subject: The Most Effective Therapies Available For Alcoholism [print this page] After the patient suffering from alcohol addiction has admitted about the presence of the problem, appropriate treatment must follow for immediate recovery. There are treatment options available to assist you in your journey towards sobriety.
12-Step programs
Alcoholic Anonymous is the most common type of 12-step programs for alcoholism according to HelpGuide.org. This particular program encourages a sense of belongingness to members by sharing their stories and struggles to fellow alcoholics. Each person will have a support person through a sponsor who will help him in his journey of recovery by offering council when temptation arises. A sponsor is a fellow recovering alcoholic who has sustained recovery for a long period of time. Part of the philosophical approach of the program is to allow a client to worship a higher power. Patients who are not comfortable with this spiritual approach could choose Secular Organization of Sobriety (SOS) and SMART Recovery.
Counselling
Individual counselling helps the clients know themselves better. The main reason of their alcoholism, the root cause of their problem and the way to cope with the issue are tackled in individual counselling. Couples and family counselling are beneficial to help restore relationships that were greatly affected by alcoholism. Support group is helpful to foster cooperation and encouragement from alcoholics.
Rehabilitation Programs
According to HelpGuide.org, there's a variety of treatment options available depending upon the level of care called for the patient's condition. Residential alcohol treatment centers are for patients requiring an intensive treatment procedures. It usually last between 30 to 60 days. Sober living homes are for clients who have completed residential treatment and who want to adjust from the life inside the rehab center to a normal life in the society. Outpatient alcohol treatment centers are also available for people who are still functioning well in the society but are suffering from alcoholism. They meet weekly once to thrice a week depending on the type of program needed by the patient.
Medicines
Drugs are usually effective even without counselling or other treatment support. Other treatment methods besides medication are used to back-up medications to make treatment more effective. Disulfiram is a drug used to stop alcoholism by creating an unpleasant reaction once alcohol is ingested. Symptoms include sweating, thirst, chest pain, heart palpitations, vertigo, confusion, nausea and vomiting. Naltrexone is another drug used to treat alcohol addiction. It stops the pleasure sensation brought by alcoholism and does not cause any adverse reactions according to the American Academy of Family physician.
