Treatment Programs Suitable For Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol dependence is too much consumption of alcohol done in a regular basis. It is also called alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction. People with alcohol problems should search for proper treatments to avoid further damage caused by alcoholism.
Treatment Function
Treatment plans aim to let patient understand the reason of their excessive drinking and to know the techniques to stop alcohol addiction. If the person can manage his drinking needs, education on how to stop drinking is the only therapy required. If the patient cannot stop drinking and displays symptoms of withdrawal when alcohol is withheld, he requires to have detoxification and rehabilitation.
Treatment Requirements
When a person already feels guilty every time he has too much drink, cannot control the cravings toward alcohol, drinks too much in the morning and gets angry every time someone notes his habit of drinking, the person already needs treatment. People with alcohol addiction often deny that they have a problem with alcohol. Patients who have realized the consequences of their addiction should immediately seek therapy. Patients who undergo immediate treatment have higher chances of recovery.
Treatment Beginning
Detoxification is the initial step to alcohol recovery. It last from four to seven days of treatment. Detoxification helps to totally remove alcohol in the body. This process requires close medical treatment and monitoring. Withdrawal symptoms that should be assessed are confusion, shaking, and hallucinations. These 3 symptoms are often called delirium tremens. Delirium tremens could be very risky and could even cause death. During detoxification process, clients are assessed in a 24-hour basis for safety purposes.
Treatment Types
After detoxifications, the client is ready for alcohol treatment centers. Alcohol treatment includes pharmacotherapy, behavioural therapy, psychotherapy, psychological therapy, family therapy and support groups. Drugs used in alcohol treatment are naltrexone and disulfiram. Naltrexone reduces alcohol cravings by blocking the addictive effects of alcohol. Disulfiram helps stop alcohol consumption by creating a very undesirable feeling to the abuser if he drinks alcohol. Patients with severe cases of alcohol addiction may be admitted in a residential treatment facility or a live-in facility for closer monitoring and treatment.
Choosing Treatment
Selecting the most appropriate alcohol treatment centers that will suit the needs of patients is not an easy task. There are many treatment options to choose from. You could be admitted in an inpatient, outpatient or residential facility depending on your case. The length of the treatment, insurance plan, certification of the treatment facility, the services offered in the treatment center and the competency of the staff and health care providers must also be considered.
