Advances in the treatment of alcoholism
With the appearance of a new drug for the treatment of alcohol dependence, a new strategy for dealing with this problem is born. The initial objective will no longer be absolute abstinence, but rather we will focus on reducing alcohol consumption in doses, both in terms of frequency and quantity. This new intervention strategy is similar to the one already used in the treatment of nicotine dependence, which is giving good results.
The drug used is namelphene, a molecule that blocks the brain’s opiate receptors, causing a reduction in the satisfaction obtained when consuming alcohol. This increases the possibility of being able to control the intake. In the initial stages, a daily dose should be taken orally and in the following phases the patient himself will manage its administration in the situations he foresees of high risk. In this way, the subject will have a feeling of independence and self-control that will make the decrease or disappearance of alcohol consumption more stimulating.
To which patients is the treatment of alcoholism directed?
This treatment is recommended for alcohol-dependent adults whose consumption is high risk, abuse or dependence. It is defined as high risk when the male patient consumes more than 60 grams per day (about six glasses of alcohol) or the female patient consumes 40 grams per day (about four glasses).
At the beginning of the treatment, the patient together with the psychiatrist will design a plan to reduce the daily, weekly or monthly alcohol intake. This approach makes the idea of abandoning dependence more accessible, it will be approached in a simpler way and therefore, a greater therapeutic success and a higher level of adherence to treatment will be obtained. In addition, close supervision is required between the professional, the subject and his or her family, i.e. good psychosocial support is needed.
Family and alcoholism treatment
The family is decisive in dealing with the problem. The attitude adopted by the partner or people close to the person with alcohol dependence can be crucial to motivate him/her to carry out the treatment correctly. Interviews with the family have proven to be effective in: increasing patients’ commitment to treatment programs, increasing adherence to treatment, reducing the risk of post-treatment relapse and, above all, very important and sometimes forgotten, improving family functioning and favoring the normalization of patients in terms of their social incorporation. In addition, another aspect that is addressed is the family’s need to talk and share what they are experiencing at home.
Another reason is to inform them of the new intervention plan, since the couple or the family comes to the consultation with the sole idea that the subject should give up alcohol consumption completely from day one. Often, when the new approach is described to them, it arouses mistrust. Family sessions will alternate with individual sessions so that each member of the family can share and confront their experiences and feelings.