addiction Programs – Residential Alcohol Treatment Programs and Outpatient Alcohol Treatment Programs.

These programs differ in the depth of treatment they offer, but they generally assist the client in going through the phases of detoxification, provide counseling, and ensure that clients are given proper monitoring and aftercare, even after they leave the facility.

Both programs have been found to be effective, but one program is not always the best option for every type of alcohol addiction. In some instances it may be preferred to utilize both an inpatient and outpatient treatment program, where the outpatient program serves as an aftercare program following inpatient treatment. Each person is different, and that is how their addiction is most successfully addressed.

Residential and Inpatient Alcoholism Treatment

Residential programs require clients to live in the treatment facility. Programs vary in their duration from a few weeks to a few months, and their clients are given different ways to occupy themselves when each treatment session is done. Residential programs are suitable for clients who are dealing with severe alcohol dependencies or those who have experienced a relapse in the past. One advantage of residential programs is that they are often located in far-away areas, which means that clients are effectively removed from their usual environments which may have contributed to their addictions. Most programs are also located in sites that allow for meditation and relaxation so that clients can fully focus on their recovery.

Outpatient Alcoholism Treatment

Outpatient alcohol programs provide alcohol treatment and care for patients but allow them to go home after each session. These programs are suitable for those who are dealing with early alcoholism or those who have begun recovery from alcoholism and want to prevent relapse by receiving continuing treatment after getting out of rehab. Outpatient treatment may also be recommended for those battling moderate alcohol addiction but have the advantage of a positive home environment. Outpatient programs provide the same kind of treatment offered by residential treatment programs, just on a part-time basis.

Forms of Alcoholism Treatment

Treatment programs also vary according to the kind of clients they help or according to the types of treatment programs they use. For example, there are faith-based treatment centers, teenage alcohol programs, programs that exclusively cater to women, as well as holistic treatment centers. Clients may be advised to seek help from dual diagnosis alcohol treatment centers if they are suffering from drug and alcohol addictions combined with a mental illness. One may also opt for a rehab that does not focus centrally on the 12-step program.

There are various kinds of alcoholism treatments that have been proven effective in helping individuals deal with the causes and consequences of their alcoholism. From medications to cognitive behavioral therapy, these approaches are designed to address the various areas which serve as the root of the addiction. Alternative programs are also there to provide holistic treatment and management of alcoholism whether as an outpatient or in a residential setting.

Comments are closed.