Alcohol use disorder, also known as alcohol addiction, is one of the most common forms of addiction in the world. It remains the most prevalent form of addiction in South Africa, as roughly a quarter of all South Africans have some degree of alcohol use disorder. In fact, in 2015, alcohol was considered the fifth leading cause of death, making it a national healthcare crisis.
Alcohol use disorder is when you become addicted to alcohol and the effect it has on you. This can lead you to place a higher priority on finding and consuming alcohol than your relationships with friends and family.
Because of the detrimental effects that alcohol has on your mind and body, alcohol use disorder is a serious problem that requires treatment. In many cases, treatment is the only way for people to overcome their addiction to alcohol and return to living a normal life.
Treating alcohol use disorder will vary from person to person, depending on the severity of their addiction. However, all treatment plans start with detoxification and withdrawal. During this phase, your body is withdrawing from the chemical influence that alcohol has on you. As your body is detoxing, you may experience nausea, severe sweating, fevers, chills, diarrhoea, vomiting, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
If your addiction is severe enough, the symptoms are debilitating and even life-threatening. Therefore, it’s best to go through detox and withdrawal at a medical facility or under adult supervision in case you require medical assistance.
After going through withdrawal, you can start treatments that are designed to help you abstain from future alcohol use. Behavioural therapy is one of these treatments and has the goal of teaching you to cope with alcohol cravings. Behavioural therapy can also help you identify things that trigger your desires and help you steer clear of them. This is one of the most important aspects of treating alcohol use disorder, and you likely will not make a lasting recovery without it.
In addition to behavioural therapy, counselling is another excellent treatment for alcohol use disorder. Professional counselling will give you the chance to talk about your fears regarding alcohol and the control it has over you. Your counsellor can then recommend helpful coping mechanisms and teach you how not to allow your thoughts to control you.
The use of medications to overcome alcohol use disorder is one of the newer and more interesting treatment options. However, it is also one of the most successful.
Certain non-addictive medications can help ease the painful symptoms of withdrawal, quell alcohol cravings, and encourage abstinence. Here are some of the current medications used to treat alcohol use disorder.
Acamprosate helps eliminate alcohol cravings and can help with managing painful withdrawal symptoms, making detoxification easier.
Naltrexone blocks pleasure receptors in the brain when you drink alcohol so that it does not bring you joy or happiness.
Unlike the first two drugs, disulfiram discourages alcohol use. It does this by giving you stomach aches, nausea, and other painful and uncomfortable symptoms when you consume alcohol.
It’s important to understand that alcohol use disorder is a lifelong struggle, even after going through withdrawal and treatment. The cravings for alcohol will never completely go away, and you are more prone to getting addicted if you start drinking alcohol again. For that reason, it is important to receive ongoing counselling and therapy to aid you in your recovery.
However, by admitting you have an alcohol use disorder and seeking the proper treatment, you can stop letting alcohol rule your life.