Nick Johnson asked:


There is absolutely no excuse for nursing home abuse. Any type of physical abuse inside a nursing home is completely despicable and requires immediate action by any family member or family friend who can help the victim.

The fastest way to resolve an abuse suspicion is by hiring a high quality, competent lawyer. Lawsuits hold these places accountable for the damage they cause, and there’s no reason that anyone should allow abuse to happen.

Suspecting abuse is grounds for reporting and hiring a lawyer. A nursing home abuse lawyer can give solid and well founded advice for protecting the victim as well as pursuing a nursing home lawsuit.

Bruises, broken bones, unclean residents, and withdrawn, depressed residents are all signs of abuse. Even just the suspicion of abuse should result in a consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer, as it can often be disguised as resident clumsiness, or other reasonable explanations.

Reasonable explanations are not always as reasonable as they seem, especially when the resident has a family who stays involved in their care. Residents without involved family members tend to be the victims of abuse before residents with active family visits.

Nursing home lawsuits can still be filed on behalf of those without active family members, although it typically means the victim needs to be willing to testify on at least some level. Any suspicion of abuse, whether it relates directly to a family member or not, should be reported.

Too often, people are afraid to get involved and interfere, even when they know deep down that they should. It’s just like child abuse, it’s everyone’s responsibility to call for help when someone is helpless. A lawyer can discreetly meet with a resident who is being abused but has no family on their behalf. A simple phone call to a lawyer is really all it takes.

Physical abuse in a nursing home is usually obvious after only a few visits. There are only so many excuses the staff and administration can come up with for bumps, bruises, marks, broken bones, and burns before someone realizes that there is abuse written all over every bruise.

It takes so little to help the victim of abuse, even from the inside. A concerned staff member or family friend can place a phone call as easily as anyone else, and in most cases the calls can be confidential.

However, lawsuits do go much easier when there are witness testimonies and people aren’t so afraid to get involved. There really isn’t anything to be lost by getting involved in a lawsuit that is any worse than what the victim of abuse has already lost. Abuse strips away a sense of safety, dignity, the feeling of being cared for and even a sense of humanization.

Lawsuits do not have to be the only answer for an abuse victim, a lawyer can certainly help determine other avenues, however a lawsuit will typically ascertain the funds needed to remove the victim from the premises and locate safer, alternative care.

Caring for a victim takes a very gentle hand, anyone can imagine the fear of the unknown an abuse victim must face. That is why lawyers work so tirelessly and so earnestly to fight for the victim’s rights and compensation. Compensation for abuse can almost always guarantee the victim more choices than they had previously.

A high quality lawyer can file a lawsuit without jeopardizing the health and safety of the abuse victim. However, someone has to be the first to step forward and report their suspicions of abuse, regardless of whether or not they are related to the victim.

It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a community to care for the elderly. It takes just a little bit of selflessness and courage to report abuse. Ignoring abuse is almost as bad as committing it, and turning a cold shoulder to a victim is simply wrong. There is no excuse for abuse, and there is no excuse for ignoring abuse.



gwyneth

Nick Johnson asked:


There is absolutely no excuse for nursing home abuse. Any type of physical abuse inside a nursing home is completely despicable and requires immediate action by any family member or family friend who can help the victim.

The fastest way to resolve an abuse suspicion is by hiring a high quality, competent lawyer. Lawsuits hold these places accountable for the damage they cause, and there’s no reason that anyone should allow abuse to happen.

Suspecting abuse is grounds for reporting and hiring a lawyer. A nursing home abuse lawyer can give solid and well founded advice for protecting the victim as well as pursuing a nursing home lawsuit.

Bruises, broken bones, unclean residents, and withdrawn, depressed residents are all signs of abuse. Even just the suspicion of abuse should result in a consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer, as it can often be disguised as resident clumsiness, or other reasonable explanations.

Reasonable explanations are not always as reasonable as they seem, especially when the resident has a family who stays involved in their care. Residents without involved family members tend to be the victims of abuse before residents with active family visits.

