Alcohol Treatment. Learn about alcohol poisoning treatment, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, alcoholism and depression, and alcoholism and alcohol abuse rehab.

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Please call this number 24/7 if you have questions about a drug or alcohol problem or if you want
some information about drug or alcohol treatment. (888) 565-2282
http://www.Alcohol-Treatment-Info.com
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Not unlike other diseases and illnesses, alcoholism can be overcome with prevention, professional
alcohol treatment, and increased research efforts. As serious as alcohol dependence is,
fortunately it can be treated. Keep in mind, however, that this does not mean that there is a cure
for alcohol addiction.
What it does mean, however that if alcohol treatment is received early enough in the disease, the
person can usually attain sobriety and start on the road to alcohol recovery. Alcohol treatment
programs usually use a combination of doctor prescribed medications and counseling to help an
individual stop drinking.
Not only this, but most forms of alcohol treatment take place in an alcohol rehab hospital, drug and
alcohol rehabilitation clinic, or an alcohol treatment center. Frequently, the first step utilized in the
treatment of alcohol addiction is detoxification, a process which lets the body rid itself of alcohol
while controlling the alcohol withdrawal symptoms in a harm-free environment.
While detoxification is a necessary first step, much more is involved in the alcohol treatment
process than detoxification.
An Essential But Basic Question: What is Alcoholism?
Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence and alcohol addiction, is an increasingly
degenerative disease that includes the following four symptoms.
* Craving: having a strong urge or need to drink.
* Physical dependence: withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, headaches, nausea, perspiration,
and the shakes when suddendly quitting drinking.
* Tolerance: the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to feel a buzz or to get high.
* Loss of control: an inability to stop drinking after the first drink.
Alcoholic Symptoms
Concerning alcoholic symptoms (also called alcoholism symptoms by some people), it is important
to point out that social, psychological, and spiritual alcoholic symptoms can be just as painful and
problematic as the better-known physical alcoholic symptoms.
Alcoholic symptoms affect alcoholics when they drink, when they try to quit drinking, when they go
through the sobriety and recovery process and, unfortunately, when they go through alcohol

2. withdrawal symptoms. When discussing the topic of alcoholic symptoms, keep the following in
mind.
First, alcoholism leads to a series of painful and destructive emotional, spiritual, social, and
physical symptoms that will get progressively worse unless the alcoholic quits drinking.
Second, an important step in the recovery process is acknowledging that drinking has become a
problem and having the desire and the motivation to stop drinking.
Third, once the alcoholic reaches this point, the next issue to resolve is how to best handle the
alcohol withdrawal symptoms that typically follow. According to medical research, everyone who
experiences alcohol withdrawal symptoms needs to get professional alcohol treatment.
Fourth, the most effective and logical way to deal with one's alcohol withdrawal symptoms is to
immediately see a doctor or healthcare provider so that he or she can evaluate the severity of the
your drinking problem and suggest the most effective form of treatment.
Treatment for Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse: An Overview
Similar to other diseases and medical conditions, alcoholism can be overcome with proper alcohol
treatment, prevention, and increased research.
By providing more individuals with access to quality treatment for alcohol abuse and alcoholism,
the costly drain on society and the financial, emotional, and physical burdens this disease places
on families can be reduced to a great extent.
Indeed, research has shown irrefutable evidence that successful prevention and professional
alcohol and treatment programs result in significant reductions in child abuse, HIV, heart disease,
strokes, crime, unwanted pregnancy, traffic fatalities, and cancer.
Furthermore, quality drug and alcohol treatment improves health, job performance, and quality of
life while at the same time reducing family dysfunction, drug use, and involvement with the criminal
justice system.
The treatment for alcohol dependency usually employs a combination of counseling and alcohol
treatment medications to help a person refrain from drinking.
Even though most alcoholics need professional assistance in order to recover from their disease,
research has revealed that with support and alcohol treatment, many individuals are able to
abstain from drinking and reclaim their lives.
Does this mean that there is a cure for alcohol addiction? Unfortunately, the medical community
has not yet developed a cure for alcohol addiction. That's the bad news. The good news, however,
is this: if the disease is treated early enough, alcohol recovery is a definite possibility.
In short, while the negative terms that are associated with "alcohol" are many, a more positive
association of terms includes the phrase "alcohol and treatment" mainly because with treatment,
an individual can overcome alcohol abuse or alcoholism and start on the road to alcohol recovery.

