When Is Chronic Alcoholism Treatment Needed?Chronic alcoholism is defined as the prolonged abuse of alcohol at a level that severely impairs physical, mental and social functions. Alcohol abuse is characterized as a drinking pattern within a period of one year that includes drinking in inappropriate or dangerous situations such as while driving - the inability to perform work, home or school-related obligations and continued drinking even at the risk of impairing family and other relationships. Chronic alcoholism treatment is highly needed when the suspected afflicted person:
Recognizing alcohol abuse is essential in determining the need for alcoholism treatment programs. Most people who abuse alcohol experience guilt about their drinking behavior even while exhibiting irritation at being criticized for drinking. They attempt to make up for the behavior in various ways, and consider cutting down on their consumption but stop short of actually stopping their drinking. Many prefer to drink alone so they can keep their habit a secret and many drink alcohol first thing in the morning. They are unable to work and can get suddenly violent at home. The chronic alcohol abuser can develop erectile dysfunction or disruption of the menstrual function. They often appear depressed, and talk of suicide. Medically, the signs of chronic alcoholism are most often present in the liver and the kidneys, leading to alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. Other organ systems are also affected such as the nervous system (alcoholic neuropathy, dementia or Wernicke's encephalopathy) and the circulatory system (alcoholic cardiomyopathy and high blood pressure). The incidence of cancer also increases, involving the larynx, colon and esophagus. Once a person is confirmed to have chronic alcoholism, intervention programs should at once be considered including treatment and counseling. A good source for information regarding chronic alcoholism treatment is the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) whose research has been focused on improving existing treatment protocols and developing new strategies for therapy. Among the behavioral treatments found by the NIAAA to be efficacious are the enhancement therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy and the 12-step therapy. The use of medications to treat alcohol abuse can be used in conjunction with therapy, but there is no single medicine that has been developed as yet which works for all cases of alcoholism. Commonly used substances include anti craving medications such as naltrexone, acamprosate and disulfiram. To counter withdrawal symptoms, which include hallucinations, blood pressure effects and “the shakes,” the psychoactive drug benzodiazepine is used as a mild tranquilizer in the first few days of chronic alcoholism treatment. However, this needs to be monitored carefully and used for only a short period of time because it is also addictive. Even if the symptoms described above are not all present in a person suspected of being a chronic alcohol abuser, it may still indicate that a problem is developing. It would be wise to seek help and advice if one or two of the symptoms are exhibited by a family member or a friend. Early intervention in the form of alcoholism treatment will minimize and possibly reverse the adverse effects of prolonged alcohol abuse. |