Alcoholism And Rehabilitation

Alcoholism, similarly cognize as intoxi put forwardt dependence, is unfortunately a widespread ailwork forcet which spans mountain of all(a) age groups and socioeconomic take aims. The puff upness risks of this disease, and alcoholic drinkic drinkism is a disease, ar as widespread as the individuals who contract it. In addition to these health risks, alcoholism is alike an influencing factor in a nonher problem plaguing societies, interior(prenominal) violence. Thus, alcohol and anger create a sometimes fatal combination. As a result, renewal achiever evaluate be vital in the ridding alcoholism and its negative ca wasting disease from society.Alcoholism is a disease which end be described by degree. Alcohol dependence describes individuals who wee-wee developed a maladaptive pattern of alcohol custom which is characterized by a underdeveloped alcohol tolerance, sezession symptoms, or hangovers, and the inability to break up crapulence. It doesnt stop there People with alcohol dependence whitethorn progress to alcohol pervert which bum significantly interfere with their social lives, their work or their interpersonal relationships.In addition, this ab enjoyment can also ca utilisation a server of connect issues including major depression, dysthymia, mania, hypomania, panic disorder, phobias, worldwideized anxiety disorder, personality disorders, any(prenominal) medicate use disorder, schizophrenia, and suicide (Cargiulo 2007). According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), drinking up to 14 drinks in a week for men or s even off drinks per week as a woman could depute alcohol dependence. In addition, the NIAAA estimates that up to c abide 18 million Americans could be con alignred alcoholics (Lauer 2006).That marrows to modal value too many individuals who are devoted to a drug that is some(prenominal) physi call iny and mentally harmful, non to mention the effects on society as a whole. co ntempt the many mental and physiological problems that are associated with alcoholism, some of the most terrorization are the health problems associated with the maven. Evidence exists that shows the damage that alcohol consumption does to the brain. wiz imaging studies have revealed that slew with alcoholism have significant differences in parts of their brains than those without alcoholism.The brain volume is reduced in alcoholics as well as the blood f hapless to the brain. The reduced blood flow has been linked to a lowering of inhibitions and memory, impaired cognitive function in general and even damage to the corpus callosum (Cargiulo 2007). Thus, alcoholism can directly empathize to serious problems with the mind. These problems can lead to long term brain damage. Lesions in the brain form in those with long term patterns of alcohol abuse. This can translate into Korsakoffs disease which is characterized by motor impairment and thought impairments which can affect a per sons ability to attending for him egotism.In the end, the individual may have to be cared for institutionally. Alcohol affects the neurotransmitters in the brain. As the disease progresses to chronic status, the brain cells begin to adapt to the alcohol that appears to bear permanently in the brain. As a result, the brain becomes reliant on the alcohol to work. If alcohol is removed, the symptoms of withdrawal take long-lasting and longer to subside. Ultimately, the brain tissue will rebel, in a way, and the withdrawal symptoms can be severe, even fatal. Once the cells in the brain die, they can non be regenerated (Shoemaker 2003).These effects seem to affect males to a greater degree than females. This fact can be let offed by differences in drinking patters, choice of alcoholic drinks, rate of alcohol metabolism and the protective effects of hormones such(prenominal)(prenominal) as estrogen (de Bruin, 2005) As such, alcohol dependency and abuse is three times more undischa rged in men as it is in women even though raise suggests that for both genders, the numbers are underreported (Cargiulo 2007). As if the physical effects on the body were not bad enough, the bearings of individuals who are addicted to alcohol are also quite dangerous.The drinkers find themselves to be less inhibited and more willing to engage in unsafe behaviors. numerous of these behaviors can be characterized as aggressive and violent. In addition to the money that society has to cook up for the medical care, it is also very costly to sort through all the social issues that alcoholism may create. Galvani (2004) binds several possible undercoats why this risky and damaging behavior may occur in drinkers. Physiological theories designate that ethanol, the drug in alcohol increase aggression biologically.A possible action cognise as Disinhibition speculation notational systems the earlier link between alcohol and cognitive function, specifically the portion of the brain m entioned above that regulates levels if inhibition. The Deviance Disavowal possibility argues that the abusers use alcohol as a reason for their behavior and consciously drinks so that they can blame the alcohol for their actions. Social Learning theories explain that people will act in a way ground on their experiences around others. Therefore, parents and societal expectations can lead to alcoholic abuse and abusive behaviors (Galvani, 2004).As with many ailments, more than one option for interference exists. Many of these options can occur in conjunction with others. For years, behavior modification such as one might find in various 12 Step Program or other similar programs have been the way of choice. These programs focalization on the addicts significantly ever-changing the way they behave in society including the people with whom they associate. Either a professional or a group of individuals led by a former addict further the alcoholics recovery.Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) , is an organization most known for its success place for alcoholics recovery. It is available to anyone who desires its services. Lately increasing research evidence has give that a 12-step program affiliation is not only powerful on its own, but even more effective along with professional, medical word, including dorm based programs. The truth is, Involvement with AA is consistently and positively associated with improved drinking outcomes, replicated across a large volume of studies using a mannequin of accostment methods (Cloud, Zeigler and Blondell, 2004).The reason for this success is the three core items of AA identification of self as a member, the number of steps completed, and the quantity of meetings attended (Cloud, Zeigler and Blondell, 2004). It can be a tiring process for an already worn individual. Because so many of these types of programs rely on frequent attendance by the alcoholics. wizard study sought to find the correlation, if any, between the date of word and the level of intensity of the treatment. Moos and Moos (2003) conducted a study of 276 alcoholics who began formal treatment for alcohol abuse.These diligents were heterogeneous with out-patient programs, residential programs, or a combination of the two. The norm length of treatment was 20. 7 weeks, and the average intensity, or number of contacts, was 2. 8 contacts per week. These researchers first note that the individuals who had longer duration of treatment usually had less intense treatment. They tack together that patients who had a short treatment duration, which is considered 1-8 weeks, were more equally to abstain from alcohol than those who received no help whatsoever.If the treatment lasted for nine weeks or more, then(prenominal) the patient was even more possible to abstain from alcohol. This seems to suggest that the longer the treatment duration, the better the individual may respond to the treatment (Moos and Moos, 2003). However, lately the questio n has arisen as to whether or not recovering alcoholics must in all abstain from alcohol or not. Most programs, such as AA, or other groups perhaps affiliated with churches or in-patient and out-patient residential programs, build authorization and motivation for success on complete life changes.These changes includes huge behavior shifts which focus on completely eliminating alcohol. Unfortunately, many people do not seek treatment because they dont want to completely give up the occasional beer or social glass or wine. Humphries, Weingardt, and Hoyst (2005) match and have encouraged programs like Moderation Management which do not force individuals to part with alcoholic beverages forever. Allowing a choice of goal may be one effective way to increase the numbers of people willing to enter alcohol treatment.It is estimated that as few as 10% of individuals with alcohol use disorders attend treatment more flexible goals may appeal to a wider range of these people. There is also evidence that therapy can move people toward choosing a realistic drinking goal for themselves (Humphries, Weingardt, and Hoyst, 2005). On one side of this debate are those that argue in favor of fasting. They say that the disease controls the individual and that this person will definitely lose control of they are exposed to alcohol, even a small amount . (Humphries, Weingardt, and Hoyst, 2005).Never drinking again is the surest way to cure this disease. Alcohol recovery patients are constantly reminded that they are and always will be an alcoholic, beneficial like a diabetic always will be a diabetic. Opponents to the abstinence-only line of reasoning argue that people and their problems with alcohol are all contrastive with divergent times of drinking and different levels of drinking. The researchers use the common phrase different strokes for different folks in describing this philosophy. While they agree that some problems submit abstinence, but they allow that other ind ividuals could moderate their drinking and still improve.They call this a harm-reduction orientation toward alcohol problems which focuses less on the amount of alcohol consumed and more on helping individuals decrease the harms related to alcohol use. Although abstinence may be desirable, it is not the primary measure of successful outcomes (Humphries, Weingardt, aned Hoyst, 2005). whatever of the personal demographics of individuals who are more likely to experience success on non-abstinent programs include younger people, those with social and psychological stability, those who are regularly employed, and those who conceptualize that they can seriously manage a moderate drinking program.However, if the patients are pregnant, experiencing liver problems, or are in the advanced stages of alcoholism, they may be forced to consider only the abstinence route (Humphries, Weingardt, and Hoyst, 2005). Another reason that some people avoid seeking treatment for alcoholism is their falt er to commit to residential or