Alcoholism Treatment

Alcoholism Treatment

Alcoholism is one of the top causes of death, domestic violence and accidents around the world; hence it is not a surprise that alcoholism treatment is a major priority for medical programs. Contrary to many beliefs that one can be cured from alcoholism without professional aid, alcoholism is at its most basic nature, a form of chemical abuse and addiction. Medical alcoholism treatment has been around since the 17th century when a Greek monk documented that alcohol misuse led to seizures and paralysis due to an excessive amount of alcoholic toxicity in the nervous system.

There are several means of alcoholism treatment. The most common is Benzodiazepine, a psychoactive drug that functions as a sedative and has hypnotic qualities. It is mostly preferred for alcohol withdrawal and not alcoholism treatment per se yet may still be used for treatment if taken on a short-term basis. This is mainly because Benzodiazepine is quite addictive and the patient may only assume to be cured of alcoholism when in fact he or she has developed a dependency on something else. Benzodiazepine is best used on short-term alcoholism treatment that focuses on insomnia and anxiety attacks.

Another prescribed form of alcoholism treatment is Disulfiram, commonly known as Antabuse. This drug prevents the body from eliminating acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is the main cause of hangover symptoms such as headaches, sweating, nausea, vomiting, short-term paralysis and flushing of the skin. Disulfiram allows acetaldehyde to pass through the body’s system, thus enhancing the discomfort one experiences when drinking. This discourages an alcoholic to drink when going under this form of alcoholism treatment. Under a 9-year survey Disulfiram and a similar drug, Temposil, has had a successful alcohol abstinence rate over 50 percent.

Naltrexone is an alcoholism treatment quite contradictory to the concept behind Antabuse and Temposil because this drug actually promotes the drinker to continue drinking while taking the prescription. This is because Naltrexone halts the release of endorphins, preventing the brain to feel the reward of alcohol intake. With no given reward, the alcoholic slowly loses interest inward drinking. This is the basic concept of the Sinclair Method- behaviors that are rewarded are most likely to be repeated while those unrewarded are discouraged to be done again. Taking away the reward of drinking slowly takes away the initiative to drink.

Then there is Acamprosate, under the brand name of Campral. Acamprosate prevents the brain’s physical chemistry from being altered when alcohol intoxicates the body. This is achieved by antagonizing chemicals such as glutamate that further causes the physical changes during alcohol intake and alcohol withdrawal like delirium attacks and severe headaches.

Besides medical prescription drugs there are other forms of alcoholism treatment such as detoxification. Detox, as commonly known, is usually paired with a drug that substitutes the alcoholic’s dependence on drinking. Benzodiazepine is a common drug subscribed with detoxification.

Lastly there are group therapies that promote alcoholism treatment by mutual help. The largest of these groups is Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous and other group therapy societies such as SMART Recovery take the process through non-professional counseling and group discussions. This form of mutual assistance has proven to be successful when paired with a drug such as Acamprosate and Naltrexone.