3. Alcohol Treatment: Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
When the terms alcohol and treatment are discussed, one of the first things that comes to mind
concerns alcohol withdrawal symptoms. When an alcoholic abruptly quits drinking alcohol, he or
she usually suffers from alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as depression, headaches, rapid heart
rate, and feeling nervous.
Even with professional treatment, these symptoms may take days or weeks before the body
returns to "normal."
A number of various techniques exist for treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms. While many, if not
most of these treatment approaches use medications, a number of alcohol therapies, conversely,
do not.
Indeed, according to current research findings, the safest way to treat mild alcohol withdrawal
symptoms is without medications.
Such non-drug detoxification programs use screening and extensive social support throughout the
entire withdrawal process. Other non-drug detoxification therapies, additionally, use proper
nutrition and vitamin therapy (especially thiamin) when treating mild withdrawal symptoms.
Mild to Moderate Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
The following represents mild to moderate physical alcohol withdrawal symptoms that typically
take place within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic drink:
* Vomiting
* Rapid heart rate
* Clammy skin
* Sweating (especially on the palms of the hands or on the face)
* Sleeping difficulties
* Abnormal movements
* Tremor of the hands
* Loss of appetite
* Looking pale
* Nausea
* Involuntary movements of the eyelids

4. * Enlarged or dilated pupils
* Pulsating headaches
Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
The following is a list of severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms that usually occur within 48 to 96
hours after the last alcoholic drink:
* Black outs
* Fever
* Convulsions
* Delirium tremens (DTs)
* Seizures
* Severe autonomic nervous system overactivity
* Visual hallucinations
* Muscle tremors
Traditional Forms of Treatment for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
There are numerous traditional alcohol treatment methodologies that are relatively well
established and considered "mainstream" therapies.
The following alcohol treatments and programs, all of which are considered "traditional"
approaches, will be discussed: Detoxification, Behavioral Treatment, Therapeutic Medications,
Outpatient Alcoholism Treatment and Counseling, Residential Alcoholism Treatment Programs
and Inpatient Alcohol Rehab, and Family and Marital Counseling.
It might be pointed out that most of these traditional approaches are undertaken in an alcohol
treatment center, rehab hospital, or a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic.
In short, the treatment of alcohol addiction consists of a wide variety of approaches that have been
relatively successful in helping people stop drinking and start on the road to alcohol recovery.
Alcohol Detoxification
Alcohol detoxification is the process of letting the body rid itself of alcohol while managing the
alcohol withdrawal symptoms in a safe environment.
Alcohol detoxification treatment is usually done under the supervision of a medical practitioner and

5. is frequently the first step employed in an alcohol and treatment program.
Behavioral Treatments
Behavioral treatments such as Motivation Enhancement Therapy, Alcoholics Anonymous, and
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are often employed in the treatment of alcohol addiction.
A study administered by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that each of
these behavioral treatment therapies significantly reduced drinking in patients the year after
treatment.
Although all of these programs were considered "successful," none of them was classified as "the
best" alcohol treatment program.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Alcoholics Anonymous is a mutual support program for recovering alcoholics that is based on the
12-steps of recovery that are used to stay sober. Help and support are provided by the regularly
scheduled meetings.
Is Alcoholics Anonymous the best form of alcohol treatment? While Alcoholics Anonymous is an
effective therapeutic approach, most practitioners outside of Alcoholics Anonymous, as well as
many people inside Alcoholics Anonymous, believe that Alcoholics Anonymous works best when
combined with other forms of treatment such as medical care and/or psychotherapy.
Motivation Enhancement Therapy (MET)
Motivation Enhancement Therapy (MET) is a systematic therapeutic approach that is almost 180
degrees different from Alcoholics Anonymous in that it uses motivational strategies to activate the
client's own change mechanisms.
Some of important characteristics of MET regarding the treatment of alcohol dependency are the
following:
* Providing the client with a number of alternative change options
* Receiving clear advice to make healthy changes
* Emphasis on taking personal responsibility for positive change
* Therapist empathy
* Providing feedback regarding the personal risks or damage associated with the abuse
* Helping the client achieve self-efficacy or a sense of optimism
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

