According to the Mayo Clinic, alcoholism is characterized by a physical dependence on the substance. Alcoholics crave a drink regardless of the physical, financial, emotional and legal consequences. They cannot stop. Unlike a person who abuses alcohol, an alcoholic has no control over when or how much he drinks.
Drugs
There are a number of medical treatment methods available to treat alcoholism. Antabuse, or disulfiram, has long been used as a deterrent to drinking. The Mayo Clinic reports that Antabuse produces a violent physical reaction if anyone drinks while taking the drug. Although it doesn't prevent cravings or treat any of the underlying causes of the excessive drinking problem, it can provide alcoholics with a reason to pause before taking a drink and getting sick. ReVia, or naltrexone, can block the high that comes from drinking, removing one of the reasons an alcoholic drinks. Another drug that does help to reduce cravings is called Campral, or acamprosate. An injectable drug called Vivitrol works similarly to naltrexone by blocking cravings in the brain. It's administered monthly and is only available to those who abstain from alcohol for a week and are receiving ongoing therapy.
Treatment
Substance abuse treatment facilities provide services for drug addicts and alcoholics to help them recover. Alcoholism treatment centers typically provide an inpatient, medically supervised withdrawal period. Following the initial withdrawal phase, patients can spend two weeks to 30 days in intensive therapy and re-education sessions. Some treatment facilities provide physical enhancements such as yoga and spa treatments to help ease the transition to sobriety. Other treatment programs can last for one to three years and provide job skill training and re-orientation to society. Substance abuse treatment centers also can provide outpatient services that patients report to daily for group and individual therapy. Patients are given access to community resources that can help them stay sober. Family counseling is offered to help family members cope. Those looking for an appropriate treatment facility should consider the location of the facility, the needs of the patient, the time required to attend the program and the costs associated with treatment. Centers can be found through local social service agencies, family physicians or sites such as Treatment Centers.net (see References below).
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a 12-step program that many people use to get and stay sober. Although many treatment centers introduce their patients to the AA fellowship while the patient is still in treatment, others can attend a meeting with no referral and find the support needed to stay sober. There's only one requirement for membership to the program--a desire to stop drinking. AA members teach each other what has worked since the early 1950s in treating the disease of alcoholism. Members often will sit with newcomers as they withdraw from the physical effects of the alcohol to ensure they don't go into convulsions. They share their own experience with quitting and what kinds of situations serve as triggers for relapse. Alcoholics go to meetings regularly. They're located throughout the world every day of the week. AA offers sponsorship relationships in which alcoholics can talk one-on-one with a trusted adviser. The program is based on 12 steps meant to provide a means to find a spiritual source of strength, make personal changes and amends to those the alcoholic have harmed and provide a vehicle in which the alcoholic can help others.
