Alcohol Addiction Treatment; The 3 Main Steps

Alcohol Addiction Treatment; The 3 Main Steps
By David Richards



In alcohol addiction treatment programs there are three major steps that are included whatever treatment philosophy they have. These are; stop drinking or alcohol intervention, alcohol detoxification and alcoholism rehabilitation.

Below, I will describe each of these main steps in a little more detail.

Step 1. Stop The Drinking

Also known as alcohol intervention. This is in most cases the start of alcoholism treatment whereby the drinking problem is recognized and acknowledged by the drinker and perhaps family members or employer as well. As soon as the alcohol problem is recognized, alcohol consumption is stopped for those persons that are alcohol dependent.

If the person is what we call a problem drinker, moderate drinking may be successful. Many alcohol addicts at first will not acknowledge that their drinking is out of control, and moderation can often be a successful way to deal with the drinking problem. If moderation works, we can say that the drinking problem is solved. If it doesn't work, then the person is usually ready to try going thru abstinence. Because alcoholism affects the people closely related to the problem drinker, education and treatment for family members through counseling is necessary in many cases.

Step 2. Get The Poison Out Of The Body

This is known as alcohol detoxification. This phase of an alcohol addiction treatment plan usually takes from 4 to 7 days. The rule here is that the more alcohol a person has been drinking each day, the higher the likelihood the person will develop alcohol withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking.

These symptoms can range from annoying and uncomfortable to serious and even life-threatening. Withdrawal symptoms generally start within 12 hours of the last alcohol consumption and will reach its peak in two or three days. It might be necessary for the patient to stay at the hospital for medical observation.

In a hospital, withdrawal from alcohol can be done safely, and medications can be used as needed to relieve withdrawal symptoms. There are some other medical problems that may exist and increase the likelihood of developing severe withdrawal symptoms. For instance, blood clotting and liver problems are often found in heavy drinkers, and serious symptoms such as convulsions, fever or delirium tremens can also develop.

Step 3. Alcoholism Rehabilitation

Recovery from alcoholism or alcohol addiction normally include support for the problem drinker once the detoxification phase is completed to help maintain alcohol abstinence. This important alcoholism recovery support will likely include counseling, nursing and medical care within these kinds of programs. Alcoholism disease education and alcohol effects on the body should be part of the rehabilitation.

An alcoholism treatment program can be an inpatient or outpatient program. Medications are sometimes prescribed to help prevent relapses. Naltrexone will reduce the cravings for alcohol. Antabus is another remedy that is used in such treatment. It functions by producing unpleasant side effects if alcohol is consumed within fourteen days after the drug is taken, no matter how little you drink. Counseling or support groups are often necessary on a long-term basis to help maintain sobriety.

If not treated, alcoholism or alcohol abuse can become life-threatening It is never too late to begin with the treatment steps mentioned here to help a problem drinker regain control of their health and their lives.

If you'd like to find out more about what alcoholism treatment option facilities exist, you can search online for a USA alcohol abuse treatment center that's located near you. If recovery from alcoholism becomes a priority in your life or the life of someone you love, you should definately seek an alcohol addiction treatment program that can provide the caring and professional alcoholism treatment that the problem drinker can't do on his own but truly deserves.

David Richards is a publisher of Alcoholism Treatment Articles. You can go to 1st-Alcoholism-Treatment.com for more.

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