Alcoholics keep drinking even in the presence of serious problems at work, in relationships and with health, according to the Mayo Clinic. Mary-Anne Enoch, M.D., M.R.C.G.P., and David Goldman, M.D., of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism report that alcohol abuse causes social and legal problems, accidents, acts of violence and 100,000 deaths annually in the United States. Alcoholics may be unable to control how much they drink and are unable to stop, even if they want to.
Treatment is available for alcoholics, and a number of options exist.
Peer Support Groups
Providing guidance, support and assistance, peer support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Smart Recovery, Women for Sobriety, and Secular Organizations for Sobriety are widely available. Many alcoholics find these groups are essential for treating their condition. They provide social support, and teach coping skills and strategies to prevent or deal with relapses. Also available are support groups for family members and others close to an alcoholic, such as Al Anon.
Detox
Long-term heavy drinkers may need medically supervised detoxification. Detox is usually done in a hospital or alcohol treatment facility, although it can be done at home as an outpatient with physician supervision. The process usually includes being prescribed sedative medications to prevent serious withdrawal symptoms and usually takes four to seven days, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Residential Treatment Programs
Residential treatment programs, also known as "rehab," exist for those with serious alcohol problems. The recovering alcoholic will live at a treatment center for up to a few months while working with professionals experienced in treating alcoholism. The Mayo Clinic explains that residential treatment may include attending peer support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, participating in individual, group, and family counseling, and attending educational sessions.
Medication
According to Steven H. Williams, Ph.D., in a November 2005 article in the journal American Family Physician, there is a growing body of evidence that supports a more prominent role for medication in the treatment of alcoholism. Anticraving medications reduce the intoxicating effect of alcohol and the urge to drink. Medications in this category are naltrexone, or ReVia, and acamprosate, or Campral.
Disulfiram, or Antabuse, is known as an aversion medication. It doesn't reduce the urge to drink, but instead causes a very unpleasant reaction, inlcuding nausea, vomiting and headache, if alcohol is consumed.
Topiramate, brand name Topamax, is an anti-seizure drug. It also helps control impulsivity. Research indicates it may help to treat alcohol dependence.
Warning
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal generally start within hours after a person stops drinking, reach their peak in two days, and resolve within five days. It is important to be aware of a severe form of alcohol withdrawal called delirium tremens, or DTs, a life-threatening condition requiring emergency treatment. Signs include confusion and disorientation, extreme agitation, vomiting, fever, convulsions and hallucinations. A person withdrawing from alcohol who is exhibiting these symptoms should be taken to a hospital immediately.