in-patient treatment. Luckily, recent studies have indicated that outpatient treatment is effective in treating alcoholic dependency. Studies of this type have reported abstinence rates of 34-59% for 6 months post-treatment, 48 % for 19 to 24-month post-treatment and 52% for the 49-month post-treatment mark.In Bottlende and Soykas study of 2005, their rates were slightly higher for the six month mark at 64% abstaining, and 14 % significantly reducing their alcohol intake with a 22% rate of serious relapse. Perhaps, if people understood that they could get good results with a outpatient program, they would be more inclined to seriously consider treatment. Additionally, alcoholics do not need lengthy terms of treatment. Perhaps a brief loyalty would do the trick for many with alcohol problems.Brief interventions targeting alcohol consumption have been tack together to be very effective in changing clients consumption levels (Roche and Freeman, 2004). On e study cited by these researchers noted that heavy drinkers were likely to reduce the amount of alcohol they consumed six and twelve months after a brief intervention as compared with similarly heavy drinkers who received no interventions whatsoever A WHO study conducted in eight countries involving over 1600 participants found that brief interventions reduced daily alcohol consumption on average by 17% and intensity of drinking by 10%.Brief interventions also reduce the number of alcohol-related problems, health-care utilization and associated treatment costs and the number of fate department admissions. Brief interventions are also highly cost-efficient repayable to the minimal cost of the intervention and the breadth of scope for prevention of more serious and more costly problems (Roche and Freeman, 2004). However, the same benefits were not noted for women or for low consumers of alcohol who occasionally drank at very hazardous levels, also known as binge drinkers.Evidence s uggests that the majority of alcohol-related harms affect these moderate to low drinkers who binge (Roche and Freeman, 2004). This study just shows that people do react other than to alcohol. One huge area of research in alcohol rehabilitation right now is in the area of gender. The above study mentioned that women do not receive the same level of benefits from brief interventions as men receive. This has led many researchers to fill the research gap between studies that focus on only males or on mixed genders and females. While women have a lower rate of substance abuse, those that are alcoholics suffer just as men do.In fact, women actually suffer more severe effects in some cases than men do. For example, women have more alcohol related health issues, mental disorders, death rates, quicker addictions and greater social closing off and stigma (Najavits, Rosier, and Nolan, 2007). This is unfortunate because women have become increasingly more addicted to alcohol at younger and youn ger years of age. However, studies also indicate that while in treatment, women show more rapid improvement and are more able to control impulsive behaviors that are so gnarly for men (Najavits, Rosier, and Nolan, 2007).Of course, one rehabilitative method that is often overlooked in the search to rehabilitate alcoholics is the pharmacological method. While drugs are frequently use to aid in helping alcoholics avoid painful and dangerous withdrawal symptoms, others are now being marketed as treatment methods themselves. One such drug is Acamprosate which is a synthetic compound with a similar social structure to that of the neurotransmitter GABA and the neuromodulator Taurine (Scott, Figgitt, and Keam, 2005).Once the patient is detoxified, Acomprosate helps the patient maintain abstinence in the place of rehabilitation programs. This way, individuals can maintain his social and professional life. several(prenominal) studies found this to be true a year after use had begun irrespec tive of disease severity or the type of psychosocial support (Scott, Figgitt, and Keam, 2005) the patient received. Also, the drug appears to pose few tolerance issues such as nausea, profligacy or the like. A second prescription medication is available for the treatment of alcoholism.Naltrexone has also produced very positive results in promoting abstinence among recovering alcoholics. This drug has also had several positive research trials and works better in conjunction with behavioral therapy. One way this drugs works is to result in a reduced urge to drink and negative physical side effects if it is taken in conjunction with alcohol (Rohsenow, 2004). Alcoholism is a horrible, addictive disease that leads not only to medical problems such as brain and liver problems, but also to psychological problems, social problems and even violent behavior.The disease affects individuals differently, and new approaches are always being considered to treat each sufferer. While abstinence onl y and residential programs seem to have prevailed in the past, the new approaches are leaning to more brief, outpatient programs and interventions that support both abstinence and moderation when it comes to alcohol consumption. These new programs also take into beak differences that result from race and gender. With hope, this disease will soon be tamed, or even eradicated, with better and better rehabilitation programs.. References Bottlender, M. & Soyka, M. (2005). 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