Treatment and Rehabilitation of Alcohol and Drug Addicts

Treatment

Alcoholism - A Treatable Disease

Alcohol – Some facts

Fact 1

All alcoholic beverages (whisky / brandy / arrack / gin / beer / toddy etc. ) contain the same mood changing drug – ethyl alcohol. Only the percentage varies.

Fact 2

Alcohol contains no nutrients. It cannot help build one’s physique or improve the health condition.

Fact 3

Soon after drinking, alcohol quickly reaches the brain and slows down its activity. Alcohol is not a stimulant – it only interferes with the way brain works.

Fact 4

Drinking does not help to handle negative feelings like anxiety, worry or frustration. It only magnifies the intensity of these feelings.

Fact 5

Alcohol interferes with the normal sleep pattern. The sedation induced by alcohol prevents one from enjoying a deep restful sleep.

Fact 6

Alcohol does not make one more intelligent, witty or sophisticated or add to one’s personality in any way. It only gets one drunk.

ALCOHOL – THE DAMAGE IT CAN CAUSE

Brain

		Interferes with co-ordination and clear thinking
		Triggers off psychiatric problems ranging from depression to hallucinations and delusions
		Permanent damage to brain cells

Stomach

		Interferes with digestion
		Irritates the lining causing gastritis and ulcer
		Increases the incidence of cancer

Liver

		It takes an hour to break down one drink of alcohol
		Excessive drinking is a strain on the liver and can cause
			Enlargement due to fat deposits – fatty liver
			Inflammation of the cells - hepatitis
			Permanent damage – cirrhosis

Heart

		Rhythm and functioning is affected
		Heart muscles become weak reducing the pumping efficiency

Other Problems

Neuritis

Damage to the nerve endings causing tingling, numbness or tremors

Pancreatitis

Inflammation and damage of the pancreas.

Others

Skin problems, sexual problems, malnutrition and degeneration of muscles are also caused by excessive use of alcohol.

ALCOHOLISM – A DISEASE

		Around 20% of all people who drink develop alcoholism.
		Anybody can become an alcoholic. Age, education, intelligence – nothing matters.
		An alcoholic is one who continues to drink in spite of repeated problems in one or more areas of his life.
		Alcoholism is a progressive disease and the situation goes from bad to worse if he continues to drink.
		Once alcoholism sets in, it is not possible to drink in a controlled manner. No matter how hard he tries, he is unable to reduce the quantity and frequency of drinking.
		Advising, threatening, finding a job, changing the residence, paying back his debts or settling his other problems do not really help. He needs to give up alcohol totally as a first step towards resolving his problems.
		He needs to give up drinking totally and live that way for the rest of his life. Whenever he tries to drink a little, he will revert back to excessive drinking. Total abstinence is the only solution.
		With treatment, the alcoholic will be able to stop drinking and lead a normal life just like anybody else.

Symptoms of Alcoholism

As with any other disease, alcoholism progresses through three stages with specific symptoms in each stage

Early Stage

		Drinks more and more of alcohol as the body needs an increased quantity to experience the same pleasurable feelings experienced earlier.
		Unable to recollect incidents that happened after drinking. (blackout)
		Frequently thinks only about how, when and where he could drink.

Middle Stage

		Unable to exercise control over the quantity, time or situation of drinking
		Gives reasons to justify his drinking
		May give up drinking due to pressure or problems for a short period of time, but goes back to obsessive drinking.
		Irritability and aggression.

Chronic Stage

		Drinks continuously for a few days, gives it up for a while, starts drinking again – this cycle may go on (Binge drinking).
		Deterioration can be seen in many areas.
		Withdrawal symptoms like tremors become prominent and he is unable to carry on without drinking.
		Indefinable fears, suspicion about others, hallucinations.

ADDICTION IS A TREATABLE DISEASE, HELP IS AVAILABLE

TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION

T T Ranganathan Clinical Research Foundation otherwise known as the “TTK Hospital” is a non-profit, voluntary organization actively involved in prevention and treatment of addiction.

TTK Hospital runs a 70 beds addiction treatment centre. A one month residential treatment programme is offered by a team of doctors, psychologists, social workers as well as those who have recovered from addiction.

Treatment Helps Clients

		Give up the use of alcohol / drugs totally and
		Establish a qualitative life style by making meaningful changes

Treatment Includes

		Medical help to handle withdrawal symptoms and other health problems caused or made worse due to addiction. This takes about 5 – 7 days.
		Psychological therapy to help the client understand the nature of the disease of addiction, the recovery process and life style changes that need to be made. The three week programme includes lectures, counselling sessions, group therapy, introduction to self-help groups and other programmes.
		Family therapy programmme is conducted for two weeks to help family members understand addiction, recognize its impact on the family and make efforts towards recovery.
		Follow-up support is provided to sustain abstinence and improve life style further. This includes medical assistance, counselling sessions and recovery management programme for a period of one to five years.

TTK Hospital also runs an After Care Centre which offers an intensive, long-term treatment programme of two months duration. Besides offering these services for over two decades, TTK Hospital is actively involved in conducting awareness and prevention programmes, training programmes for a variety of professionals and bringing out publications related to addiction.