Alcohol Abuse Treatment OptionsAlcohol abuse also popularly known as a drinking problem is a condition wherein a person excessively takes alcohol causing adverse health and social consequences to himself. While this is a serious problem, the drinker has the power to change or even stop his drinking habits altogether, thanks to the availability of alcohol abuse treatments. Such treatments may apply differently to different kinds of patients and this is why the expertise of a medical professional is required. A person has to check if he has the symptoms of alcoholism before deciding to undergo alcohol abuse treatment. If he is found positive for alcohol abuse and he or his family wish to seek treatment, then these are his options: 1. Two popular treatment approaches are the inpatient or outpatient alcohol treatment programs to help alcohol abusers stop their drinking problem. These are costly but understandably so because they require the services of professionals who are qualified to intervene with the alcoholism problem of patients, help them achieve coping skills, embrace lifestyle changes, and assist them in resolving psychological issues. Patients may choose to join Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). It is a therapy program that makes use of the peer-support approach. This is more effective for persons who feel isolated and those coming from a heavy-drinking social environment. 2. Another recommended treatment is the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This treatment aims to teach the patient to role-play so he can recognize and manage any possibility of a relapse and at the same time control the possibility of alcohol craving. CBT gets rid of dysfunctional thoughts, problematic behaviors, and maladaptive coping strategies. These conditions are believed to be the cause of an addictive disorder. It is often used in conjunction with medication, counseling, group therapies, and 12-step programs. 3. The Motivational Enhancement Therapy, on the other hand, is used with alcoholic patients to help them maximize their own resources to change their behavior. It is believed to be the most effective method to treat patients having high levels of anger. 4. In terms of medication, medical experts recommends the use of Naltrexone which is an anti-craving medication. It was designed to target the reward circuits of the brain thus allowing the patient to become sober after detoxification from alcohol. Neuroscience research also recommends the use of Acamprosate, also an anti-craving medicine that works on the different brain circuits to ease the discomforts felt by an alcoholic after withdrawal. Doctors sometimes add beta blockers and calcium channel blockers to the treatment plan of the patient to avoid increased blood pressure and heart rate. Alcohol abuse patients may also be given tranquilizing drugs like benzodiazepines to help calm them. 5. Experts may prescribe vitamins and fluids to counter withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening such as in the case of delirium tremens. Experts believe that vitamins can seriously fight nutritional deficiencies especially in people who drink excessively. Patients are also advised to take more fluids to replace liquid loss brought about by the diuretic effects of alcohol. Experts are currently probing the possibility of maximizing the use of genes as some believe that genes are most likely to be involved in increasing the risk of a person developing alcoholism. They have come up with advanced and powerful techniques to measure the specific contribution of each gene to a persons drinking behavior. Such technology is also gearing towards coming up with new medications that aim to treat alcohol-related problems. Soon, experts will be using data brought about by the said technology to lessen or if not easily treat alcohol abuse. |