| Alcoholism treatment comes in many forms, but for | | | | indicate that as many as 45% of the inpatients were |
| someone who's prone to long-term binge drinking, the | | | | abstinent one year after being discharged from the |
| only cure may be quitting cold turkey and getting | | | | 12-step AA treatment. |
| counseling that teaches alternate coping mechanisms | | | | For very severe alcoholism treatment, there are a |
| and life skills. Some people who only drink socially on | | | | variety of pharmacotherapy options. The FDA |
| occasion but over-do it each time and then react with | | | | approved Naltrxone (ReViaTM) to treat recovering |
| violence or out-of-control behavior may be ok with | | | | alcoholics who are also undergoing counseling. The |
| attending a few Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or | | | | most common side effects include nausea, difficulty |
| abstaining. | | | | sleeping, muscle pain and nervousness. |
| For people who drink on a daily basis or over-indulge | | | | Another drug, called Acamprosate, has proven to be |
| every weekend to the extent that it impedes their life, | | | | twice as effective alongside therapy sessions, as just |
| then long term recovery from alcoholism is needed. | | | | therapy alone in European trials of over 3,000 patients. |
| While the waiting lists can span 1-4 weeks, a facility | | | | Early onset drinkers can increase their number of |
| with other recovering alcoholics can be extremely | | | | abstinent days and decrease alcohol consumption with |
| effective. | | | | Ondansetron (Zofran) or Prozac, whereas later onset |
| The most common alcoholism treatment is the 12-step | | | | drinkers find Sertraline (Zoloft) to be more effective. |
| program advocated by Alcoholics Anonymous. This | | | | Most drugs are only effective if taken regularly and in |
| approach emphasizes self-help, focusing on mental, | | | | conjunction with psychosocial therapy. |
| physical and spiritual recovery from alcoholism. | | | | Alcoholism treatment must be taken seriously in order |
| The first step is admitting that alcohol has rendered the | | | | for it to be effective. Patients who come in |
| drinker powerless over his or her own life. The | | | | begrudgingly because "someone made them" will |
| alcoholic comes to understand a higher power and | | | | generally not see success. |
| sense of purpose. The drinker takes a moral inventory | | | | The initial counseling session is crucial because that's |
| and assesses the nature of his or her own defects. | | | | when the person seeking recovery from alcoholism |
| The person will make amends to those wronged or | | | | articulates the problem, the need for a solution and |
| hurt by alcoholism. The 12-step programs aim to | | | | selects the most appropriate, individualized method to |
| change one's way of thinking so alcohol abusers | | | | achieve that recovery. Adherence to the program can |
| become more honest with themselves, more spiritual, | | | | be assisted by the support and encouragement of |
| more introspective and more outwardly giving. Recent | | | | friends and family, but ultimately it's the individual who |
| studies from the Department of Veteran Affairs | | | | must overcome this debilitating disorder. |