What help is available for alcoholism?
The options for getting help in the UK for this medical condition are becoming more limited. In order to stop drinking, generally there will be a need for detox medication to assist with helping overcome the alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Usually this medication is Librium which is administered in a safe environment such as a residential addictions treatment unit. At The Haynes Clinic people will be admitted under the care of our consultant psychiatrist and the clinical team, and the medication is administered on a reducing scale over 7 days. People who go to their local hospital A and E in crisis are at best admitted for up to 24 hours and hydrated to be discharged the following day. Your local GP, due to current health and safety regulations, will not prescribe sufficient medication for a home detox as there is a strong risk of drinking alcohol with the medication. Therefore a GP can not prescribe the dose that can be administered in an alcohol addiction clinic. Local community services are very poorly funded and it could literally take months before they can help you.
How do people with alcohol dependency stay well after a detox?
The key to remaining in Recovery from an Alcohol Disorder – following a detox – is recognising and accepting the need for ongoing help and support. We generally do not like to think we need help with anything, especially something such as liquid in a bottle, but before we had treatment we had to ask for help and we will need help and support after treatment. The Haynes Clinic offers free ongoing Aftercare , once a week at the clinic or via Zoom meetings on the completion of the recommended 28 days residential treatment. Alcoholics Anonymous meetings take place throughout the country and their 12 Step approach is used by 95% of all addiction treatment centres in the UK. A local meeting can be found by inputting a postcode on the AA website and regular attendance is recommended to maintain the change in addictive thinking and behaviour necessary not to relapse back to alcohol.
Medication that can help maintain sobriety
Having been in treatment there are medications that your GP may prescribe to help you remain alcohol free but, if used, it is best that these are taken in conjunction with ongoing support.
Acamprosate – sold under the brand name Campral – is a medication used to treat alcohol disorder. The medication works by stabilising the chemicals that have been affected by excessive alcohol use and tests have shown a significant reduction in those relapsing back to alcohol who remain on the medication for a minimum of 12 months.
Disulfiram – or Antabuse – is another medication that can be prescribed by your GP. This medication causes unpleasant effects if the slightest amount of alcohol is consumed, such as violent nausea, chest pains and sweating.
Naltrexone- is a medication that is meant to reduce the cravings for alcohol and if any alcohol is consumed it nullifies the effect of alcohol. The danger with this medication is that mentally we can think it is all right to have the odd glass so it is not advised for everyone.
These medications are not a “magic wand” and will not work on their own but need to be used in conjunction with continuing to attend alcohol support groups and ongoing counselling.
Alcoholics need help!
Part of the problem is our ongoing denial of the extent of a worsening problem and the sooner we ask for help, or even attend somewhere such as The Haynes Clinic for a free confidential assessment, then the sooner we will be able to get our life back and free from addiction
Telephone The Haynes Clinic on 01462 851414 – we can be contacted 7 days a week.