Nursing home lawsuits can still be filed on behalf of those without active family members, although it typically means the victim needs to be willing to testify on at least some level. Any suspicion of abuse, whether it relates directly to a family member or not, should be reported.

Too often, people are afraid to get involved and interfere, even when they know deep down that they should. It’s just like child abuse, it’s everyone’s responsibility to call for help when someone is helpless. A lawyer can discreetly meet with a resident who is being abused but has no family on their behalf. A simple phone call to a lawyer is really all it takes.

Physical abuse in a nursing home is usually obvious after only a few visits. There are only so many excuses the staff and administration can come up with for bumps, bruises, marks, broken bones, and burns before someone realizes that there is abuse written all over every bruise.

It takes so little to help the victim of abuse, even from the inside. A concerned staff member or family friend can place a phone call as easily as anyone else, and in most cases the calls can be confidential.

However, lawsuits do go much easier when there are witness testimonies and people aren’t so afraid to get involved. There really isn’t anything to be lost by getting involved in a lawsuit that is any worse than what the victim of abuse has already lost. Abuse strips away a sense of safety, dignity, the feeling of being cared for and even a sense of humanization.

Lawsuits do not have to be the only answer for an abuse victim, a lawyer can certainly help determine other avenues, however a lawsuit will typically ascertain the funds needed to remove the victim from the premises and locate safer, alternative care.

Caring for a victim takes a very gentle hand, anyone can imagine the fear of the unknown an abuse victim must face. That is why lawyers work so tirelessly and so earnestly to fight for the victim’s rights and compensation. Compensation for abuse can almost always guarantee the victim more choices than they had previously.

A high quality lawyer can file a lawsuit without jeopardizing the health and safety of the abuse victim. However, someone has to be the first to step forward and report their suspicions of abuse, regardless of whether or not they are related to the victim.

It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a community to care for the elderly. It takes just a little bit of selflessness and courage to report abuse. Ignoring abuse is almost as bad as committing it, and turning a cold shoulder to a victim is simply wrong. There is no excuse for abuse, and there is no excuse for ignoring abuse.



Pauline

Peter Kent asked:


Medical practitioners commonly acknowledge that substance abuse plays a part in many cases of traumatic brain injury. A victim may have engaged in recreational drug use or alcohol abuse before the injury, the brain injury event may have been caused by intoxication, and problems with substance abuse can arise in victims of traumatic brain injury after they are discharged from medical facilities. What role does substance abuse play in traumatic brain injury? What can you do if a loved one suffering from traumatic brain injury is also struggling with drug or alcohol abuse?

Who Is At Risk For Traumatic Brain Injury?

Alcohol abuse plays a major role in traumatic brain injury, with many incidents occurring in relation to automobile crashes or heavy equipment used while under the influence. The medical community recognizes that young males are the most likely to suffer from alcohol-related TBI. These incidents may be isolated, but many fall within a context of broader substance abuse: for example, a longitudinal study at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio has found that nearly 60 percent of their patient sample had prior histories of drug and alcohol abuse.

Someone with a previous record of substance abuse may have a more difficult time being hospitalized than those with no previous record or history. This is due to the fact that many patients are both recovering from their brain injuries and dealing with the frustrating physical and emotional effects of detoxification. The presence of drug or alcohol abuse can also complicate diagnoses, as many of the symptoms of overdose (respiratory depression, lethargy, confusion, apathy, and disorientation) are similar to those of traumatic brain injury. Thus, TBI is sometimes overlooked, leading to complications and ongoing symptoms related to insufficient care.

After Discharge: Substance Abuse A Risk For TBI Patients

The struggles with substance abuse do not necessarily end when a traumatic brain injury patient is released from the hospital and discharged to his or her home and community. In fact, they are sometimes just beginning: Victims of TBIs often turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with the emotional disturbances or changes in personality that might be a result of a brain injury. The brain injury patient may not even be able to disclose his or her own problems with substances due to after effects of the injury such as speech issues or memory loss; similarly, they may already exhibit external symptoms some would associate with intoxication and may feel that it doesn’t matter if they actually indulge in those substances since their physical symptoms already make them seem as if they do.

