Added: 01/13/2006 |
The Serious Consequences of Alcohol WithdrawalThere are many different kinds of addictions known in modern medicine, and alcohol addiction is one of the most serious. This addiction has its roots in the biological processes in human body. In fact, all the addictions can be separated into psychological addictions and physical dependencies. What is dangerous about alcoholism - is that alcohol can cause both physical and psychological addiction.
As a rewarding mechanism in many situations, the human body releases so-called endorphins. These complex biological agents make human feel happy and in regular situation all this serves to learning purposes. But the problem is that drinking alcohol also causes the release of endorphins. And for many people that leads to a desire to drink alcohol again and again. This is how physiological dependence is formed.
Then, with the development of the diseases psychological addiction is also usually added to physiological dependence. And that stage is caused by surrounding of the person and seriously depends on culture.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are also very dangerous. Unlike many other withdrawal symptoms (even with hard drugs situation is not that bad) alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be fatal. And if pretty simple alcohol withdrawal symptoms include only tremulousness, then more serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms can even kill. And so-called activation syndrome of alcoholism makes treatment very hard.
To describe the nature of alcoholism and other addictions people develop so-called models of addiction. In different centers so-called social models are very popular. All these models stand on fact that roots of alcoholism lie in cultural traditions and ethic of human being. And in many cases all these facts are true but they do not give a complete picture of alcoholism. In this position it is not considered as a disease but it is a disease which needs a serious treatment. So, many other medical models of alcohol addiction are also used to develop techniques of alcohol addiction treatment.
All the treatment procedures for alcohol dependence are performed in the same way or at least follow the same principals. In the first step, detoxification is performed. As alcohol withdrawal symptoms are very serious in many cases this stage of treatment is performed in hospitals with special medical control. In some cases even medications are used to avoid dangerous complications of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
The second level of alcohol addiction treatments is handling the psychological addiction to alcohol. As it was proven through the time a group therapy is probably the best instrument for that step. Such organizations as "Alcoholics Anonymous" have saved lives of many people. And in most clinics and medical centers similar psychological treatment techniques are used. Activation syndrome falls into this category.
Lately, some clinics have started to use more advanced treatment techniques. They do treat the disease before it has formed. They have special tests and methods to determine people who are potential alcohol addict. And regulating alcohol consumption these centers can easily control the development of the disease.
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