“What are the best ways to deal with alcohol addiction?”
My brother has been an alcoholic for over 10 years now. Since the birth of his daughter, he has been trying to kick this addiction to the curb. It hasn't been easy for him. What are some of the best ways to overcome an alcohol addiction?
2 Answers
Hi there! There are many options available for your brother to stop drinking. With such a long history of alcohol addiction, he should not try to do it on his own. Quitting alcohol suddenly can lead to seizures and even death. It really does need to be done under the supervision of a physician.
Some of the options available include entering into a detox unit. This would allow him to be monitored closely to treat any seizures, hallucinations or other life threatening symptoms that arise during the withdrawal. From there, he should go into a rehab facility. Medications such as antabuse, campryl, and vistaril to name a few, are available to help defeat the alcohol abuse. Some of these stop cravings. Others will make him sick if he drinks alcohol while taking them. As always, the best outcomes are when a person combines counseling with medications.
Your brother needs to take a good look at his drinking pattern to see if any causes can be identified. For example, does he drink more when he is stressed? When he is angry? When he is hungry or tired? How about when he's lonely? Once he knows his triggers, the counselor will be able to target his treatment to help him overcome them.
Make sure your brother contacts his physician so he can get the help he needs.
Some of the options available include entering into a detox unit. This would allow him to be monitored closely to treat any seizures, hallucinations or other life threatening symptoms that arise during the withdrawal. From there, he should go into a rehab facility. Medications such as antabuse, campryl, and vistaril to name a few, are available to help defeat the alcohol abuse. Some of these stop cravings. Others will make him sick if he drinks alcohol while taking them. As always, the best outcomes are when a person combines counseling with medications.
Your brother needs to take a good look at his drinking pattern to see if any causes can be identified. For example, does he drink more when he is stressed? When he is angry? When he is hungry or tired? How about when he's lonely? Once he knows his triggers, the counselor will be able to target his treatment to help him overcome them.
Make sure your brother contacts his physician so he can get the help he needs.
There's no medication that consistently helps people with alcohol dependence. Some people who drink for the euphoria they get do well with naltrexone, but many of my alcoholic patients drink to numb emotions. If you're a "euphoria drinker," naltrexone may help, but if you're an "oblivion drinker" (drink simply to get numb), it probably won't. Overall, naltrexone is helpful in a minority of patients. Acamprosate also has scientific evidence of benefit, but I've not found it useful. Antabuse is commonly prescribed for alcoholism, but almost never helps. Science shows conclusively it's of little or no benefit.
So, basically, drugs don't do much for most alcoholics. The treatment is rehab, either inpatient or outpatient. There are also good internet-based programs. Some people can get sober going to Alcoholics Anonymous, which requires 90 meetings in 90 days to have any effect. The trick with Alcoholics Anonymous is you have to find a meeting where you feel comfortable; typically, 9 out of 10 aren't a good fit and you have to keep looking.
So, basically, drugs don't do much for most alcoholics. The treatment is rehab, either inpatient or outpatient. There are also good internet-based programs. Some people can get sober going to Alcoholics Anonymous, which requires 90 meetings in 90 days to have any effect. The trick with Alcoholics Anonymous is you have to find a meeting where you feel comfortable; typically, 9 out of 10 aren't a good fit and you have to keep looking.
