Can Alcohol Addiction Be Cured, or Is It a Lifelong Struggle?

According to WHO data in recent years, the U.S. has consistently ranked in the top 50 countries in terms of the amount of alcohol drunk per capita. It would seem that the problem of alcoholism is not so obvious. But behind these numbers are the ruined fates of millions of Americans.

Alcoholism is a chronic disease that cannot be cured and is often accompanied by relapses. Due to the availability of alcohol, this disease is very common. Below we will talk about its impact on health and whether alcohol addiction can be cured.

3 stages of the disease

Alcoholism is called mental and physical dependence on the use of alcohol, as a result of which the patient develops withdrawal syndrome, internal organs are affected and the psyche is disturbed.

Depending on how pronounced the symptoms of alcoholism are, 3 stages are distinguished:

The patient has an urge to drink alcohol. It can be overcome, but when the opportunity arises, the amount of alcohol consumed exceeds the usual dose. There is an increase in tolerance to alcohol.
The patient becomes physically dependent on regular alcohol intake and often drinks alone. Completely loses control over the volume of drinks consumed. The second stage is characterized by the development of withdrawal syndrome, internal organs and the central nervous system are affected. Alcohol ceases to bring pleasure and serves only to combat withdrawal.
At the last stage, alcohol becomes an indispensable part of the patient s life. At the same time, irreparable damage is done to internal organs and psyche. If at this stage to sharply limit the consumption of alcohol, then from the withdrawal syndrome the patient can die.
The impact of alcoholism on health

Uncontrolled alcohol consumption leads to serious toxic effects on the body. Alcoholism accompanies many dangerous diseases, including cancer.

Changes in internal organs

The following organs are most severely affected by alcoholism:

heart;
stomach;
pancreas;
kidneys;
liver;
the brain.

Alcoholism often causes internal hemorrhages, irreversible liver changes, organic brain damage.

Effects on the psyche

When intoxication depresses the functions of the brain. The content of alcohol in the blood in an amount up to 0.15% reduces critical attitude to oneself, behavior becomes more free, and movements are less accurate. As the blood alcohol concentration increases, the patient s cognitive abilities deteriorate dramatically. This may be accompanied by amnesia, involuntary urination, and the development of psychosis.

Approaches to the treatment of alcoholism

Means that 100% cure alcoholism, there is no such thing. There is no magic pill in the world that helps to permanently solve the issue with such addiction. But this does not mean that alcoholics are not able to improve the quality of their lives and completely abandon the use of alcohol-containing beverages. This path is difficult, but it has been traveled by many.

Detoxification

The primary goal of is to alleviate or eliminate the withdrawal symptoms that occur when alcohol is discontinued. In this case, psychoactive substances from the group of benzodiazepines are often prescribed. They are effective in combating physical withdrawal symptoms.

Detoxification can be carried out in outpatient and inpatient settings. To reduce the risk of relapse, it is better to use the possibilities of inpatient detoxification followed by comprehensive treatment for alcohol dependence.

Medication treatment

The use of pharmacological agents in the treatment of alcoholism is aimed at developing an aversion to alcoholic beverages or their devaluation due to the absence of the effect of intoxication. For example, taking disulfiram and calcium urea with subsequent alcohol consumption causes malaise. A drug such as naltrexone significantly reduces alcoholic euphoria and the desire to drink.

Rehabilitation

One of the important stages of treatment is rehabilitation in a new environment. For these purposes, are well suited, in which all conditions are created to support the patient. Being under the constant control of experienced doctors, communicating with people who also have addiction, the patient is able to be reborn and learn to control his desires.

Complex approach

The greatest effectiveness of alcohol addiction treatment is given by the development of an individual program. This usually includes drug therapy, work with a psychologist and communication with people who are in a similar situation or have coped with alcoholism.