Treatment of alcoholism — doctors can help cope with an addiction that leads nowhere

Treatment of alcoholism https://premium-bm.ru/services/narkologicheskiy-tsentr/lechenie-alkogolizma/ usually includes a set of measures and approaches aimed at helping a person get rid of alcohol addiction and restore their health and quality of life. Here are the main aspects of alcoholism treatment:

• drug treatment: Your doctor may prescribe certain medications, such as disulfiram, naltrexone, or acamprosate, that help reduce the desire to drink alcohol or create negative reactions to drinking alcohol.
• psychotherapy: Individual or group therapy sessions help a person understand the reasons for their alcohol addiction, develop stress management strategies, and change behavioral patterns associated with alcohol use.
• support and advice: Support from family, friends and mental health or addiction specialists plays an important role in successful treatment. This may include regular counseling sessions and participation in group programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
• treatment of physical complications: If there are physical problems caused by alcoholism (for example, cirrhosis of the liver, neurological disorders), appropriate medical treatment is necessary.
• rehabilitation and maintenance of remission: Once the active phase of treatment has ended, it is important to continue to support the person in remission by providing support, assistance, and tools to prevent relapse.

However, each case of alcoholism is unique, so treatment is usually individualized according to the needs and characteristics of the individual.

I’m not an alcoholic. I’m just drinking…

Experts say yes! There are certain signs and criteria that may indicate the need for specialized treatment for alcoholism. Here are some of them:

• loss of control: The person cannot control the amount of alcohol consumed or the duration of use. He may start drinking more than he planned or lose control of his behavior when he drinks.
• alcohol tolerance: Gradually, a person needs to drink more alcohol to achieve the same effect. This may indicate the development of physical dependence.
• abstinence: A person experiences withdrawal symptoms when trying to reduce or stop drinking alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms may include anxiety, shaking, sweating, nausea, and even seizures.
• denial of the problem: The person denies their dependence on alcohol or convinces themselves that everything is fine, despite obvious problems caused by alcohol use.
• social and professional problems: Alcohol consumption begins to affect a person’s social relationships and professional activities. For example, conflicts arise with family or work colleagues, productivity decreases, and financial problems arise.
• physical problems: Alcohol consumption leads to various physical problems such as liver, heart, digestive system, etc. health problems.

If a person exhibits at least a few of these signs, this may indicate that he needs specialized help to treat alcohol addiction. In such cases, it is important to consult a doctor or narcologist for advice and recommendations on further steps.

Treatment of alcoholism: men and women — differences in approaches

There are differences in the treatment of alcoholism between men and women. And they are associated with the biological, sociocultural and psychological characteristics of each gender. Here are some of them:

• physiological differences: Women typically have a higher concentration of fat tissue and less body water compared to men. This means that women metabolize alcohol more extensively, which can lead to higher levels of alcohol-induced organ damage at comparable levels of consumption.
• sociocultural factors: Standards and expectations around drinking may vary by gender. Drinking alcohol is often seen as more socially acceptable in men, which may lead to alcohol dependence being hidden or underrecognized in women.
• psychological aspects: Women often face unique psychological factors, such as depression, anxiety, or a history of trauma, that may contribute to the development of alcohol dependence. Therefore, the approach to psychotherapy and support for women may need to take these features into account.
• drug dosage requirements: Due to physiological differences between men and women, individualized dosages of medications used in the treatment of alcohol dependence may be required.
• social support: Women and men may have different social networks and sources of support. It is important to consider these differences when providing support and treatment for alcoholism.

Given these differences, alcoholism treatment professionals can take individualized approaches for each gender to ensure the best possible treatment outcomes.

Treatment of alcoholism: what determines the recovery time and effectiveness

The duration and effectiveness of alcoholism treatment can vary significantly depending on many factors. Here are some of them:

• degree of dependence: For people with severe or long-term addiction, treatment may take longer and require more intensive interventions. The deeper the roots of addiction, the longer the recovery process can take.
• related problems: People with alcohol addiction often have other problems, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or personality disorders. Treating these underlying problems may slow down the healing process.
• motivation to change: The effectiveness of alcoholism treatment often depends on the person’s motivation to change their lifestyle and overcome addiction. The more motivated a person is, the more successful treatment can be.
• support from others: Support from family, friends and professionals plays an important role in successful treatment. People surrounded by a supportive community are more likely to achieve more lasting results.
• individual characteristics: Each person is unique and what may work for one may not necessarily work for another. Therefore, it is important to individualize the approach to each patient, taking into account its unique needs and characteristics.
• type of treatment: Different treatment modalities, such as medication therapy, psychotherapy, group support, or inpatient treatment, may have different effects on each person. A combination of different methods is often the most effective approach.

The overall effectiveness of alcoholism treatment varies, but many studies show that approaches based on a combination of drug therapy and psychosocial support are often the most successful. It is important to remember that the process of treating alcoholism can be lengthy and requires patience and perseverance from both the patient and those around him.

And, of course, the professional level of doctors has a global impact on the results of alcoholism treatment. The qualifications, experience and competence of a specialist play an important role in the successful treatment of alcohol addiction. Here are some aspects that may be fundamental: