Alcohol Rehab

Alcohol addiction is a common problem. However, not everyone who abuses alcohol becomes dependent upon it. Dependence is a state that has evolved not only as a result of drinking too much, but because of physical changes that have occurred in the brain. People are born with a vulnerability determined by genetic makeup which enables these changes to occur when the individual becomes exposed to alcohol. Over time, the drive to drink becomes the top priority and this drive is neurological. Voluntary control over behavior becomes much more difficult, which explains why people continue to drink despite suffering significant adverse consequences. At this point, when the individual attempts to quit drinking, he/she experiences characteristic withdrawal symptoms, including shakiness, tremors, anxiety, sweats, increased heart rate and blood pressure, sometimes confusion, hallucinations, insomnia, and rarely, seizures.

Detoxification from alcohol involves using medicine to treat the withdrawal signs and symptoms and to prevent the serious complications. Typically, the patient is given a benzodiazepine such as Librium or Valium which share properties with alcohol and therefore allows a controlled decrease in exposure to the brain. The brain slowly adjusts to the absence of the alcohol. At this point, rehabilitation can occur. The individual must learn about those factors that lead to craving to drink–e.g. stressors, triggers, etc, and helping coping strategies which can lead to healthy behaviors. Research has revealed a number of medicines which can significantly decrease craving to drink. Unfortunately, most treatment programs in the country do not offer the option of taking these medicines, since they erroneously believe that simply making a choice to not drink and/or attending 12-step meetings should be sufficient for everyone dependent upon alcohol. The medicines include naltrexone, ondansetron, and acamprosate.

It works in a completely different way from the above medicines. When people drink while taking disulfuram, they become severely ill–nauseous, vomiting, sweats, dizzy, etc. Therefore, the idea is that people will be dissuaded from drinking since they know that this will happen. Of course, the person who wants to drink will simply stop taking this medicine. It appears to be helpful in the situation where there is a very supportive significant other who can monitor the ingestion of the pill each morning. Much research is being done in alcohol dependence and many more medicines will become available to treat this devastating disease. All people who suffer from alcohol dependence should be educated about the available options for treatment.