What Can Families Do About Substance Abuse and Traumatic Brain Injury?

Loved ones and families of the victim can be the biggest help in acquainting themselves and making interventions in the substance abuse after the brain injury. Families who take care of the brain injured patient are often the first to notice that the person they are caring for is developing a substance addiction. Families taking care of these patients do have ways to help the person with a substance abuse problem such as letting the health care providers know, or advise their loved one to find help. A drug-free surrounding that is supportive provided by the families can be another way to help the substance abuser and brain injury victim towards rehabilitation and regaining all functions. However, substance abuse can have an enormous negative impact on family members who suffer emotionally as their loved one slides into dangerous habits. It is essential that families of traumatic brain injury survivors with associated substance abuse issues seek out their own support, either through a professional counselor or a local Al-Anon group, in order to cope with the ravages of substance abuse.

Some families may wish to hire an experienced brain injury attorney to help them address not only medical care for substance abuse treatment, but the myriad of other issues related to traumatic brain injury. TBI is stressful on families and individuals; a clever lawyer who is an expert at brain injuries can maneuver the legal system and find essential services and help and possibly also help to find financial support or compensation for expenses that can come from being out of work or needing medication, as well as emotional turmoil.



Kerri

Samantha Sai asked:


Are sexiest people narcissistic? Maybe and maybe not. Narcissists love themselves. To their mind they are the ultimate in God’s creation. They appear so beautiful in their mirrors that they are convinced that even the Gods must be silent with admiration.The typical narcissistic preoccupations of fame, beauty and power obsess them and they feel that they are the center of the universe–the sexiest person on earth. So, the narcissist is selfish, blind to the feelings of others around him and lives for himself and within himself.

It is besides the point that the narcissist may have an IQ that is below par or he has the ugliest mutt in the whole world. He still thinks that he is the most adorable, most sexiest and most beautiful person on this planet. You have to just observe the narcissist in his or her natural habitat and you will understand what they are about. They will not hesitate to plaster their image on the walls of their home or anywhere they think will draw admiration.  You can see evidence of narcissism on the web!  There are any number of people ready to post mug shots of themselves on websites they own or otherwise and love to share their incredible wisdom with those they consider peasants and unenlightened.

Narcissist like to look the same everyday. They build up a defining characteristic. It may be a haircut, a type of dress or a tatoo.  The identity is in his mind and he will role play to keep it live. He may even demand that his wife or girl friend dress in a manner that complements his style. It is immaterial to him that the dress may not suit the women or she may not like the style. She must be a complement to him and that is all that he cares about.

Doctors classify narcissm as an illness. They trace the cause to an oversensitive childhood that was riddled with situations that were adversorial and hence the person turns protective of himself and falls in love with himself. Narcissm is generally considered to be a personality trait that is not cureable. It is also very difficult to convince the narcissist that he is ill and needs treatment.

If you think you are the sexiest person alive and someone whose every wish needs to be attended to,…welcome to club narcissism! You will be among those who agree with you that "they are the best" whatever you may say.

By the way there is really a club called club Narcissism! It is considered to be the sexiest club on the web!

Peter Kent asked:


Medical practitioners commonly acknowledge that substance abuse plays a part in many cases of traumatic brain injury. A victim may have engaged in recreational drug use or alcohol abuse before the injury, the brain injury event may have been caused by intoxication, and problems with substance abuse can arise in victims of traumatic brain injury after they are discharged from medical facilities. What role does substance abuse play in traumatic brain injury? What can you do if a loved one suffering from traumatic brain injury is also struggling with drug or alcohol abuse?

Who Is At Risk For Traumatic Brain Injury?

