Alcoholism Treatments

What is alcohol addiction treatment?

According to the government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 19.3 million people need treatment for alcoholism. The problem of alcohol dependence and abuse can develop quickly, as the illustration below indicates. The devastation caused by alcoholism, however, can last a lifetime.

(source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism http://www.spectrum.niaaa.nih.gov/charticle/Default.aspx)

There are multiple reasons alcoholics do not receive treatment: ambivalence about quitting, denial, lack of information, lack of resources, fear about family, job loss and a host of other emotional responses. All objections can be overcome if one seeks help.

Treatment help is available for alcohol addiction, if an individual truly wants to get sober. Depending upon one’s level of addiction, outpatient treatment may be possible. Detox from alcohol can be dangerous, especially in later stages of alcohol abuse. Going “cold turkey” can be life threatening and should never be attempted alone at home. Detox should be closely monitored by licensed medical staff. But detox alone will not help stop alcohol addiction. Addiction treatment following detox provides an alcoholic with a variety of tools to deal with his or her disease and the goal to remain sober and abstinent. Detox alone is not sufficient to arrest the disease of alcoholism, or indeed, drug abuse. It is recommended that an alcohol treatment program immediately follow detox.

Searching the web, one finds a variety of programs aimed at helping an alcoholic get sober. All programs are not the same. A person seeking help for alcoholism should make sure that the provider has a state license, is accredited, and the staff have expertise in addiction. That is a minimum requirement for both outpatient and inpatient treatment. Best practices call for inpatient treatment facilities to provide patients with 24-hour supervision by medical staff and licensed, degreed therapists with expertise in addiction.

Addiction, whether it is to alcohol, drugs, or both, is driven by a variety of factors: biological, genetic, psychosocial, and environmental. The best approach to alcohol addiction treatment is a multidisciplinary one, where all the factors are evaluated and included within the treatment plan.

Statistically, an ever growing number of people are suffering from both alcohol addiction and a mental health disorder(s), often the result of using alcohol to self-medicate the symptoms of depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. When co-occurring disorders exist, the use of drugs and alcohol may temporarily alleviate symptoms, but worsens the mental health issues in the long term. It is necessary to treat both the mental health disorder as well as the alcoholism if the patient is to return to a sober, healthy state.

“Addiction treatment must help the individual stop using drugs [or alcohol], maintain a drug-free [alcohol-free] lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Because addiction is typically a chronic disease, people cannot simply stop using drugs [alcohol] for a few days and be cured. Most patients require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and recovery of their lives.”
(source: National Institute of Drug Abuse, http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/treatmeth.html”

Best practices indicate that treatment be individualized. The pace of treatment, the types of therapies applied, and the use of medication (when appropriate) should always be determined by the patient’s progress. Treatment requires regular patient re-evaluation and adjustment of the patient’s treatment plan based upon emerging issues.

Types of Alcohol Addiction Treatment Centers

A variety of treatment centers exist to help those suffering from alcohol abuse. The type of facility a patient requires is determined by his or her physical, emotional, environmental, and financial condition.

Outpatient Detox
Outpatient Treatment
Inpatient Medically Monitored Detox
Inpatient Treatment
Residential Treatment Programs
Partial Hospitalization or Day Treatment
Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Programs

Types of Treatments for Alcohol Addiction

Researchers know that alcoholism is a disease of the mind, body and spirit. To address the multifaceted aspects of a person’s life, a variety of treatment modalities may be required. These modalities include:

Pharmacotherapy
Because alcohol changes the brain structure and functioning, it is sometimes necessary to help the recovering alcoholic avoid cravings with the use of medication. To date, there are five types of medications being used to help treat alcoholics:

Campral
Antabuse
Oral naltrexone (ReVia)
Extended-release injectable naltrexone (Vivitrol)
Topamax

Therapeutic Models

Motivational Enhancement Therapy
Family Therapy
Brief Interventions
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Group Therapy
Dual Diagnosis Education
Medication Management
Relapse Prevention
Exercise and Relaxation Techniques
Nutritional Counseling
Aftercare Plans

12-Step Programs for Alcohol Addiction Treatment

While some people may be able to go to Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) without going to treatment first, a growing number of those that frequent the rooms have been through detox and treatment. Regardless, the basis of AA (indeed all 12-step programs) is the belief that abstinence, change, community, and spirituality can provide a recovering alcoholic with a strong support system and a lifestyle that will help him or her stay sober.