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What is alcoholism help?

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

Biological alcoholism help

Biological alcoholism help involves the prescription of medication. Alcohol detox is the commonest form of biological alcoholism help. 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 alcoholism help 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 a form of alcoholism help, as is topiramate.

Psychological alcoholism help

Psychological alcoholism help 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 alcoholism help are cognitive-behavioural help and motivational interviewing. However 12 step alcoholism help (alcoholics anonymous model) is increasingly evidenced as highly effective, especially in a residential setting. Residential 12 step alcoholism help is probably the most effective form of therapy to help an individual achieve and maintain long-term abstinence from alcohol.

Social alcoholism help

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 alcoholism help. An unplanned return to the same situation as existed for the individual before admission for alcoholism help may be responsible for relapse. Various forms of alcoholism help have been devised around this theme, aimed at modifying the alcohol user’s social network, employment opportunities or financial situation for example.

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