Alcohol abuse plays a major role in traumatic brain injury, with many incidents occurring in relation to automobile crashes or heavy equipment used while under the influence. The medical community recognizes that young males are the most likely to suffer from alcohol-related TBI. These incidents may be isolated, but many fall within a context of broader substance abuse: for example, a longitudinal study at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio has found that nearly 60 percent of their patient sample had prior histories of drug and alcohol abuse.

Someone with a previous record of substance abuse may have a more difficult time being hospitalized than those with no previous record or history. This is due to the fact that many patients are both recovering from their brain injuries and dealing with the frustrating physical and emotional effects of detoxification. The presence of drug or alcohol abuse can also complicate diagnoses, as many of the symptoms of overdose (respiratory depression, lethargy, confusion, apathy, and disorientation) are similar to those of traumatic brain injury. Thus, TBI is sometimes overlooked, leading to complications and ongoing symptoms related to insufficient care.

After Discharge: Substance Abuse A Risk For TBI Patients

The struggles with substance abuse do not necessarily end when a traumatic brain injury patient is released from the hospital and discharged to his or her home and community. In fact, they are sometimes just beginning: Victims of TBIs often turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with the emotional disturbances or changes in personality that might be a result of a brain injury. The brain injury patient may not even be able to disclose his or her own problems with substances due to after effects of the injury such as speech issues or memory loss; similarly, they may already exhibit external symptoms some would associate with intoxication and may feel that it doesn’t matter if they actually indulge in those substances since their physical symptoms already make them seem as if they do.

What Can Families Do About Substance Abuse and Traumatic Brain Injury?

Loved ones and families of the victim can be the biggest help in acquainting themselves and making interventions in the substance abuse after the brain injury. Families who take care of the brain injured patient are often the first to notice that the person they are caring for is developing a substance addiction. Families taking care of these patients do have ways to help the person with a substance abuse problem such as letting the health care providers know, or advise their loved one to find help. A drug-free surrounding that is supportive provided by the families can be another way to help the substance abuser and brain injury victim towards rehabilitation and regaining all functions. However, substance abuse can have an enormous negative impact on family members who suffer emotionally as their loved one slides into dangerous habits. It is essential that families of traumatic brain injury survivors with associated substance abuse issues seek out their own support, either through a professional counselor or a local Al-Anon group, in order to cope with the ravages of substance abuse.

Some families may wish to hire an experienced brain injury attorney to help them address not only medical care for substance abuse treatment, but the myriad of other issues related to traumatic brain injury. TBI is stressful on families and individuals; a clever lawyer who is an expert at brain injuries can maneuver the legal system and find essential services and help and possibly also help to find financial support or compensation for expenses that can come from being out of work or needing medication, as well as emotional turmoil.

Nick Johnson asked:


In America today, we have placed nearly 2 million elderly family members under the direct care of a nursing home. Something you probably don’t want to tell grandma or grandpa is that they could very well be living in one of the thousands of nursing homes that have been charged with neglect or abuse.

Take notice. Nursing home neglect is widespread. Unfortunately, as most people grow older, they become more susceptible to negligence and unnecessarily become victims of abuse. Thousands of elderly men and women move into homes to be cared for by others when they can no longer take care of themselves. Surprisingly, a large number of residents are not being given the care and attention they deserve.

Whenever the owner or person responsible for taking care of his residents fails to fulfill his obligation, nursing home neglect has just occurred. One might say a person has been neglected when the staff is not able to provide the resident with everyday necessities such as water, food, or professional care.

Needless to say, the resident can be afflicted with health problems or injuries as a result of nursing home negligence. Various conditions might indicate a resident has been subjected to neglect or abuse. Some signs include cuts, bruising, dehydration, bed sores, symptoms of malnutrition, untreated wounds, behavioral swings, and general unsanitary environments.

Whenever you suspect a loved one has suffered from nursing home neglect or any form of nursing home abuse, it is advisable to call your local police right away and file a formal complaint. After you file a negligence report with the police, the next best thing to do is consult with an experienced attorney that can handle that type of case in your State.

