The alcoholic is unable to stop his craving for drinking. He fails to complete his obligations at work or home. He undertakes activities that are dangerous in his condition, including drunk driving. He may encounter legal problems, & cannot & won’t stop drinking despite personal, official & medical problems.
Alcohol abuse refers to the chronic consumption & craving for alcohol, so that it interferes in the normal social & economic functioning of the person. Alcohol Rehab tries to treat & bring back to normal victims of this condition.
Alcohol Rehab must be finished carefully by trained medical professionals. It involves evaluation & management of acute alcohol withdrawal, treatment of nutritional deficiencies, detoxification & the maintenance of abstinence.
Alcoholism can be fatal. It affects the addict’s health in plenty of ways. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is an irreversible condition associated with excessive consumption of alcohol by pregnant women. It leads to physical & mental deficiencies & even fetal death. Another killer condition is Cirrhosis, caused by alcoholism & leading to liver failure & death.
Medical treatment of alcoholism involves initially the management of alcohol withdrawal. Treatment includes the use of thiamine & folate fed intravenously to prevent Wernicke Kosakoff syndrome (an eye disorder). Seizures must be treated with Benzodiazepines.
After medical management is over, a psychosocial Rehabilitation program must be undertaken. This includes educating the entire relatives of the patient, individual or group therapy, or even a spiritual ‘12 steps to sobriety’ program given by Alcoholics Anonymous.
there’s some important points to remember. Supervised withdrawal is the first step & must not be hurried. Hurry can be fatal. A medically supervised detox program is the first step. Next step is to select a Rehab center. Find a treatment center that deals not only with addiction but the holistic picture of psychosocial & legal problems.
The program must involve a major amount of therapy–counseling & occupational. Therapy or counselling is critical for alcohol treatment. Patients learn to resist alcohol use, replace drug-using activities with constructive & rewarding activities. they are asked to shun alcohol abusing company. they also relearn normal relatives & social living patterns.
Treatment involves continuous monitoring for alcohol use. Some people may require medication for their treatment, & this must be monitored. Some may be suffering from mental problems that need special treatment. The treatment period may vary with each case, but 3 months is a safe period for most treatment.
The main point is that there is no singular Rehab formula. The success of treatment depends on finding the right program & methods. Effective treatment must address the patient’s drug use & also related medical, social, psychological, vocational & legal problems.
The treatment may be long-term, involving periods of relapse. The crucial point is not to give up hope, but work patiently till you reach complete abstinence.
