Severity Determines Alcoholism Treatment

If you or someone you love will be entering alcohol treatment, the severity of the disease will determine the course of the treatment and the medications and therapies used. The severity is often impacted by other substance abuse disorders in particular an addiction to nicotine, or anxiety or mood disorders, or antisocial personality disorder. The sad fact is that many individuals suffering from alcoholism go undiagnosed because even medical professionals do not recognize the disease. The disease is chronic getting progressively worse over time if treatment is not started. Eventually the severity of the symptoms will necessitate a diagnosis and treatment will finally begin. The treatment plan for the alcoholic is commensurate with the severity of the symptoms that the client presents with at the time of hospitalization or enrollment in the treatment program.

It is vital that when treatment plans is devised for the alcoholic client that the underlying cause for the alcoholism be treated also. If stress if a factor than it must be determined what is causing the stress and how can the cause be alleviated? If other medical conditions are contributing to the severity of the health condition of the client, these too must be addressed when devising the treatment plan.

There are many signs that should be watched for and addressed that can help determine the severity of the alcoholism including:

The amount and frequency of alcohol consumption

Are there other addictions involved such as amphetamines, anxiolytics, cocaine, heroin, hypnotics, sedatives, and tobacco?

Are there signs of personal neglect or poor nutrition?

Have there been incidents of accidents, burns, suicide attempts, and violence including domestic violence?

Is there a history of antisocial personality disorder, childhood conduct disorder, or an alcoholic parent?

Have there been brushes with the law?

Have there been any negative life events within the last few years such as a death of a family member, loss of a job, loss of a serious relationship?

Not only is the severity of the alcohol problem key to treatment but the client’s motivation to change behavior, and pattern of drinking that should influence the doctor’s choice in how severe the intervention and treatment plan should be. The number of interventions and the length of each intervention will also be determined by the severity of the alcoholic problem as well as the willingness of the alcoholic to participate and take an active role in alcohol recovery.

How severe the problem is will determine how long it will take to clear the 3 major hurdles of alcoholism treatment. The 3 hurdles include overcoming physiologic dependence and the handling of symptoms of withdrawal, psychological dependence on alcohol including treatment for anxiety, depression and stress and lastly, the severity and scope of the alcohol habit (how involved in life are the patterns of alcohol consumption)?

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