Background
Alcoholism is a serious problem for humanity, a disease whose development is caused by frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages and pathological cravings for them. All this is accompanied by the emergence of psychological and physical dependence(Yeganeh et al., 2022).
Alcohol hurts the metabolic processes in the body, and the accumulation of toxins over time increases the risk of psychosis. Cognitive impairment in progressive alcohol addiction manifests itself in the form of dementia. Today, alcoholism is called an alcohol use disorder, with clear criteria and consequences.
Unfortunately, about 20% of people who do not refuse to drink alcohol for 2-3 years become addicted. This problem is among socially significant diseases because it leaves a mark not only on the person abusing alcohol but also on his family, friends, and society in general.
What alcoholism can lead to
The danger of addiction to the person himself lies, first of all, in the considerable damage to internal organs (Figure 1). Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver develops, heart function is disturbed, blood vessels are damaged, and the risk of cancer increases.
The person becomes aggressive, thinking processes slow down, and psychological and personal problems sharpen: “A substantial number of people who have problems with alcohol also experience strong anxiety and mood problems”(Anker & Kushner, 2019, para 1).
Accidents are more frequent: alcoholics can not control their behavior, so they are often hospitalized with hypothermia or injuries. Another cause of disability or death is the consumption of low-quality alcohol.
Social consequences of alcohol abuse manifest in the deterioration of family relations – quarrels become more frequent, and marriages fall apart over time.
All organs of the human body are adversely affected by alcohol. The alcohol in all alcoholic beverages, entering the brain through the bloodstream, triggers destructive processes. Alcohol glues the red blood cells in the blood, leading to blood clots forming. As a result, the brain becomes smaller in volume; it becomes scarred and ulcerated, and hemorrhages and voids are not excluded.
If you start treatment today, most of the consequences can be avoided!
It is important to emphasize that the timely intervention of various specialists can contribute to a significant improvement in people’s condition and give them the opportunity to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Primary prevention of alcoholism
Primary prevention is aimed at preventing the onset of alcoholism. Such activities usually focus on telling people about the harmful effects of alcohol. So, as a result, a person will form an alternative life in which alcohol will not play any role. After all, it has been proven that the best method of preventing alcoholism is to create the person’s consciousness so that alcohol is no longer of value in life. That is why it is so necessary to hold preventive conversations with children. Alcohol prophylaxis can be initial – primary, that is, for people who do not drink. Moreover, prevention is carried out for those who have already been treated to prevent relapses. Here, lectures and conversations about the harm of drinking, photos, and pictures of alcoholism outcomes in educational institutions and organizational collectives are used. Television has a very great impact on people. Therefore, it is better to show something healthy, balanced, and harmonious that we would like to instill in people and ourselves.
Treatment Program
The psyche of a person suffering from alcohol addiction is rebuilt so that he is no longer aware of the danger of his disease. Most patients believe there is no problem and that they can quit drinking anytime. However, the body’s resources are not limitless, and eventually, the alcoholic’s health deteriorates dramatically. This alcohol treatment program offers motivational therapy against alcohol that will replace compulsory treatment and give better results.
Of particular importance in the treatment of alcohol addiction may be marketing sales approaches, which can be pre-prepared by employee assistance professionals of a large company. Therefore, the stimulus-response approach can be practical since it is based on the reliability of the seller and a relatively high level of people’s trust. This may be relevant for patients who wish to find a way to overcome addiction. Thus, they will find advertising where an alternative to alcohol consumption or a way to get rid of the disease will be offered, and they will consume it. Another approach is the selling formula based on a specific sequence of solutions. Thus, companies should develop a strategy for selling alternatives to alcohol, allowing individuals to make crucial decisions on their own. The need satisfaction method becomes a one-way approach. In this case, it is also based on the client’s awareness of the value of the decision made. However, in this case, people are guided by the question and answer concept.
The First Step on the Road to Recovery: Motivation
The first stage involves awareness of the problem and motivation for treatment. This motivation can be loved ones or fear for the future. If a person is convinced that there is no danger in alcohol addiction, they will never get out of it. This is why it is necessary to identify all erroneous beliefs about alcoholism and replace them with more realistic ones.
Self-motivation is one of the strongest drivers of a person. The doctor must convince the patient that a future full of disease and degradation awaits him without treatment.
Only when the patient wants to get rid of this pathological condition can therapy be successful. However, not always the closest people in the alcoholic’s environment can find the right words and convince them of the need for treatment. In this case, this alcoholism treatment program, whose doctors have extensive experience working with such patients, can help.
Stage Two: Quitting Alcohol
In the second stage, active anti-alcohol therapy is conducted to develop aversion and persistent suppression of cravings for alcohol. This alcohol addiction treatment program uses the sensitization method. The doctor, at this stage, helps to find out the reason for the patient’s alcohol abuse, what can replace alcohol, and how to give it up. If the person uses it to compensate for the emptiness inside, it is necessary to eliminate the illusion. Looking for people and communication with whom will help to do without drinking is necessary. Various hobbies, such as sports, can be a good alternative to drinking alcohol.
Alcohol sensitization is based on developing a physical and psychological barrier with the help of medicines that causes a persistent aversion to alcoholic beverages, thereby relieving a person from pernicious cravings. The treatment is preceded by detoxification: a three-day preparatory period when a patient abstains from taking alcoholic drinks. After that, the person with alcohol addiction is injected under the skin with a small capsule that quickly takes root in the body and does not interfere with the human body with its presence. Even when drinking low-alcohol beverages, a gag reflex occurs.
Step Three: Rehabilitation
First, rehabilitation of patients suffering from alcoholism consists of restoring (preserving) the individual and social value of the person and their personal and social status. Psychological aid is very important; it involves the patient in the treatment and diagnostic process, engaging them in restoring these or other psychological functions or social connections. Rehabilitation is essential: “Assessing addiction severity at the beginning of treatment can be useful both for predicting treatment outcomes and for targeting interventions for individuals with alcohol dependence who need additional support in recovery “(Yoshimura et al., 2021, para 4).
Consequently, psychotherapy is an integral part of alcoholism patients’ rehabilitation since only with the help of this method is it possible to get through to the patient’s personality and make them assess their condition objectively.
The following signs indicate the need for rehabilitation:
- Lack of control over the dose of alcohol;
- Compulsive thoughts about alcohol;
- aggressive behavior;
- memory lapses;
- Willingness to commit illegal acts for the sake of an opportunity to drink.
After this treatment program, you will be able to return to a full life and regain the respect of others!
References
Anker, J. J., & Kushner, M. G. (2019). Co-occurring alcohol use disorder and anxiety: Bridging psychiatric, psychological, and neurobiological perspectives. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 40(1).
Mosel, S. (2022). The effects of alcohol on your body: Side effects, dangers & health risks. American Addiction Center. Web.
Yeganeh, Z., Cuervo, C., Rahimi, M., Kopatsis, A. P., & Kopatsis, A. (2022). Trends and outcomes of alcoholic intoxication in Trauma Patients. Web.
Yoshimura, A., Kimura, M., Matsushita, S., Yoneda, J. I., Maesato, H., Komoto, Y. & Higuchi, S. (2021). Alcohol dependence severity determines the course of treatment‐seeking patients. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 45(11), 2335-2346. Web.