The Enterhealth Approach to Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Vivitrol makes it easier for patients to stop abusing alcohol by blocking certain receptors in the brain that give users the “buzz” or “rush” by releasing feel-good chemicals such as dopamine into their systems. In other words, if someone taking Vivitrol drinks alcohol, they cannot get drunk.

This makes alcohol less appealing and prevents relapse by decreasing cravings by up to 90% and blocking the euphoria they would normally get from drinking.

*Note that drinking on Vivitrol will still produce symptoms of intoxication, like slurred words or poor balance, but patients won’t benefit from any of the positive (pleasant) effects of alcohol.

Other medications for alcohol abuse include:

• Disulfiram (Antabuse), which deters people from drinking by making them physically sick if they consume alcohol.
• Acamprosate (Campral), which diminishes the physical distress and emotional discomfort people often experience after they quit drinking.

Learn more about anti-addiction medications at Enterhealth.

Alcohol dependence, or alcohol addiction, is a chronic and progressive disease that creates a strong need to drink despite repeated social or interpersonal problems such as losing a job, legal trouble, or deteriorating relationships with friends and family.

Because alcohol addiction alters the brain’s chemistry and physically affects the deepest parts of the brain, quitting is difficult without help – even for those who are ready to do so. Alcohol addiction generally has a predictable course, and there are recognizable alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which include:

• Craving– a strong need or urge to drink alcohol.
• Loss of control– not being able to stop drinking alcohol once drinking has begun.
• Physical dependence– alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking alcohol.
• Tolerance– the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol just to get “high”.

Alcohol is what’s known as a Central Nervous System depressant. It affects the areas of the brain responsible for controlling our cognitive and motor functions, inhibiting their function and slowing them down.

In the short term, alcohol causes:

• Impaired memory, judgment, and coordination
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Slurred speech
• Drowsiness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Upset stomach
• Headaches

Long-term use can cause:

• High blood pressure, stroke, and other heart-related diseases
• Liver disease
• Nerve damage
• Permanent brain damage
• Sexual dysfunction
• Vitamin deficiencies

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal range from mild to serious depending on how much the person drinks and how long they’ve been dependent on alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms follow a progression, getting more and more serious as with time.

Early alcohol withdrawal symptoms (~6 hours without a drink):

• Anxiety
• Tremors
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Insomnia
• Sweating

Later alcohol withdrawal symptoms (~12-72 hours without a drink)

• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Tremors
• Confusion
• Racing heart
• High blood pressure
• Fever
• Heavy sweating
• Seizures

While the most severe symptoms usually subsist after a few days, some patients experience persistent withdrawal symptoms. These usually include problems sleeping, fatigue, and mood changes, and they may last for weeks or even months in some cases.

Because of the health risks involved with the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, treatment needs to begin with supervised medical alcohol detox. Attempting to detox outside of a medical facility could be deadly.

In addition to closely monitoring a patient’s vitals, medical staff may also prescribe medications to mediate some of the more severe and dangerous symptoms. This can include benzodiazepine medications to prevent seizures, anti-psychotics to control hallucinations/delusions, as well as vitamins (particularly B vitamins) and other supplements to make up for deficiencies that commonly accompany alcohol addiction.

“Functional alcoholic” (or “high-functioning alcoholic”) is not a formal medical diagnosis. Rather, it’s a turn of phrase an alcoholic who is still at a point where they can still function in society. That is to say, their drinking hasn’t reached the point that it causes them to miss work, school, or other obligations and they are still able to manage a job, home, and family life.

It would be more accurate to describe the person as “currently-functioning,” however, as it’s unlikely they will remain “functional” for a long period of time. Eventually, they will have to contend with powerful cravings and obsessive thoughts about their next drink, as well as a host of withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit.