Alcoholism
Rehab video 4: The Behavior Chain Part 2
No one knows when alcohol was first produced but it was most likely to be a natural occurrence. If any watery mixture of vegetable sugars or starches is allowed to stand for about three months in a warm place, alcohol will make itself. Yeast that exists in the air everywhere will land on the juice and being to eat the sugar, making carbon dioxide and alcohol as waste. The alcohol content in the juice continues to rise until all of the yeast cells are killed. Therefore, alcohol is a poison to all living creatures even to the organisms that make it. Nature alone cannot produce anything stronger than 14% alcohol, but by distillation, the percentage can then be increased to 93% (Courtwright, 2001).
The early detection of alcohol abuse and dependency is complicated by denial that is found in the individual, in the family, and in society. Long-term alcohol dependence has profound effects on personality, mood, cognitive functioning, and a variety of physiological problems involving virtually all organ systems. The interaction of alcohol and other drugs may lead to fatal overdoses (Frances & Franklin, 1988).
Alcoholism is the result of a complex interaction of biological vulnerability and environmental factors. Environmental factors such as childhood experience, parental attitudes, social policies, and culture strongly affect the vulnerability to alcoholism. Genetic variables significantly influence the disease. There is no personality that causes alcoholism (Vaillant, 2003; Goodwin, 1985).
Alcohol-Induced Organic Mental Disorders
Alcohol Intoxication
Alcohol intoxication is the most frequent organic-induced mental disorder. It is time limited, and it may occur with varying amounts of ingested alcohol. The intoxicated individual exhibits maladaptive behavioral changes due to recent ingestion. These changes may include aggressiveness, impaired judgment, impaired attention, irritability, euphoria, depression, emotional liability, and other manifestations of impaired social functioning. Although alcohol is a CNS depressant, its initial effects disinhibit the individual. Early in intoxication, the person may feel stimulated with an exaggerated sense of well-being. With further use, the person may slow down and become depressed, withdrawn, and dull. The person may even lose consciousness (Inba and Cohen 2007; Spitzer, 1987; Woodward, 1994).
Alcohol Amnestic Disorder-Blackout
Alcohol amnesic disorder, or a blackout, is a period of amnesia during periods of intoxication. The person may seem fully conscious and normal when observed by others, but the person is unable to remember what happened or what he or she did while intoxicated. The disorder may last for a few seconds or for days. The severity and duration of alcoholism correlate with the frequency of occurrence of these blackouts (Goodwin, 1971; Goodwin, Crane, & Guze, 1969.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a neurological emergency that should be treated by the immediate IM administration of thiamine. The symptoms begin with a sudden change in organic functioning. The client becomes ataxic with a wide-based unsteady gait. The person may be unable to walk without support. The client is mentally confused and unable to transfer memory from short- to long-term memory. The client may be disoriented, listless, inattentive, and indifferent to the environment. Questions directed at the client may go unanswered, or he or she may fall asleep while being examined. The etiology of this syndrome involves a thiamine deficiency due to dietary, genetic, or medical factors. All clients with compromised mental functioning or a deficit in memory need to be examined by the medical staff as soon as possible to prevent further brain damage (Braunwald et al., 1987).
Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms relate to a relative drop in alcohol blood levels. Withdrawal can occur when the individual is still drinking. The classic withdrawal symptom is a coarse fast frequency tremor observed when the client’s hand or tongue is extended. The tremor is made worse by motor activity or stress. The client may experience nausea and vomiting, malaise, weakness, elevated pulse and blood pressure, anxiety, craving, depressed mood, irritability, transient hallucinations, headache, and insomnia. These symptoms follow several hours after cessation or reduction in alcohol intake and peak within 72 hours. They usually disappear within 5 to 7 days of abstinence. The client in alcohol withdrawal is treated with a cross-tolerant drug similar in pharmacological effects to alcohol, usually one of the benzodiazepines. This stabilizes the client in a mild withdrawal syndrome (Mayo-Smith, 2009).
Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures
Withdrawal seizures may occur 7 to 38 hours after the last alcohol use in chronic drinkers. The tendency to seizure peaks within 24 hours (Adams & Victor, 1981; Mayo-Smith, 2009).
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium (Delirium Tremens)
One third of clients with seizures go on to develop alcohol withdrawal delirium or delirium tremens. This is characterized by confusion, disorientation, fluctuating or clouded sensorium, and perceptual disturbances (Adams & Victor, 1981; Mayo-Smith, 2009). Typical symptoms include delusions, vivid hallucinations, agitation, insomnia, mild fever, and marked autonomic arousal. The client frequently reports visual hallucinations of insects, small animals, and other perceptual disturbances. The client may be terrified. The delirium typically subsides after a few days, but it can continue for weeks (Gessner, 1979).
You must take addiction seriously because 25% of Americans die as a result of substance abuse. The average alcoholic dies twenty-six years earlier than he or she would otherwise.
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Begin Alcoholism Treatment at Home: Many patients like to start recovery at home. If you cannot bring the problem under control using this self-help approach, you will need to consider inpatient or outpatient treatment.
The Addiction Treatment Planner, Fourth Edition: This is a treatment planner to help professionals develop effective treatment plans. Approved by JCAHO and all state and federal accrediting bodies. The most used addiction treatment planner in the world. This can be used with TheraScribe 5.0 to computerize treatment planning.
Treatment Planner Computer Software: TheraScribe is a computerized treatment planning software that can use The Addiction Treatment Planner, Fourth Edition and many other mental health modules to develop industry standard treatment plans.
The Gambling Addiction Client Workbook, Second Edition: All of the exercises a person needs to develop a stable gambling recovery program. Used by many gambling programs as their treatment workbook.
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says that only God can relieve the illness of addiction. Here are a few spiritual tools to help you:
Teaches you how easy it is to hear God's voice.
Peace Will Come CD Sit back and let the words and music sink into your soul. Come back often and play the songs over and over again. You won't be sorry. God will teach you many things you need to know.
A Communication From God: A meditation tape that will give you long communications from God. The tape takes you through two exercises where God speaks to you directly.
Addiction stops your spiritual progress. Begin a new spiritual journey: www.godtalkstoyou.com
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