Treatments to Aid Recovery from Alcohol Addiction
With the pressures of modern life, people often need to find an outlet to relieve daily stresses. While some turn to healthy outlets such as exercise, others find relief in less healthy outlets, one of which is alcohol.
Although alcohol is a part of social life and moderate consumption is fully acceptable, drinking too much can have seriously debilitating effects on one's mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.
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If you or someone you love suffers from alcoholism, there are several options available, depending of the degree of addition and the personality of the individual. Some options include:
- 12-step self help groups
- brief intervention
- combined treatment of alcohol and cigarette addiction
- couples therapy
- motivational enhancement therapy
- pharmacotherapy
- rehab centers.
Twelve-Step Self-Help Groups: Alcoholics Anonymous
Of all of the types of these groups around, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is probably the most nationally recognized: AA has more than 100,000 groups meeting in 150 different countries. Their total membership is about two million alcoholics.
In fact, this type of treatment for alcoholism is by far the most widely used, as it works well for people of all ages and from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds. These self-help groups are usually held at churches, coffee shops or community centers throughout the week at a variety of times.
In meetings, participants aren't required to speak or tell their stories, unless they are comfortable doing so. Instead, they are required to respectfully listen to other people's stories and experiences. Most of the time, new members are paired up with members that have been part of the program for longer periods of time. These "sponsors" provide guidance and support for the new AA members during their recovery process to sobriety.
The main benefit of this type of treatment for alcoholism is that AA participants develop coping skills, as well as a supportive social network to replace former drinking friends, with people who have shared similar experiences with alcohol. Consequently, alcoholics without families or non-drinking friends can find a supportive social community through this twelve-step program.
If you are considering joining or recommending AA, keep in mind that the program is spiritually based. In meetings, members talk about finding their "higher power" and finding inspiration from it to stay sober. As a result, some develop a personal sense of spirituality.
Participation in a 12-step alcohol addiction recovery program can be done in conjunction with other inpatient or outpatient treatments for alcoholism. Despite the fact that few studies prove the effectiveness of the AA 12-step method, there is documented evidence about the success of AA when combined with psychosocial therapy.
Studies indicate that participants in twelve-step programs who simultaneously receive psychosocial therapy are more likely to stay sober and employed than alcoholics seeking treatment for alcoholism through a twelve-step program alone.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy
During motivational enhancement therapy (MET), therapists work one-on-one with alcoholics to motivate them to overcome alcohol addiction. During MET, therapists develop addiction treatment plans for alcoholics while encouraging them to play an active role in recovery. For alcoholics who are reluctant to seek treatment for alcoholism or are nervous about participating in a 12-step self-help group to overcome their alcohol addiction, MET can be quite effective.
Couples Therapy
When the non-alcoholic husband or wife of an alcoholic participates in the alcohol addiction treatment, the alcoholic is more likely to fully participate in and recover from the treatment. This is most likely due to the support that couples therapy generates within those closest to the alcoholic. Not only does it help the alcoholic understand his or her disease and its triggers, but it also helps the non-alcoholic spouse comprehend the addiction and learn how to cope with and counteract it. Couples therapy combined with motivational enhancement therapy produces better recovery results that MET alone.
Brief Intervention
Many alcoholics are counseled by their primary care physicians or nursing staff during regular visits to the doctor. This kind of alcohol addiction treatment is known as brief intervention because it is short and specific. During brief intervention, medical professionals give alcoholics information about the negative effects of alcohol addiction and provide basic advice on how to stay sober or drink moderately.
Brief intervention works best with those who have not yet become alcoholics but are in danger of developing an alcohol addiction. Several studies have shown that brief intervention among freshman college students resulted in a significant decrease in alcoholism and alcohol-related problems in that group.
Combined Treatment of Alcohol and Cigarette Addiction
Some researchers believe that treating alcohol addiction and cigarette addiction simultaneously is essential. Nicotine, the main chemical in cigarette smoke, and alcohol interact in the brain, making an alcoholic or smoker even more vulnerable to full-blown addiction.
When nicotine and alcohol interact in the brain, each drug may make a person more vulnerable to dependence on the other drug. Consequently, some researchers postulate that treating both addictions simultaneously might be an effective, even essential, way to help reduce dependence on both. However, a recent study by Hurt and colleagues showed that treatment for nicotine dependence didn't promote abstinence from alcohol or other drugs. The jury is still out whether simultaneous treatment is more or less effective in treating alcoholism.
Pharmacotherapy
Depending on the severity of the alcohol addiction, some alcoholics may be prescribed a medication to help block the brain’s reactions to alcohol, which may cause alcoholism. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a variety of drugs for the treatment of alcoholism, including naltrexone, acamprosate and others.
Before starting an alcoholism medication routine, be sure to consult your doctor. While side effects for acamprosate are generally mild, those for naltrexone can be serious, potentially resulting in liver failure. Like other alcohol addiction treatments, medications are most effective when used in conjunction with therapy.
Rehab Centers
Most rehab centers offer both inpatient and outpatient alcohol addiction treatment options, depending on an individuals needs. They are especially effective for people who are suffering from severe alcohol addiction and in need of 24-hour guidance, supervision and care.
The Betty Ford Center is one of the most famous rehab centers in the United States. After suffering from her own chemical addiction, former First Lady Betty Ford co-founded the Center Rancho Mirage, CA with her friend, Ambassador Leonard Firestone, in 1982.
The Betty Ford Center is a non-profit addiction treatment center that offers treatments for alcohol addiction tailored to the needs of individual alcoholics. The Center is dedicated to supporting the needs of women and has gender-specific programs for women and men recovering from alcoholism.
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