What is the treatment for alcoholism? Alcoholism is treated by detoxification and involvement in a 12 Step program. Alcoholism can be treated. Treatment programs consist of counseling and medications to...
Alcoholism can be treated. Treatment programs consist of counseling and medications to help a person stop drinking. Most alcoholics need some type of assistance in order to overcome the disease. With support from groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, and treatment, many people can resist their addiction and rebuild their lives.
"The initial treatment is detoxification from the alcohol in a detox center using one of the standard accepted detox regimens, of which Librium still appears to be a mainstay, although there are others," says Dr. Ally Bloom, a medical director and owner of Pasadena Recovery Center. He is psychiatrist with four years experience in treating alcoholism. "Inclusion in a program that teaches the person about the illness and eventually prepares them to get a sponsor. They also need to participate in a twelve step alcoholics program that assures long-standing sobriety."
According to National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a range of medications is used to treat the disease. Valium and Librium are used to help a person safely go through withdraw during the first stages of detox. Though several medications help treat alcoholism, there is not one pill that will cure the disease, help overcome the disease or help cope with the disease. "In other words, no single medication is available that works in every case and or in every person," their website states.
Detoxification entails fooling the body into believing that it is still getting alcohol, using a substance that occupies much of the same receptor sites. Then it slowly decreases so that delirium or acute alcoholic symptomatology can be stopped.
"It is a lifelong process, because the alcohol is so integrated into a person's life that they have to work consistently at straightening out their life and making it more smooth so they don't slip back," says Bloom. "If you are a drug addict you have to contact a dealer or go somewhere and make a huge effort to get the drug. Whereas if you are an alcoholic all you have to do is go to the grocery store and put your alcohol in the same grocery car that you put your bread and milk in."
Alcoholism treatment works for thousands of people. There are varying levels of success when it comes to treatments, but a lot of people do stop drinking and continue to live sober lives. Others have long periods of sobriety with bouts of relapse, and others cannot stop drinking for any length of time. Only with treatment and dedication to receiving help can one overcome this disease.
"It is really hard to stay sober because they have to change their friends and have to stay away from what we call slippery people and slippery places," says Bloom. "They have to change their living habits and they have to make a definite shift on all those accounts."
There are many organizations out there to help people. The National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service provides a toll-free telephone number, 1-800-662-4357, where you can get information.
