ALCOHOL REHABILITATION
What
is alcohol abuse and dependency?
Alcohol
abuse is the voluntary abuse of alcohol. Alcohol dependency is further
down the line and involves the compulsive abuse of alcohol. Abuse
is defined as unhealthy drinking, such as drinking too much and
too often , if left untreated, usually leads to dependency.
What are the signs of alcohol abuse? It is often difficult for friends
and family to detect whether someone has an alcohol problem and
needs alcohol rehabilitation, but there are signs.
What
can help?
If you suffer from or think you suffer from an alcohol problem,
then the most important thing is to seek alcohol rehabilitation
specialist help. If you are dependant on alcohol and have
been drinking large amounts, then it is important to seek
medical advice before you stop drinking because the physical
withdrawal symptoms can sometimes be dangerous and need
medical supervision for alcohol rehabilitation.
Drug
addiction is a treatable disorder. Through treatment that
is tailored to individual needs, patients can learn to control
their condition and live normal, productive lives. Like
people with diabetes or heart disease, people in treatment
for drug addiction learn behavioral changes and often take
medications as part of their treatment regimen.
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Behavioral
therapies can include counseling, psychotherapy, support groups,
or family therapy. Treatment medications offer help in suppressing
the withdrawal syndrome and drug craving and in blocking the effects
of drugs. In addition, studies show that treatment for heroin addiction
using methadone at an adequate dosage level combined with behavioral
therapy reduces death rates and many health problems associated
with heroin abuse.
In
general, the more treatment given, the better the results. Many
patients require other services as well, such as medical and mental
health services and HIV prevention services. Patients who stay in
treatment longer than 3 months usually have better outcomes than
those who stay less time. Patients who go through medically assisted
withdrawal to minimize discomfort but do not receive any further
treatment, perform about the same in terms of their drug use as
those who were never treated. Over the last 25 years, studies have
shown that treatment works to reduce drug intake and crimes committed
by drug-dependent people. Researchers also have found that drug
abusers who have been through treatment are more likely to have
jobs.
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