6. There are several forms of cognitive behavior therapy. Most of them, however, when focusing on
alcohol and treatment have the following commonalties:
* CBT approaches are based on the cognitive model of emotional response. That is, if we change
the way we think, we can act and feel better, even if the situation doesn't change.
* CBT uses the Socratic Method that is based on the asking of questions for insight.
* CBT is based on stoic philosophy. CBT does not tell clients how they should feel. Rather, this
form of therapy focuses on helping clients learn how to think more logically and effectively.
* CBT theory and techniques rely on the Inductive Method. This method has clients look at their
thoughts as hypotheses (or suggested explanations) that can be tested and questioned. If clients
discover that their hypotheses are incorrect, they can then change their thoughts and feelings to
be more in line with reality.
* In CBT, a solid therapeutic relationship is necessary but not the primary focal point for effective
therapy.
* CBT is structured and directive.
* CBT is a mutually shared effort between the therapist and the client.
* CBT is based on an educational model that views most emotions and behavioral reactions as
learned responses. Thus, the therapeutic goal is to help the client unlearn undesirable reactions
and emotions and replace them with new and more positive ways of feeling and reacting.
* CBT usually has therapeutic sessions that are briefer and fewer in number than most other forms
of therapy.
* Homework is a central feature of CBT.
* CBT is based on stoic philosophy. CBT does not tell clients how they should feel. Rather, this
form of therapy focuses on helping clients learn how to think more logically and effectively.
Therapeutic Medications
The treatment of alcohol addiction from this therapeutic framework centers on medications that are
prescribed by medical doctors to treat alcohol dependency or severe cases of alcohol abuse.
Many alcohol substance abuse scientists and practitioners claim that chronic alcoholics who
cannot maintain sobriety should receive doctor-prescribed medications to treat and manage their
alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Another major benefit of this form of medications-focused treatment is that people who are alcohol
dependent are less likely to experience seizures and/or possible brain damage when they receive
therapeutic medications for their addiction.

7. The Benzodiazepines
Alcohol addiction researchers have recently discovered that the benzodiazepines are the
medications most likely o produce positive results when treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Examples include the longer-acting benzodiazepines such as Librium and Valium and the shorter-
acting benzodiazepines such as Serax and Ativan.
Traditionally, when medical practitioners used benzodiazepines, they used a progressive decrease
in doses over the time-frame of the withdrawal process.
Intermediate To Short Half-Life Benzodiazepines
A number of alcoholism practitioners and scientists have found that intermediate to short half-life
benzodiazepines should be used when treating withdrawal symptoms.
These alcoholism professionals made their decision based on the following two points. First, the
shorter-acting benzodiazepines do not remain in the person's blood for an excessive period of
time.
And second, the shorter-acting benzodiazepines can be administered via measurable and
observable dose reductions.
Medications To Prevent Alcohol Relapse
Another facet of alcoholism treatment with therapeutic medications focuses on different drugs
such as disulfiram (Antabuse) or naltrexone (ReViaT that are prescribed by a health care
professional to help prevent the individual from returning to drinking after he or she has
experienced a relapse.
In a word, in this treatment approach, doctors prescribe various drugs to treat a person's addiction.
For instance, antabuse produces negative effects such as flushing, dizziness, vomiting or nausea
if the alcoholic ingests alcohol.
Needless to say, antabuse is effective mainly because it is such a strong deterrent. Naltrexone
(ReViaT), conversely, is effective because it targets the brain's reward circuits and reduces the
craving the alcoholic has for alcohol.
Outpatient Alcoholism Treatment and Counseling
There are various approaches to counseling that teach alcoholics how to become aware of the
psychological and situational "triggers" of their problem drinking.
Armed with this information, alcoholics can then learn about different ways in which they can cope
with situations that do not include the use of alcohol. These types of alcohol treatment
methodologies, unlike detox therapies, are usually offered on an outpatient basis.

