Sunday 7 April 2013

Treatment for Alcohol Abuse

By: Kieran Ali

The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Among alcoholics with otherwise good health, social support, and motivation, the likelihood of recovery is good. Approximately 50% to 60% remain abstinent at the end of a year's treatment and a majority of those stay dry permanently. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. 


  • Treatment for alcoholism can begin only when the alcoholic accepts that the problem exists and agrees to stop drinking. Treatment has 3 stages:
  1. Detoxification (detox): This may be needed immediately after discontinuing alcohol use and can be a medical emergency as detox can result in withdrawal seizures, hallucinations, and confusion of delirium tremens (DT) and in some cases can result in death.
  2. Rehabilitation: This involves counseling and medications to give the recovering alcoholic the skills needed for maintaining sobriety. This step in treatment can be done inpatient or outpatient. Both are equally effective.
  3. Maintenance of Sobriety: This step's success requires an alcoholic to be self-driven. The key to maintenance is support, which often includes regular Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and getting a sponsor.
There are also certain medications that may assist in the treatment process for more information please visit : http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0201/p441.html

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