A top nursing home abuse lawyer will be able to advise you of your legal recourse and represent your loved one if negligence or abuse is apparent. Should your lawyer recommend a lawsuit, the nursing home owner and its staff may be convicted of neglect and be held liable for restitution.

When Nursing Home Abuse is Denied:

Nursing home abuse is a tragic sin against the elderly. It is even more tragic when a victim of abuse or neglect finds the courage to speak up and there is no one there to help them. Often claims of abuse or neglect are easy for nursing homes to deny for the simple matter that the elderly are more likely to lose some of their mental capacity.

Abuse and neglect as well as outright medical malpractice often go unreported by staff members the elderly choose to confide in. This is due to the staff member’s fear that the entire nursing home will lose credibility and the innocent employees will find themselves out of a job and facing legal trouble.

Innocent employees in doubt should contact a reputable lawyer to discuss the situation in complete detail, as the lawyer can advise an innocent employee how to most effectively handle the abuse, neglect, or the medical malpractice occurrences. It takes a great deal of courage for an innocent employee to seek out the advice of a lawyer and follow through on their direction.

Nursing home residents are more likely to report abuse, neglect, or medical malpractice to an employee they like and trust, and their faith is then placed in that individual to help resolve the situation. Too often the innocent employee is willing to sweep the report under the rug. An employee at a nursing home that is charged with this information becomes equally as culpable as the individual who perpetrated the abuse,neglect, or the case of medical malpractice.

Covering up incidents only leads to more incidents of abuse, neglect, or medical malpractice. Every incident after the initial incident reported becomes equal responsibility of the staff member who did nothing about the initial report of abuse, neglect, or medical malpractice. A competent attorney can explain the intricacies of the law relating to covering up and failing to report abuse cases.

If there is a question to the mental capacity of the residents making the report of the abuse, neglect, or medical malpractice, it is still suitable and advisable to seek the council of a competent lawyer. Whether a resident makes a habit of reporting abuse that doesn’t exist or is expressing a legitimate concern, the nursing home employee is legally obligated to report it.

Nobody wants to make waves or toss our unfounded accusations at good and caring colleagues. However, residents of a nursing home have so little power, and almost no voice. Their need for safety and security outweighs an uncomfortable moment experienced by reporting abuse, neglect, or obvious medical malpractice.



Miranda

T. Daniel Frith, III asked:


All residents in nursing homes are entitled to receive quality care and live in an environment that improves or maintains the quality of their physical and mental health. This entitlement includes freedom from neglect and abuse.

WHAT CONSTITUTES NEGLECT AND ABUSE?

Neglect: Neglect is the failure to care for a person in a manner, which would avoid harm and pain, or the failure to react to a situation which may be harmful. Neglect may or may not be intentional. For example, a caring aide who is poorly trained may not know how to provide proper care. Examples include:

Incorrect body positioning — which leads to limb contractures and skin breakdown;

Lack of toileting or changing of disposable briefs — which causes incontinence and results in residents sitting in urine and feces, increased falls and agitation, indignity and skin breakdown;

Lack of assistance eating and drinking — which leads to malnutrition and dehydration;

Lack of assistance with walking — which leads to lack of mobility;

Lack of bathing — which leads to indignity, and poor hygiene;

Poor handwashing techniques — which leads to infection;

Lack of assistance with participating in activities of interest — which leads to withdrawal and isolation;

Ignoring call bells or cries for help.

Abuse: Abuse means causing intentional pain or harm. This includes physical, mental, verbal, psychological, and sexual abuse, and intimidation. Examples include:

Physical abuse from a staff member, another resident, or visitor from outside the facility — including hitting, pinching, shoving, force-feeding, scratching, slapping, and spitting;

Psychological or emotional abuse — including berating, ignoring, ridiculing, or cursing a resident, threats of punishment or deprivation;

Sexual abuse — including improper touching or coercion to perform sexual acts;

Substandard care which often results in one or more of the following conditions — immobilization, incontinence, dehydration, pressure sores, and depression;

Rough handling during care giving, medicine administration or moving a resident.

