Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive disease. There is a considerable variation in patterns of drinking among individuals in alcohol consumption.

A number of individuals drink socially, or occasionally, and are able to stop after a few drinks. It does not interfere with any other area of their life. But for many others who drink, things go the other way. There “occasional” and “social” drinking progress into regular drinking.

What is “safe” or “moderate” drinking?

There is no clear cut demarcation between “social” or “moderate” drinking

and “problem” or “harmful” drinking and no pattern of drinking is absolutely safe.So right demarcation should be  “high risk” drinking and “low risk” drinking.

According to western standards not more than 2 standard drinks per day and not more than 4 drinks on any given day is considered as low risk drinking.

However according to studies Asians have low tolerance to the ill effects of alcohol due to genetic variability and other physical factors. So for Asian population low risk drinking  is even less than above mentioned limits.

With the increase in average alcohol consumption and frequency, there is an increase in the incidence of alcohol related medical and psychosocial problems.

Not everyone who consumes alcohol is alcoholic. 

An alcoholic is one, whose drinking causes continuing problems in any area

of his life (such as family relationships, job, financial status or health) and

who continues to drink in spite of these problems because he has developed

a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol.

A person with alcohol addiction typically craves alcohol and drinks despite repeated alcohol related problems.

Before entering recovery, most alcoholics will deny they have a problem. Often they attribute their drinking to occupational, social or financial stresses.

Alcohol Dependence 

As with all addiction,two main components of alcohol dependence are presence of tolerance to alcohol and withdrawal symptoms.

Tolerance 

Which means increased need for alcohol to attain the same effect or reduced effect even with the same amount of alcohol consumption.

Withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal means emergence of two or more signs or symptoms within several hours of stopping or reducing heavy, prolonged alcohol consumption like,

-Increased heart rate

-Tremors

-Difficulties with sleep

-Nausea or vomiting

-Transient illusions or hallucinations

-Restlessness and uneasiness

-Anxiety

• Convulsions (fits)Consumption of alcohol in larger amount or for longer duration

• Persistent desire to reduce or control drinking

•  Too much time is spent in drinking or recovering from effects of drinking

•  Important social, occupational, or leisure activities are given up or reduced because of  alcohol

•  Continued alcohol consumption despite alcohol related problems.

Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse is relatively less severe form of alcohol related problems.

• Repeated drinking resulting in failure to fulfill responsibilities at home, workplace or school

• Repeated drinking in situations in which it is physically dangerous like drinking and driving, operating machinery while drunk etc.

•  Repeated alcohol-related legal problems

• Continued drinking despite having repeated social or relational problems related to drinking

Alcoholism treatment

The first step is to determine if a person has a problem with alcohol or not.

For a person who has become addicted to alcohol, choice of treatment depends upon a number of other factors like,

·        Severity of alcoholism

·        Motivation to quit

·        Support system

·        Coexisting psychiatric disorders

·        Coexisting medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension etc.

·        Previous history of withdrawal symptoms

·        Pattern of relapse

OPD treatment

Patient can be treated as outpatient  if withdrawal symptoms are not severe or when we are not expecting severe withdrawal symptoms and a person is having enough motivation to quit.

It includes medicines to manage withdrawal symptoms and craving and counseling to improve motivation, avoid relapse and to address psychological issues.

Inpatient treatment

If a person’s alcohol intake is severe he needs inpatient treatment for detoxification and management of withdrawal symptoms.

Inpatient treatment lasts for 5 to 10 days (on avg. 7 days) depending upon the above mentioned factors.

Inpatient treatment involves:

-Complete evaluation of alcohol problem

-Detoxification from alcohol

-Replenishing vitamins and minerals

-Medications to handle the withdrawal symptoms

-Medications to control craving for alcohol

-Psychotherapy

-Regular follow up sessions to maintain the abstinence

Our center also offers Baclofen therapy and Disulfiram therapy .

With newer therapies it is possible to get rid of alcohol addiction.

Contact our landline numbers for further details.

You can also send an e-mail to doc@drkeyurpanchal.com