Treating Physical Addiction
Alcoholism treatments address physical addiction by helping patients through detoxification, which takes four to seven days. Many patients require drugs to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Some doctors also prescribe medications to help patients resist the urge to drink.
Treating Psychological Addiction
Alcoholism treatments address psychological addiction by providing patients with counseling and behavior modification techniques. Some programs involve couples or family therapy. Because alcohol problems often accompany other mental health problems, such as depression, treatment programs address these conditions as well.
Features
Alcohol treatment is administered both on an outpatient basis and in residential facilities. Residential programs usually last about 28 days, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Many patients continue to receive counseling or attend group therapy after treatment ends.
Considerations
Many alcoholics or alcohol abusers don't recognize their problem with alcohol. Often an intervention from friends or family members is necessary to encourage a person to seek treatment. Signs of alcoholism or alcohol abuse include drinking alone, blackouts, experiencing withdrawal effects when you stop drinking, needing more alcohol to feel its effects and having job problems.
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