REPORTING NEGLECT AND ABUSE

It is a violation of State and Federal law for any person, including facility staff, volunteers, visitors, family members or guardians, or another resident, to neglect or abuse a resident.

Anyone can and should report neglect and abuse. If you suspect neglect or abuse, or if a resident tells you they are experiencing this problem, it is important to believe the resident and REPORT THE ALLEGATION IMMEDIATELY. This will help prevent further suffering by any resident.

Many states have laws that require the reporting of abuse and neglect. Find out what your state requires.

Put your report in writing, date it, and keep a copy. Convey as much information as you can about the situation. Remember to include:

WHO The name of the victim, including age and address; the name of the facility and the people responsible for the victim’s care; the identity of the person who you believe abused or neglected the resident;

WHAT The nature and extent of harm and any physical signs of abuse or neglect; any previous incidents; what happened;

WHERE and WHEN the place where the incident happened and time and date of the incident.

Make Your Report To:

The nursing home’s administrator, director of nursing, and social worker

The state or local Ombudsman

The local police or State law enforcement

Adult Protective Services agency – which is part of the Department of Social Services

The state survey agency that licenses and certifies nursing homes (often in the Health Department)

A citizen advocacy group or other church or community group that visits regularly.

Keep trying until you get the assistance you need.

AFTER THE REPORT:

Follow up with the resident and facility to make sure the neglect or abuse has stopped.

Follow up with the person or agency conducting the investigation. Ask for written copies of investigative reports.

If the perpetrator is charged with abuse or neglect, the charge will be referred to the state licensing authority. If the guilty person is a nurse aide, the charge will be reported to the state nurse aide registry. This registry is used by nursing homes to prevent abusive aides from working with the elderly. Nursing homes are required to check the registry before hiring a person.

If all the safety options fail, you may have to contact the local media, the U.S. Justice Department, or seek private legal assistance.

Patricia

Paul Hata asked:


One of the most perverse problems in an autistic individual’s life is the threat of sexual abuse. This can come in the form of rape or simply be in an abusive relationship. Because autistic people spend much of their lives feeling different and left out, they often enjoy sexual experiences for one reason: it puts them on a playing field equal to others. It is very easy for this to become a controlling part of a relationship.

The most important thing to remember is that autistic people experience sexuality in much of the same way that others do, no matter how highly functioning they may be. Parents should teach their child about sexuality from an early age in order to prevent sexual abuse from happening.

The most valuable command that anyone can learn in relationship to sexuality is No.Teaching this to even children can be very useful. In this respect, treat your autistic child as no different than you would another child teach him or her the parts of the body from a young age and be very clear, as the child matures, about what happens during puberty and what kinds of behaviors are appropriate and inappropriate.

Be sure that your child understands the differences between good touches and bad touches. This can be extremely difficult for autistic children who are sensitive to touch in general. It may be helpful to label zones on the body where no one should touch without permission.

Also make sure that as your autistic child grows into an adult, he or she understands what rape is and what to do if this happens. As many autistic children are hands-on learners, it may be best to role-play some potentially dangerous situations. If your child communicates non-verbally, teach him or her clear signs to show a person to stop what they are doing.

Autistic people can often not understand that others have their own thoughts and emotions they believe that everyone thinks and feels what they do. Because of this, many are shocked to find that bad people in the world will take advantage of sexual situations. You may need to explain to an autistic individual what kinds of dress and conduct are appropriate in public so that he or she is not unknowingly attracting sexual attention.

You child should learn to respect his or her body and understand that others need to respect it as well. This is only possible if parents and educators teach autistic children about their bodies from a young age. By learning how to stop sexual abuse, you can keep you children, autistic or not, safe from predators.



Colin

Nick Johnson asked:


There are many different signs of elder abuse, and when looking for them it is very important to remember that not all elder abuse is physical. There are mental and emotional abuse issues that must be considered as well in order to protect elderly people against abuse and nursing home neglect.

