Alcoholism (or alcohol use disorder) is a medical condition that is common across the world. Here, people who are suffering from it cannot stop drinking even when they are facing dire health conditions. Also, this condition puts them at risk and damages their personal relationships.
Generally, alcoholism requires treatment in the form of medication and behavioral therapy. Basically, with proper medication and treatment, patients can reduce the amount of alcohol they consume. In some cases, patients stop drinking entirely.
What Is Alcoholism and What Damages It Causes?
When someone is suffering from alcohol addiction, they may struggle to stop drinking despite the negative impact on their physical health, mental well-being, and personal relationships. Left untreated, alcohol use disorder (AUD) can escalate from mild to severe, increasing the risk of long-term damage.
Early treatment for alcoholism is crucial in preventing further deterioration. At the initial stages of addiction, individuals may benefit from behavioral therapy, counseling, and mild medication to help manage cravings and build healthier habits. However, as alcohol dependence progresses, more intensive interventions such as medical detox, inpatient rehab, and structured relapse prevention programs become necessary.
While some individuals may relapse post-treatment, studies indicate that most people significantly reduce alcohol consumption after undergoing professional care. In many successful cases, individuals achieve long-term sobriety with the right support system and evidence-based addiction treatment. Seeking early intervention can make a critical difference in recovery outcomes and overall well-being.
Primary Treatments of Initial Stage Alcoholism
The following are the ways through which alcoholism is treated in initial-stage patients:
1. Diagnosis
The diagnosis of alcoholism goes through many stages. Firstly, health experts diagnose alcoholism by performing a physical examination of the patient’s current condition. For instance, too much alcohol consumption causes particular problems in patients.
Healthcare professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria, which they use depending on the patient's symptoms.
For instance, if you have alcoholism, your healthcare expert will first determine whether you have the problem in the first place or not. Then, they will check if your condition is mild or in the range of moderate to severe.
Here, if the symptom is mild, it matches two to three criteria in DSM-5.
However, if the symptoms are moderate, they match four to five criteria.
On the other hand, if the symptoms are severe, they match six or more criteria.
These factors help the health expert to understand what treatment to prescribe to the patient suffering from alcoholism.
2. Management and Treatment
Depending on your situation, you will receive treatments from healthcare experts. For instance, the healthcare expert will recommend residential rehabilitation if you have a severe condition. In some cases, they may recommend inpatient medical treatment.
You will better understand the treatments for alcoholism by understanding these standard treatment methods below:
a. Behavioral Treatment
In this treatment, the healthcare expert recommends counseling. This counseling will help you to change your drinking behavior. You might have to work with psychologists or addiction counselors in such cases.
b. Medication
Naltrexone and Acamprosate are used to treat alcoholism. These medicines are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). In other cases, healthcare experts also recommend Topiramate and Gabapentin. These medicines help people suffering from alcoholism to decrease their cravings.
c. Connecting with Support Groups
By connecting with support groups, you can share your problems with others who understand your situation. Apart from that, this also allows you to stay with those on the same path as you. Basically, they want to make their lives better by getting rid of alcoholism altogether.
3. Prevention of Alcoholism
If you are the one who is suffering from extreme alcohol consumption or alcoholism, you can take many steps to prevent it. First, you have to get rid of high-risk drinking.
For instance, if you are a woman who drinks a lot that is ruining your life and relationships, do not drink more than once/twice per day. Also, ensure you do not consume more than eight drinks per week. This way, you can lower your alcohol consumption significantly in a few months.
On the other hand, if you are a man who drinks a lot and alcohol is ruining your life and relationships, do not drink more than twice/thrice per day. Also, ensure you do not consume more than twelve drinks per week. This way, you can significantly lower your alcohol consumption.
However, if you drink more than that, start changing your behavior and gatherings. This will help you cut back on alcohol or quit. In some cases, if you spend more time with people who do not drink alcohol, you will end up controlling your urge to drink in a few weeks.
Can Alcoholism Be Cured?
Most studies show that most people suffering from alcoholism eventually recover from the condition. This means they either reduce how much they drink or they quit drinking altogether.
1. Talk to a Counselor
For instance, some people start drinking alcohol to cope with stressful situations in life. If you face the same issues, consider talking to a counselor or a healthcare provider. This is because if you are under stress, you might relapse again and start drinking a lot of alcohol.
2. Develop Healthy Habits
The best way to deal with too much alcohol consumption is to stay away from alcohol or people who drink a lot. Also, develop healthy habits, like exercise, yoga, meditation, or prayer (if it works for you).
3. Understand Your Triggers
Moreover, try to understand what triggers you to drink alcohol. This way, you can stay prepared and avoid those triggering factors. However, if you think you are ending up drinking too much, you can always contact a healthcare provider and a therapist.
What to Do Now?
If you believe you are suffering from alcoholism, speak with a therapist or healthcare provider before it’s too late. Even if you are in the early stages of the problem, it can quickly worsen, impacting your health and relationships.
Taking action now is essential to prevent further complications. Seek help and start your recovery journey today.
Reviewed by
