Alcohol
Treatment, Therapy & Alternatives
Suffering from an alcohol addiction can reek havoc on a persons life. As with any addiction a person can suffer greatly. I would like to talk about some treatment options for a person struggling through alcohol addiction. It is most important for the person to recognize their condition and have an desire to quit. (Carol Galbicsek, 2019) Sometimes a person may realize this on their own or it may take an intervention to help the person see they have a problem. Once the person is ready and willing to get help you must then figure out treatment and support options.
Drug & Alcohol Intervention. Retrieved from www.beachhouserehabcenter.com
Detoxification is the initial step in treating alcoholism and it can be a very difficult process as the first few day a person may feel some withdraw symptoms. (Carol Galbicsek,2019) Once a person is detoxed they may enter into therapy. An option is inpatient therapy where a person is in structured treatment environment. (Carol Galbiesek, 2019)In in patient therapy they may also help you through detoxification if you were unable to do this alone through giving medications that help with withdraw symptoms.(Addiction Center, 2020)Common ones they would prescribe include:
- Acamprosate – Used to reduce alcohol cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
- Naltrexone – Used to reduce cravings for alcohol as well as its pleasurable effects.
- Vivitrol – An extended-release formulation of Naltrexone
- Disulfiram – Causes severe negative effects when alcohol is consumed.
These program are for people with a serve alcohol problem and the person would generally remain in treatment from anywhere from 30 to 90 days. These people will get around the clock care to prepare you for life after rehab ,learning to fight triggers and to seeking help if you relapse. (Carol Galbiesek, 2019)
Alcohol Intervention Service. Retrieved from www.homedetox.co.uk
Alcohol counseling is another option which includes many meetings with a counselor who will guide you through recovery. Counseling opens up lines of communication so the person can express themselves at all times, through the good & bad they are experiencing. (Carol Galbiesek,2019) Alcohol support groups like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other to solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.(Buddy T, 2019) AA is well known and another great option.Scientific research has shown that people in support groups like AA combined with other treatment, is more effective than battling addiction alone.(Buddy T, 2019) There are other alternatives like— Women for Sobriety, SMART Recovery, and LifeRing that are support groups for those who choose to be sober. (German Lopez, 2018) Programs like SMART Recovery and LifeRing can be a different option for those who choose moderate drinking instead of quitting drinking all together , these are designed for more of a problem drinker rather than severe cases although anyone can try these. (German Lopez, 2019) People who are less committed to abstinence will be more committed to programs like SMART and LifeRing. We need alternatives in treating alcohol addiction because no one case is the same and people respond to different treatments. It is best to be advised by a doctor to what treatment is best for you.
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Here are some great links:
References
Addiction Center (2019) Alcohol Treatment & Rehab.Retrieved from www.addictioncenter.com
Buddy T (2019) Treatment Options for Alcoholism. Retrieved from www.verywellmind.com
Carol Galbicsek (2019) Treating Alcoholism. Retrieved www.alcoholrehabguide.org
German Lopez (2018) Alcoholics Anonymous Works for some people. Retrieved www.vox.com
Great pictures in your blog. I especially like the breaking the chains of addiction and the personalized treatment. Alcohol is one of the hardest substances to treat, with dangerous withdrawal side effects that could result in death. For that reason, careful monitoring is strongly suggested to avoid potential fatalities. Withdrawal occurs in three stages:
ReplyDeleteStage 1: Mild - anxiety, insomnia, nausea, tremors, depression, mood swings, heart palpitations
Stage 2: Moderate - increased blood pressure, body temperature and respiration, irregular heart rate mental confusion
Stage 3: Severe/delirium tremens (DT’s) - hallucinations, fever, seizures, which occurs in 3-5% of individuals in alcohol withdrawal which can be fatal if untreated (Lautieri, 2020).
You listed some great options like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and SMART Recovery for alcohol treatment. Understanding that not everyone who has an alcohol problem is ready or willing to give up drinking leads to taking a different direction in treatment. For some people, moderation management (MM) is a great alternative. The concept behind MM is to allow for a moderate amount of controlled drinking to help individuals from getting too far into the addiction (Alcohol, 2020). Often times someone in an MM program may gravitate to complete abstinence and 100% sobriety, and then make the choice to go through a 12-step program.
When seeking support for someone with alcohol abuse, primary care physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and alcohol counselors are all great resources (NIDA, 2014). Behavioral treatments include marital and family counseling, motivational enhancement therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), in addition to brief interventions as you mentioned (NIDA, 2014). In addition to prescribing the medications you listed, there is promise in using varenicline (Chantix), gabapentin, and topiramate to treat alcohol abuse (NIDA, 2014). Witkiewitz, Litten, and Leggio (2019) pointed out that nalmefene, baclofen, ondansetron, aripiprazole, are being used off-label or in trials in Europe showing promising results in treating alcohol abuse. With alcohol being the third leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., it is crucial that future research continues to combat the illness and prevent and treat addiction. Nice blog, I enjoyed reading it.
References:
Alcohol moderation management programs. (2020). Alcohol. Retrieved from https://www.alcohol.org/treatment-types/moderation-management/
Lautieri, A. (2020). Alcohol withdrawal symptoms, treatment, and timeline. American Addiction Centers. Retrieved from https://americanaddictioncenters.org/withdrawal-timelines-treatments/alcohol
Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help. (2014). NIDA. Retrieved from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help
Witkiewitz, R., Litten, R. & Leggio, L. (2019). Advances in the science and treatment of alcohol use disorder. Science advances, 5(9). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax4043