Treatment For Alcohol Addiction

Though alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse are phrases that are used interchangeably, alcohol addiction is a more severe stage. With an alcohol addiction, the individual is not be able to go a single day without alcohol. Though this is a very serious condition, it is treatable and the individual will need help along the way. The process will take its time and one should not expect treatment for alcohol addiction to be an overnight matter. There are different forms of treatment for alcohol addiction and we will look at each of them in some detail in the remaining part of this article.

Outpatient Treatment

In an outpatient treatment program, the patient is not required to stay at the rehab center during his treatment. The individual lives with his or her family at home and will follow a part-time schedule as agreed upon through the program. The patient will have to make regular visits to the center for counseling and therapy sessions. Outpatient treatment usually works with individuals who are in less severe stages of alcohol addiction or who have responsibilities they must keep.

During the course of any treatment, the addict normally has to go through detox. Detox treatment is a physical cleansing that helps get rid of the alcohol present in the individual’s blood. Post-detox, the addict has to stay away from alcohol. This is the stage where several symptoms of withdrawal start showing up.

The withdrawal stage is one of the most critical periods in any rehab and it is also one of the toughest phases. The symptoms and the pain endured during this stage have a lot to do with the levels of addiction. Detox is usually done under medical supervision, and it could be done either at the center or the patient’s house, though it is recommended that it’s done at a facility.

The patient would then move on to outpatient treatment once the alcohol is flushed from the body. Most outpatient treatment programs will last for a few weeks and there will be several sessions involving other alcoholics, and sometimes friends and family. The therapy sessions will guide the patient on how the chances of relapse can and should be avoided.

Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehab is ideal for people who have had a long association with alcohol and who are in the more advanced stages of addiction. This is also a great option for anyone looking to take the extra steps of insurance towards making sure they stay sober. Inpatient treatment is carried out in a rehab center and the patient has to stay at the center for the entire course of the treatment.

This is a comprehensive, full-time approach and it can last anywhere from a few weeks to even a year. The patient’s family and friends can visit, but the patient is not allowed to leave the center during the treatment period without forfeiting the treatment, though they can voluntarily leave, barring a court mandate. One may enter an inpatient treatment facility for detox also. The withdrawal symptoms that are very severe are best addressed at a treatment center and the patients are given several kinds of medications to help subsidize the pain associated with withdrawal symptoms when necessary.

There is a schedule prepared and once detox is over, they then move on to inpatient rehab. The patient will then follow a daily schedule. There will be several counseling programs during the course of treatment and most of them deal with relapse, the ill effects of alcoholism, resolving the core issued that led to addiction, the importance of maintaining sobriety, and also the advantages of leading an alcohol-free life.

The support of family and loved ones is very important, as the most important thing that the patient needs is encouragement and motivation. He or she should at no point feel that he or she is fighting alcohol addiction on his or her own. Once the treatment program is over, the patient is given aftercare options such as moving to a sober living arrangement that helps the patient make a successful transition, or perhaps an outpatient program.

Medication – Though there are several different kinds of drugs that can be helpful when dealing with issues relating to alcohol addiction, the three major drugs that are used most during this stage are Naltrexone, Disulfiram, and Acamprostate. If a person takes Disulfiram, he or she feels sick whenever he or she drinks alcohol. Acamprostate and Naltrexone are medications that help bring down alcohol cravings. These medications are very effective and to derive their full benefits one must take them regularly as prescribed.

Nutrition – Alcoholics are usually very low on nutrition and their overall health is often quite poor. As alcohol addiction kills their general appetite, it may at first be difficult for them to consume food when starting rehab treatment.

When alcohol is consumed in excess quantities, it becomes difficult for the individual to process amino acids properly.

These amino acids are essential for the body and they can be restored if the individual starts eating foods such as bananas, milk, poultry, sunflower seeds, and tofu.

Consumption of sugar and caffeine should be brought down. The diet should be well balanced and a treatment center will have an appropriate nutritional plan for their residents. The individual should have three snacks and three meals a day to restore lost energy and stabilize his or her mood.

Alcoholism and Mental Illness

There are cases where alcohol addiction has an impact on the individual’s mental frame of mind. These mental problems can actually end up complicating their addiction. People who have emotional issues are more likely to get addicted to alcohol. Someone who enters treatment with a mental illness may need to consider a facility that deals with dual diagnosis, for their treatment regime may be approached differently, depending on the situation.

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