Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction, as opposed to alcohol abuse, occurs when a person is dependent upon alcohol and cannot control his desire to drink. It is a treatable condition that can be conquered through a variety of measures, but usually takes some form of intervention to overcome.

Outpatient Rehabilitation

• In outpatient rehabilitation, the alcoholic lives at home and attends meetings and therapy sessions. The person must be committed to giving up alcohol for good. Depending on the addiction's severity, the alcoholic may go through a detoxification process, which can produce withdrawal symptoms that require medical care. The patient will likely be required to participate in Alcoholics Anonymous. All alcohol should be removed from the patient's home prior to beginning outpatient treatment. Most outpatient programs require a minimum of 12 hours of group and/or individual therapy per week, possibly including family sessions to help create a strong support system. Therapy sessions will provide information on how to prevent a relapse.

Inpatient Rehabilitation

• Inpatient treatment programs can last from 28 days to one year. Upon entering a facility, the patient will be checked for underlying medical conditions and then enter detoxification, which usually lasts for four to seven days. Medications may be given to ease withdrawal symptoms. Once the body is detoxified, the patient will attend daily therapy sessions and support groups to address issues such as what led to the addiction, how to function without using alcohol and how to maintain significant relationships while sober. Family participation may be offered or required. Upon completion of treatment, the patient may be referred to a sober living facility to transition them into living in the community. Alcoholics are also encouraged to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at least weekly.

Medications

• The Mayo Clinic lists three drugs that can help deter alcoholics from drinking: disulfiram, Naltrexone, and Acamprostate. Disulfiram make you sick-- with nausea, vomiting and headaches--if you drink alcohol. Naltrexone and Acamprostate block the receptors in the brain that crave alcohol. Medication is effective only if you sincerely want to recover and don't stop taking it.

Nutritional Options

• People addicted to alcohol are likely malnourished and often experience constipation, diarrhea and the inability to properly digest foods as a result of their poor diet. Additionally, the body cannot properly process tryptophan and tyrosine--two essential amino acids that affect mood and emotional stability--when alcohol is consumed in excess. To restore these amino acids in the body, eat foods such as milk, bananas, sunflower seeds, poultry, seafood, and tofu. Sugar and caffeine should be limited. Aim for a diet comprising 25 percent protein, 45 percent carbohydrates and 30 percent fat. Eat three meals and three snacks every day to maintain energy and stabilize your mood. Furthermore, follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Guide Pyramid for optimal healthy eating.

Mental Illness and Alcoholism

• In many cases, alcoholics also suffer from some form of mental illness that complicates their addiction. People with a weakened mental state are more prone to becoming addicted to alcohol. In addition, those who suffer from both mental illness and alcoholism are more prone to violence, failure to respond to medications, and unsuccessful recovery. In treating alcohol addiction it is necessary to also treat any underlying mental illness that may go along with it. Dual diagnosis services are available for people in such a situation. These programs integrate help for both conditions in one treatment program. They differ from standard rehabilitation programs in that they offer more extensive services such as job and housing assistance and assertive outreach. Assertive outreach involves the staff developing trustworthy and close relationships with the patient and monitoring and tracking their progress very closely. The actual program does not separate the two conditions during the treatment. There are not separate staff members focusing on one condition or the other. It is an all-encompassing approach to effectively recover from both alcohol addiction and mental illness. Medications, group therapy, and extensive one-on-one counseling can all be incorporated into a dual diagnosis treatment program.