Glucose Cure for Alcoholism

In 1991, the American Medical Association officially acknowledged alcoholism as a disease. This disease is said to be characterized by a dependence on alcohol and the experience of physical symptoms such as sweating and shaky hands. Most medical experts say that there is no cure for alcoholism; instead there is simply a treatment program to counter the physical and psychological addiction to alcohol. There is a first-hand report of a cure for alcoholism that uses glucose, however there is no scientific research to support this claim other than by the inventor of the cure.

Glucose Cure

• Ken Reed, a former alcoholic, claims that he met a physician in Texas by the name of Wilfred Packard Bonin, who cured him of alcoholism through the intravenous use of glucose. Mr. Reed claims that he's been clean and sober for over 26 years. The concoction, a combination of 80 percent distilled water, 10 percent glucose, and 10 percent alcohol was approved by the FDA in 1943 for the relief of delirium tremens. According to Mr. Reed, this substance is injected into the blood following a schedule that slowly reduces one's intake of this substance.

  Dr. Bonin did obtain an official U.S. patent for this unique treatment. According to his research, after administering the treatment program and contacting patients afterward: "It can be seen that of the patients contacted, 38.6 percent remained abstinent. This figure is considerably better than the 3 to 10 percent cure rate associated with conventional treatment methods. Moreover, it is even more encouraging to note that of the recidivist patients which were re-treated, 44 percent have remained abstinent. This indicates that re-treatment is a valuable adjunct therapy for recidivism."

  Thus, while he does not maintain that these methods are an absolute cure, he does claim that they are more effective than the traditional forms of treatment for alcoholism.

  No other medical experts or research has yet to corroborate his claims.

Traditional Methods

• Seeking the professional assistance of a therapist is an effective way to cope with alcoholism. There is more than one mode of therapy. Motivational Enhancement Therapy allows a patient to discover the effect that their drinking has on other people and the reasons why they drink. Cognitive Behavior Coping Skills Therapy helps the patient realize what wants and necessities are being fulfilled by drinking and assists them in changing their behavior. Lastly, 12 Step Facilitation Therapy can help a patient in conjunction with seeing a therapist. 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Smart Recovery give the alcoholic an environment of sympathetic, understanding individuals, which can act as a springboard for recovery.