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Alcoholism Treatment Plans

Alcoholism is classified as a chronic disease, characterized by a physical need for alcohol. It is possible to be an alcoholic and not have any indication of alcoholism. Alcoholism is treatable with self-help groups and counseling.

  1. Alcoholism

    • Most people with alcoholism do not believe or realize that they have a problem. Some symptoms that may indicate a problem are an inability to limit the amount of drinks, a compulsion to drink, or drinking alone or secretly. If you feel like you need to cut back on your drinking or feel guilty about drinking, it may indicate a problem. Steady drinking or drinking at a young age can increase the risk for alcohol dependency. In general, men are more likely to be alcohol dependent, as are those people with a family history of alcoholism.

    Treatments

    • Treatment for alcoholism is normally delivered in four stages: getting started, detoxification, treatment and maintenance. Getting started involves assessing the level of alcohol dependency and determining the best course of treatment. Detox from alcohol can take between 4 and 7 days and can sometimes cause seizures and delirium, depending on the level of dependence. Sedatives are sometimes administered to aid in the detoxification process.

      Active treatment involves teaching a person how to deal with their feelings instead of drinking alcohol. Group counseling and support groups also have an important part in this stage of treatment. Some medications are used to diminish the craving for alcohol and deter alcohol use. Drugs like Disulfiram will not cure alcoholism, but when taken, they can produce a violent reaction if mixed with alcohol -- often vomiting and nausea. The longer people spend in active treatment, the more likely they are to stay sober for a longer period of time.

      In the maintenance stage of treatment, recovering alcohol abusers take the lessons that were learned in active treatment and apply them to real life. These lessons are useful in a situation that may have triggered drink before treatment. Recovery support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are also sometimes included in the treatment plan. People who participate in AA practice the 12-step recovery program and tackle sobriety one day at a time through the sharing of experiences. AA has an estimated 2 million members in more than 180 countries.

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