Treatment of alcohol dependence

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What is alcohol dependence?

Alcohol is the most widely used drug or psychoactive substance nowadays, and its harmful effects have been known since antiquity. Unfortunately, this has not been enough to prevent its use. Alcohol is the drug that causes the most social problems. The fact that it is legal and the social nature of its consumption are to blame for this situation. Drinking alcohol, even in small quantities, damages the psyche of the drinker. A glass of beer or liquor alters the nervous system. Regular use affects the whole body and can lead to various diseases and even death.

Symptoms of alcoholism:

Behavioural changes

Behavioural changes, due to alcohol dependence, make the addict a different person, irritable, aggressive, unhappy and conflicted. Daily consumption of alcohol becomes a major goal in the life of alcoholics. Alcohol, like any psychoactive substance, changes a person. If a person had plans in the past, valued family, career and reputation, and played sports, over time all of these things begin to seem silly and unnecessary. Alcohol consumption is at the top of the alcoholic's value system because social degradation begins: including loss of family, job, and social standing.

Mental changes

Formation of mental dependence - the need to feel the pleasant effect of alcohol more often appears. The desire and psychological need for alcohol is formed. The problem lies within the patient, more precisely in the disease and the inability to control it. Such excuses represent a psychological defence mechanism, an attempt to avoid personal responsibility and to blame others.

Physical changes

Formation of physical dependence - Withdrawal syndrome is very difficult and dangerous. When people take large amounts of alcohol, they feel a series of unpleasant symptoms after sobering up. These symptoms include: feeling shaky inside, tremors, palpitations, nausea, dizziness, and sweating. This is called a 'hangover'. With age, these symptoms become more intense and people find it harder to cope with a hangover. For this reason, they start looking for a way to overcome withdrawal syndrome. Eventually, they find that if they drink more alcohol, they will feel better for a while. This leads to regular alcohol use-people need to drink wine, beer, or vodka just to feel "normal" and prevent an agonizing hangover.

Chronicity

Chronic alcoholism: This is the so-called third stage of alcohol dependence. At this point, the changes in the body become irreversible. Due to metabolic and nutritional disorders and the toxic effects of alcohol, the appearance of the patient (skin and face) changes, tremors appear, and the movements of patients change. Memory deteriorates and nervous activity increases, leading to personality breakdown and dementia. The internal organs (liver, blood vessels and heart) are also destroyed. There is always a way to stop this vicious cycle, but the problem is that addicts refuse treatment for a long time because they do not accept that they are sick.

Stages in the treatment of alcoholism:

1. Diagnostics

The first and most important phase of treatment. The essence of diagnosis is to assess the patient's physical and mental condition. To assess the patient's physical condition, the standard diagnostic examination includes:

  • urine testing
  • tests for hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV infection
  • general blood analysis
  • biochemical blood test
  • ECG
  • examination by an internist

To assess the patient's mental state, the standard diagnostic examination includes: psychodiagnostics-psychological tests used to determine the level of dependence, the extent to which alcohol use has affected mental health, whether there are signs of mental disorder, whether depression is present, the degree of motivation for rehabilitation, self-criticism and preservation of volitional mechanisms. After diagnosis, the results are reviewed by a team of physicians to develop a treatment strategy and plan.

2. Detoxification

Depending on the results of the diagnosis, an appropriate method is selected for each individual patient to ensure detoxification from alcohol and its toxic residues, eliminating the unpleasant and dangerous symptoms of withdrawal syndrome. A complex set of methods can also be established that will give the best result. After a few days of alcohol consumption, the person is at risk of developing seizures or alcohol delirium. For this reason, detoxification is very important because it consists not only of infusions, vitamins, hepatoprotectors and amino acids, but also includes a range of preparations that protect the brain and normalize the heart, liver, kidneys and peripheral nervous system. The detoxification process lasts one to two days in mild cases and five to seven days in severe alcoholism.

3. Psychostabilization

After overcoming the withdrawal syndrome, the patient begins to feel better, but unfortunately the addiction is not over. The most important stage of treatment begins. At this stage, a negative attitude towards alcohol is formed and its appeal is eliminated . Special treatments are administered that keep patients from feeling bad about the lack of alcohol, but also make them feel comfortable while sober.

  • Aversive therapy is formed by creating a negative reaction to the smell and taste of alcohol, i.e. it is an aversion to alcohol at a subconscious level.
  • NET therapy removes the imbalance of pleasure hormones caused by alcohol.
  • Lateral therapy: this is a special procedure to harmonize the functions of the brain hemispheres. It reduces the patient's mental tension, nervousness and depression, solving problems with sleep, appetite and mood, as well as cravings for alcohol and the like.

4. Pharmacological blockade

At the end of treatment, pharmacological blockade with Disulfiram is applied. The blockade is an important component that ensures treatment results. Disulfiram (a drug that causes an unpleasant reaction to alcohol consumption) exists in tablet and depot injection form. The recommendation is that patients be protected with Disulfiram for at least 12 months.

5. Anti-relapse outpatient support

One of the most important stages for the addict's full recovery is the stage of maintaining treatment outcomes. The clinic maintains contact with the patient and his/her family for at least one year. Adhering to the rules of outpatient treatment, following the action plan, learning a new lifestyle, accepting supportive medical therapy, and coming for checkups help the patient feel safe and comfortable when sober.

The offer includes:

  • Laboratory diagnostics
  • Detox
  • Psychostabilization
  • Disulfiram blockade for 2 months
  • 12 months of anti-recidivism support
  • A 10-day stay at an international addiction clinic

The offer does NOT include:

  • Conducting additional tests to clarify the diagnosis (if necessary)
  • Expenditure of a personal nature
  • Medical insurance for the trip
  • Travel costs Bulgaria-Serbia-Bulgaria

Specific Requirements:

  • Age
  • Duration of dependence
  • Amount and type of alcohol consumed per 1 day
  • Chronic diseases

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