| Alcohol abuse refers to the chronic consumption | | | | steps to sobriety' program given by Alcoholics |
| and craving for alcohol, so that it interferes in the | | | | Anonymous. |
| normal social and economic functioning of the | | | | There are some important points to remember. |
| person. Alcohol Rehab tries to treat and bring | | | | Supervised withdrawal is the first step and must |
| back to normal victims of this condition. | | | | not be hurried. Hurry can be fatal. A medically |
| The alcoholic is unable to stop his craving for | | | | supervised detox program is the first step. Next |
| drinking. He fails to complete his obligations at | | | | step is to choose a Rehab center. Find a |
| work or home. He undertakes activities that are | | | | treatment center that deals not only with |
| dangerous in his condition, including drunk driving. | | | | addiction but the holistic picture of psychosocial |
| He may encounter legal problems, and cannot and | | | | and legal problems. |
| will not stop drinking despite personal, official and | | | | The program must involve a major amount of |
| medical problems. | | | | therapy--counseling and occupational. Therapy or |
| Alcoholism can be fatal. It affects the addict's | | | | counseling is critical for alcohol treatment. Patients |
| health in many ways. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome | | | | learn to resist alcohol use, replace drug-using |
| (FAS) is an irreversible condition associated with | | | | activities with constructive and rewarding |
| excessive consumption of alcohol by pregnant | | | | activities. They are asked to shun alcohol abusing |
| women. It leads to physical and mental | | | | company. They also relearn normal family and |
| deficiencies and even fetal death. Another killer | | | | social living patterns. |
| condition is Cirrhosis, caused by alcoholism and | | | | Treatment involves continuous monitoring for |
| leading to liver failure and death. | | | | alcohol use. Some people may require medication |
| Alcohol Rehab must be done carefully by trained | | | | for their treatment, and this too must be |
| medical professionals. It involves evaluation and | | | | monitored. Some may be suffering from mental |
| management of acute alcohol withdrawal, | | | | problems that need special treatment. The |
| treatment of nutritional deficiencies, detoxification | | | | treatment duration may vary with each case, but |
| and the maintenance of abstinence. | | | | 3 months is a safe period for most treatment. |
| Medical treatment of alcoholism involves initially the | | | | The main point is that there is no singular Rehab |
| management of alcohol withdrawal. Treatment | | | | formula. The success of treatment depends on |
| includes the use of thiamine and folate fed | | | | finding the right program and methods. Effective |
| intravenously to prevent Wernicke Kosakoff | | | | treatment must address the patient's drug use |
| syndrome (an eye disorder). Seizures must be | | | | and also related medical, social, psychological, |
| treated with Benzodiazepines. | | | | vocational and legal problems. |
| After medical management is over, a psychosocial | | | | The treatment may be long-term, involving |
| Rehabilitation program must be undertaken. This | | | | periods of relapse. The crucial point is not to give |
| includes educating the entire family of the patient, | | | | up hope, but work patiently till you reach |
| individual or group therapy, or even a spiritual '12 | | | | complete abstinence. |