Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol Use Disorder
Don’t let alcohol, club drugs and tranquilizer addiction define you any longer. Take the first step toward recovery by contacting Addiction Specialists of Southern California. Dr. Jayson Hymes and our compassionate team are ready to guide you on your journey to a healthier, happier, and addiction-free life.
You’ll be under the supervision of Dr. Hymes and his staff, while being allowed the convenience of receiving treatment in an outpatient setting. There will be no overnight stay necessary in an outpatient detox facility unless the physician determines that your situation would require 24hr monitoring and more intensive treatment. Addiction Specialists of So. Cal outpatient program allows for some level of flexibility so a patient can attend treatment without missing work or school responsibilities.
After an in-person evaluation, you’ll be prescribed the appropriate medication to start your detox and be given detailed instructions for the next steps. We will then recommend that you spend a few days at your home taking it easy. During that time, our staff will have communication with you in person, by phone, text, or video conference. Our protocol includes weekly office visits unless more intensive monitoring is required in your case.
Alcohol abuse causes many marriages, relationships, and career paths to fail because it has a ripple effect across a person’s network of family, friends, employers, and colleagues. The entire family is especially affected because of the people who drink.
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Why Seek Treatment for Alcohol Dependence?
There is a significant list of alcohol’s harmful effects on the body, both psychological and physical.
- Alcohol interrupts the brain’s pathways, which can affect the way the brain functions. Over time, it can even change the way the brain looks, as evident by brain imaging. Additionally, alcohol impairs motor and cognitive functioning. Unpleasant mood and behavior changes can also occur.
- Excessive drinking can also cause heart problems such as arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy (stretching of the heart muscle), high blood pressure, and stroke.
- The risk of liver problems such as cirrhosis, fibrosis, steatosis (fatty liver), or alcoholic hepatitis can increase dramatically.
- Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion.
- The risk of various cancers may increase due to excessive consumption of alcohol, such as liver cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and head and neck cancer.
- Your immune system can be weakened as a result of excessive drinking. Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections – even up to 24 hours after getting drunk.
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Solutions for Alcoholism Treatment
Naltrexone / Vivitrol
Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors that are involved in the rewarding effects of drinking and the craving for alcohol. It reduces relapse to heavy drinking, defined as four or more drinks per day for women and five or more for men.
Naltrexone cuts relapse risk during the first 3 months by about 36 percent but is less effective in helping patients maintain abstinence. It now comes in a once-a-month injection called Vivitrol.
Acamprosate
Topiramate
Topiramate is thought to work by increasing inhibitory (GABA) neurotransmission and reducing stimulatory (glutamate) neurotransmission. Its precise mechanism of action in treating alcohol addiction is not known, and it has not yet received FDA approval.
Topiramate has been shown in two randomized, controlled trials to significantly improve multiple drinking outcomes, compared with a placebo. Over the course of a 14-week trial, topiramate significantly increased the proportion of patients with 28 consecutive days of abstinence or non-heavy drinking.
In both studies, the differences between topiramate and placebo groups were still diverging at the end of the trial, suggesting that the maximum effect may not have yet been reached. Importantly, efficacy was established in volunteers who were drinking upon starting the medication.
*The treatment of alcohol, club drugs and tranquilizer addiction involves multifaceted, multidisciplinary approaches to increase success and achieve long-term outcomes, below are some of the steps and approaches we provide at Addiction Specialists of So. Cal.
Comprehensive Assessment
Detoxification (if necessary)
Behavioral Therapies
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps individuals identify and modify maladaptive thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors associated with marijuana use. It focuses on developing coping strategies, enhancing problem-solving skills, and preventing relapse.
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET): MET aims to increase an individual's motivation to change their behavior by exploring and resolving ambivalence towards substance use. It helps individuals identify personal goals and develop strategies to achieve them.
- Contingency Management (CM): CM involves providing tangible rewards or incentives to reinforce abstinence from substance use. Positive reinforcement is used to encourage individuals to engage in healthy activities and maintain sobriety.
Supportive Interventions
- Support Groups: Participating in support groups, such as Cocaine Anonymous (CA,) Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA,) Narcotics Anonymous (NA,) Alcoholics Anonymous (AA,) Heroin Anonymous (HA,) Marijuana Anonymous (MA,) Pills Anonymous (PA,) or group therapy sessions, provides individuals with a supportive community of peers facing similar challenges.
- Family Therapy: Involving family members in therapy sessions can improve communication, address dysfunctional dynamics, and create a supportive environment that encourages recovery.
- Individual Counseling: Individual counseling sessions allow individuals to explore personal issues, develop coping skills, and address any co-occurring mental health concerns.
Holistic Approaches
Integrating holistic approaches, such as mindfulness meditation, exercise, nutrition, and stress reduction techniques, can contribute to overall well-being and aid in the recovery process. These practices promote self-care, reduce cravings, and enhance mental resilience.