| Alcoholism is defined in a number of ways but all these | | | | The choice of treatment may be different to those |
| definitions all point to the abuse of alcohol. There is one | | | | who see alcoholism as a medical condition and |
| definition that is forwarded by the Journal of American | | | | different for those who see alcoholism as a social |
| Medical Association that states that this alcoholism is a | | | | choice. These treatment are numerous and varied but |
| primary and a chronic disease that is usually | | | | they all share some general similarities. All these |
| characterized by the impaired control over drinking | | | | treatments call for a person to stop the use and the |
| activities, preoccupation with alcohol and the use of the | | | | abuse of alcohol and this is then followed by training |
| alcohol despite the consequences that can be | | | | and a support that will help the patient to return to a life |
| delivered by it and the distortions that happens in the | | | | of alcoholism. |
| thinking of one individual. | | | | One popular treatment is detoxification and this |
| Another definition of alcoholism defines this as the | | | | treatment calls for a stop in the intake of alcohol. Often |
| repeated use of alcohol even with the recurring of | | | | this treatment calls for a substitution of drugs. This kind |
| consequences. And the dependence on alcohol is | | | | of treatment may treat the physical effects of |
| defined as alcohol abuse that is usually combined with | | | | alcoholism but this doesn't treat the condition. Another |
| the tolerance, the withdrawal and the urge to drink. | | | | kind of treatment is called group therapy or the |
| Based on the provided definitions of alcoholism, it is an | | | | psychotherapy. The popular Alcoholics Anonymous is |
| accepted fact that the use of alcohol is needed in | | | | a popular example of a group therapy under this |
| order to develop alcoholism. But this doesn't mean that | | | | method. Often this is resorted to after the person has |
| once a person drinks alcohol, that person will ultimately | | | | stopped drinking alcohol. |
| develop alcohol dependence. | | | | Medications are also used in order to treat this |
| There are a number of factors at work that enables | | | | condition. Some of the medications that are used are |
| this condition to be present on person and in fact | | | | the Antabuse or the disulfiram and this medicine |
| these factors may affect the person in varying | | | | ensures that acetaldehyde will not be eliminated from |
| degrees. Some of these factors that have a say if a | | | | the body.The Naltrexone is another medication and this |
| person will develop this condition include the social | | | | is a competitive antagonist for the opioid receptors. |
| environment of the person, his emotional health and | | | | This medication is used in two different ways. The first |
| genes play a role as well. | | | | one is used to decrease the cravings for alcohol and |
| Treatment for Alcoholism | | | | the second one is used to reverse endorphin |
| The treatment that is used to counter alcoholism | | | | conditioning. Two other medications that are used to |
| differs and a number of treatments are available as | | | | address this condition are the Acamprosate or the |
| well. The choice on which treatment to use is | | | | Campral and the Topiramate. |
| dependent as well on how the condition is approach. | | | | |