According to a Canadian study, the treatment of alcoholism and its consequences costs more than the treatment of cancer.
(For more on the costs, both financial and societal, of alcohol dependence read alcohol abuse statistics)
Imagine the benefits to finding a cure. A cure that would lead to the betterment of the world, societies, communities, families and individuals.
The advantages would be immeasurable.
However, there is much debate among the addiction community over whether money and time should be spent on the search for a cure for alcoholism, or if resources would be better employed looking for effective ways to manage the condition.
But still the search goes on.
So how close are we to a cure today?
At present there are four differing views espoused by those debating if there is, or ever can be, a cure for alcohol dependence.
A sizable majority those involved in the addiction field would say NO, there is no cure for alcoholism.
The only proven and successful treatment for drink dependency, in their minds, is abstinence. In other words not drinking alcohol at all.
A very difficult for the drink addicted person to do. Trust me, I know!
The view that abstinence is the only treatment comes from the widely held opinion that alcoholism is a disease and/or a form of alcohol allergy.
This disease and/or allergy is part of the person and will not go away; it cannot be 'cured'.
It has to be managed (much like diabetes). The way to manage it is not to expose yourself to the trigger, drink.
Avoiding drink is a very difficult thing for the alcoholic to do. An intense craving is one of the symptoms.
This craving can be controlled with alcoholism medication and attendance at support groups.
Alcoholics Anonymous (or AA), a global community of people who’ve had drinking problems, is the most 'popular' support system that helps the alcoholic manage their disease through understanding and empathy with fellow 'sufferers'.
The majority of alcoholics who display signs of alcoholism and want to stop drinking, attend AA.
It is not easy and relapse is common. However it is 'regarded' as the most effective treatment for drink dependency and is the accepted treatment. For them, managing the disease is the only option because there is no alcoholism cure.
However, just because it is the accepted treatment doesn't make it the best treatment.
Alcoholics anonymous has a poor success rate, at least according to statistics. 5% of people who attend AA meetings remain abstinent after three years. There are many alternatives to AA which claim to have much higher success rates.
Some have the opposite view that addiction to drink is merely a lack of willpower and a moral weakness.
An alcoholism cure for them is very achievable. Just get your life together and be responsible.
Sounds simple, but a bit too simple?
Those who advance this notion are of the belief that there is no 'magic pill' to cure alcoholism, but that there are alcoholism medications to help in its treatment
The FDA approves a number of medications to help in the treatment of drink addiction yet they are all far from a 'magic pill':
There are various people who make claims that they have discovered a cure for alcoholism. They believe that no matter how serious the problem might seem, a lot of people with an alcohol use disorder could benefit from some kind of treatment.
Some of these cures do work, there are many examples of people who have managed to give up alcohol or go back to moderate drinking and the statistics seem to back them up.
However, although they seem to work they do not work for everybody.
Of all the 'cures for alcoholism', perhaps The Sinclair Method and that using Baclofen (a prescribed medication) hold the most promise.
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Suffering from Acute Wet Brain Syndrome
I believe I am suffering from Acute Wet Brain Syndrome. I am 44 years old, very happily married mom of two cats and a dog. About two years ago, I began …
Lead Writer/Reviewer : Kayla Loibl
Licensed Medical Health Professional
Hello!
I am a Mental Health Counselor who is licensed in both New York (LMHC) and North Carolina (LCMHC). I have been working in the Mental Health field since 2015. I have worked in a residential setting, an outpatient program and an inpatient addictions program. I began working in Long Island, NY and then in Guelph, Ontario after moving to Canada. Read More
Sources:
Alcoholics Anonymous. What is A.A.? https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/what-is-aa
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help. 2014. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help
Family Doctor. Naltrexone for Alcoholism. https://familydoctor.org/naltrexone-for-alcoholism/
Mayo Clinic. Alcohol use disorder. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369250
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