Alcoholism is a disease that is absolutely treatable if the person is willing to seek the appropriate help available. Non-the-less, people do overcome their addictions to alcohol by learning how to manage their alcoholism through therapies, support groups, and treatment medication. When you or your loved one completes an inpatient or outpatient alcohol treatment program, this is a time for celebration. In an alcoholic, the brain’s pleasure centers, as well as neurotransmitters that affect brain stimulation, are essentially out of whack. Although we can rebalance the brain’s neurotransmitters over time, the neural pathways that were created while engaging in addictive behavior (or, in this case, alcohol abuse) will always be there.
The general consensus among scientists and health care professionals is that there is a strong neurobiological and genetic basis for addiction. Your brain interprets food as rewarding when you are hungry and water as rewarding when you are thirsty. But addictive substances like alcohol and drugs of abuse can overwhelm the natural reward pathways in your brain, resulting in intolerable cravings and reduced impulse control. When left untreated, this disorder has the potential to destroy relationships, cause financial ruin, and inflict irreversible, physical damage.
Alcohol Quantity and Frequency of Consumption
The latest NHS guidelines, published in 2016, advise that you shouldn’t be drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week, and this should be spread over three days or more. If you think that you are drinking a lot more than this, regularly, and don’t feel able to cut down, you should go to a doctor to get diagnosed. However, the NHS also recommends looking Dedicated to life-long Recovery into outside sources of help such as treatment centres and Alcoholics Anonymous right away, without waiting for a diagnosis. A popular misconception is that addiction is a result of low willpower. But an explosion of knowledge and technology in the field of molecular genetics has changed our basic understanding of addiction drastically over the past decade.
- There is no cure for alcoholism because of the way that the disease develops.
- Many people find that a combination of treatments works best, and you can get them together through a program.
- Other exciting developments are underway, although more research, including clinical trials in humans, is needed before they arrive.
- Alcohol treatment center is a generic term for a facility that treats patients who are struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction.
Read on to learn more about the disease of alcoholism and how it is treated. An inpatient rehab facility provides the safest environment with which to begin treatment for alcoholism because of the on-site care and attention. After the initial detox period, patients may choose to remain at an inpatient center or might investigate the options available for outpatient programs.
What health complications are associated with alcoholism?
Personal stories abound of people never touching alcohol again after going to AA or receiving certain treatments. For some, alcoholism can be overcome, although whether it is cured is debatable. The other issue is that those who drink a lot are not necessarily alcoholics, so they may not undergo alcohol withdrawal. In addition, some people may not experience severe cravings and so on.
Many commonly prescribed medications for mental health disorders also affect gene expression. Antidepressants and mood stabilizers can change how DNA is modified and which genes are expressed. For example, a commonly prescribed drug for depression called escitalopram affects how tightly wound DNA is and can change the expression of genes important to brain plasticity. As a behavioral neurogeneticist leading a team investigating the molecular mechanisms of addiction, I combine neuroscience with genetics to understand how alcohol and drugs influence the brain.
Is There a Cure for Alcoholism?
People who are willing to take that important first step will find there is a lot of help available, which is all designed to help them achieve a successful recovery. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. As a loved one of someone https://en.forexdata.info/11-gift-ideas-for-the-sober-person-in-your-life/ with an alcohol addiction, try to be encouraging and provide emotional support. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you need help finding a mental health specialist. Because denial is common, you may feel like you don’t have a problem with drinking.
But more animal studies, and human clinical trials, would be needed before this therapy could be used in humans with alcohol use disorder. This invasive treatment involves brain surgery, which has risks, so it would likely be reserved for those with the most severe, dangerous drinking habits. You may be able to prevent relapse by getting treatment for alcohol use disorder. You can learn techniques, take medication, and get support and professional direction as you try to manage this condition.