8. Residential Alcohol Treatment Programs and Inpatient Alcohol Rehab
If there's a need for alcohol AND drug abuse treatment, if the person's withdrawal symptoms are
excessive, if a person needs alcohol poisoning treatment, of if outpatient and support-oriented
programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous are ineffective, the person usually needs to enroll into a
rehab hospital or a residential alcohol treatment center and receive inpatient alcohol rehab
treatment.
Such alcohol and treatment programs are usually geared for alcoholic inpatients and typically
include doctor-prescribed medications to help the alcoholic get through detox and alcohol
withdrawal treatment in a harmless manner.
Family and Marital Counseling
Since the recovery process is so intimately related to the support the person receives from his or
her family, a number of alcohol and treatment programs include marital and family counseling as
essential aspects in the treatment protocol.
Such therapeutic programs, furthermore, may also provide alcoholics with essential community
resources, such as childcare courses, job training, legal assistance, parenting classes, and
financial management classes.
Alternative Alcohol Treatment Therapies
Although the research findings are unclear, there are some alternative treatment approaches for
alcohol abuse and alcoholism that are becoming more widely used and "mainstream."
There are various therapeutic approaches that are viewed as "natural" forms of alcohol treatment
and include the following: the naturalistic and holistic approaches used by Traditional Chinese
Medicine, "Drumming out Drugs" (a form of therapy that employs the use of drumming by clients),
and various vitamin and supplement therapies.
As promising as these alternative therapies are, more research is required in order to establish
their effectiveness and to determine if they provide long-term alcohol treatment success.
Alcoholism and Depression
While on the topic of alcoholism treatment, it is noteworthy to point out that according to the
alcohol abuse and alcoholism research literature, alcoholism and depression frequently occur in
the same individual.
This may indeed be associated with the fact that alcohol is a depressant and therefore may be a
reason why so many individuals get depressed when they drink in a hazardous and irresponsible
manner.
In any event, various research studies stress the point that the individual needs to get quality
treatment for both medical conditions if he or she exhibits alcoholism and depression.

9. A Cure for Alcohol Addiction?
Regrettably, the medical community has not yet created a cure for alcohol addiction. In most
instances of alcoholism, is this really a huge issue? Stated another way, with the advancement of
alcohol treatment within the past ten years, would a cure for alcohol addiction accomplish
significantly more that professional alcohol treatment if the disease is treated early enough?
In other words, if alcoholics truly want to recover from their addiction, then they need to get
immediate alcohol treatment before the disease gets out of control and is basically unmanageable.
And if alcohol recovery is attainable for the vast majority of alcoholics, doesn't this somewhat
make the need for a cure for alcohol addiction less urgent?
Alcohol Treatment: Conclusion
In spite of the fact that a cure for alcohol addiction has not been discovered, various drug and
alcohol treatment approaches however, have been developed that help individuals recover from
alcoholism. In a word, there is a multitude of alcohol and treatment information that is available,
both offline and online.
As a result of this information, alcoholism practitioners currently have access to a wide range of
alcohol treatment approaches for their patients.
Some of the methodologies regarding the treatment for alcohol abuse and alcoholism, such as 12-
step self-help programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, for instance, have been around a relatively
long period of time.
Other approaches pertaining to the treatment for alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse, including
brief alcohol intervention and different protocols based on fields other than alcoholism, such as
couples therapy and motivational enhancement therapy, are basically new approaches in alcohol
treatment that have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing the risk for alcohol-related problems.
The major change that has taken place in the treatment for alcohol addiction and for alcohol
abuse, however, has been the introduction of alcoholism clinical research. Indeed, for the past 10
or 15 years, this area of research has made substantial progress toward a thorough assessment
of both existing alcohol-related treatment approaches and more recent methodologies.
Commonly, the first step employed in the treatment of alcoholism is detoxification, a process which
rids the body of alcohol while managing the alcohol withdrawal symptoms in a safe environment.
While detoxification is a necessary first step, significantly more is involved in the alcohol treatment
process than detoxification.
Continued research on alcohol's effects in the brain and on the connection between the brain and
behavior, an area of research that has led to the creation of drugs to reduce craving, is expected
to arm alcohol practitioners with an extensive scope of highly specific drugs that will, when
employed in combination with various behavioral treatment approaches, improve the likelihood for
alcohol recovery and, as a consequence, help those who suffer from alcohol abuse and
alcoholism to restore their lives.

10. Alcohol is a depressant and not a stimulant as claimed by many people who believe that drinking
helps them "unwind" and become more energized in social circumstances. It is this fact, however,
that may help explain the fairly typical occurrence of alcoholism and depression in the same
person.
What is more, according to alcohol abuse and alcoholism research, when a person displays
alcoholism and depression, it is vital for the individual to get treatment for both of these medical
conditions. As a final note, most types of alcohol treatment approach are undertaken in a
residential or outpatient alcohol treatment center, rehab hospital, or a drug and alcohol
rehabilitation clinic.
In these treatment facilities, a person's alcoholic symptoms can be identified, monitored, and
treated in an effective and safe manner.
==== ====
Please call this number 24/7 if you have questions about a drug or alcohol problem or if you want
some information about drug or alcohol treatment. (888) 565-2282
http://www.Alcohol-Treatment-Info.com
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