What is alcohol treatment?

Alcohol treatment refers to treatment for alcoholism. Alcohol treatment can come in various forms which are usually broken down into biological alcohol treatment, psychological alcohol treatment and social alcohol treatment. A comprehensive plan will include elements from all the forms of alcohol treatment.

Biological alcohol treatment

Biological alcohol treatment involves the prescription of medication. Alcohol detox is the commonest form of biological alcohol treatment. This involves the prescription of sedative medication to prevent and control alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Although often unrealized, alcohol withdrawal may be fatal if not treated with detox medication. Other biological alcohol treatment includes the prescription of medication to prevent relapse to alcohol use. Two medicines are commonly used in this context in the UK disulfiram (Antabuse) and acamprosate (Campral). Increasingly naltrexone is used as an alcohol treatment, as is topiramate.

Psychological alcohol treatment

Psychological alcohol treatment involves the provision of various forms of counseling to help the individual reduce harm or maintain abstinence from alcohol. The most proven forms of effective counseling in alcohol treatment are cognitive-behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing. However 12 step alcohol treatment (alcoholics anonymous model) is increasingly evidenced as highly effective, especially in a residential setting. Residential 12-step alcohol treatment is probably the most effective form of treatment to help an individual achieve and maintain long-term abstinence from alcohol.

Social alcohol treatment

It is usually considered vital that the social circumstances of the individual are taken into account when planning a return to normal life after a period of residential alcohol treatment. An unplanned return to the same situation as existed for the individual before admission for alcohol treatment may be responsible for relapse. Various forms of alcohol treatment have been devised around this theme, aimed at modifying the alcohol user´s social network, employment opportunities or financial situation for example.

Our professional advisors are available to you 12 hours daily, 7 days a week, to help you with expert, completely practical advice about drug addiction and alcoholism, free-of-charge. All appropriate forms of treatment can be arranged wherever you live. Telephone 0845 003 8274 now for advice in confidence.