Naturally, those that care for elderly people in nursing homes and other facilities are supposed to actually take care of these people, which means making sure to meet their basic needs and see that no harm comes to them. This is becoming more and more difficult, however, as the population ages and the ratio of elderly people to caregivers becomes larger. Despite these changes, however, there is no excuse for elder abuse or nursing home neglect.

Signs of elder abuse include obvious concerns such as cuts and bruises, especially if these things are repeated. When an injury continues to happen, it becomes suspicious, and rushing out and calling an elder abuse lawyer because an elderly relative has a cut or bruise is certainly not necessary.

Accidents of the slip-and-fall variety happen even in the best-run of nursing homes and elder care facilities. If elder abuse or nursing home neglect is taking place, these kinds of injuries will happen on a consistent basis, and they will be explained away with very tired excuses that are repetitious.

In addition, the excuses might not always match from one worker to the other, and a worker or workers may even be caught in a lie. These kinds of problems, however, are not the only symptoms of elder abuse, nor are they the only reasons that one should consider hiring a nursing home abuse lawyer.

Some elder abuse comes from mental and emotional mistreatment. Care workers that do not care are the chief cause of this type of issue. These individuals often ignore complaints and opinions, and they also often say hurtful things to the elderly people that they are supposed to be concerned about.

A person can only take so much of that before it becomes very harmful to his or her self-esteem. Issues of worth and value are often a concern for elderly people as it is, since they may not feel as though they have a lot to offer society any longer. A nursing home negligence attorney can help recover damages for the wronged party when there are signs of nursing home abuse or neglect.



Colin

Greg Roy asked:


Treatments for alcohol abuse are quite varied in keeping with the multiple perspectives of the condition itself. Counselors approaching the condition as a medical disease will recommend different treatment processes and goals than, for instance, those approaching the condition as one of social choice. Most treatments focus on helping abusers completely discontinue their alcohol intake, as well as providing life training and/or social support to help them resist a return to alcohol use. Since alcohol abuse involves many factors which encourage a person to continue drinking (psychological/social, physical, and neurochemical), all of these factors must be addressed in order to successfully prevent a return to active alcohol use.

The most common approach to alcohol abuse treatment is detoxification followed by a combination of supportive therapy, attendance at self-help groups, and ongoing development of coping mechanisms. The treatment community for alcohol abuse typically supports an abstinence-based approach, as studies have shown that the vast majority of people who abuse alcohol cannot learn to drink in moderation.

The effectiveness of alcohol abuse treatments vary from successful to counterproductive. When considering the effectiveness of treatment options, it is important to consider the percentage of those who drop out of a program, not just those who complete it. Most programs can boast a high cure rate for those who complete it because most people only complete a program if it works for them. It is also important to consider not just the percentage of those reaching sobriety but how many of those experience relapsing.

Here are the most common treatment options for alcohol abuse:

Detoxification

Detoxification (commonly referred to as “detox”) is the process of eliminating alcohol drinking and giving the drinker’s bodily system time to re-adjust to the absence of alcohol. Drugs that have similar effects to alcohol are used to ease the withdrawal symptoms, which can actually be deadly in extreme cases if left untreated. The most often used drugs are sedative-hypnotics, such as diazepam or clonazepam. Less frequently, barbiturates such as phenobarbital are used. Many weeks after alcohol intake has completely stopped individuals may still suffer from milder withdrawal symptoms; sleep is generally the last function to return to normal.

Detoxification is not a treatment for alcohol abuse itself, but is simply a treatment of the physiologic effects of ongoing abuse of alcohol. It provides an initial path for an abuser to stop drinking in the first place. Detoxification treatments without supplemental help for the patient to continue abstinence have a very high rate of relapse.

Detoxification often takes place within an inpatient environment, but some programs do offer outpatient detoxification.

Group therapy and psychotherapy

After detoxification, various forms of group therapy or psychotherapy can be used to deal with underlying psychological issues leading to alcohol abuse, and also to provide the recovering abuser with relapse prevention skills.

In the mid-1930s, the mutual-help group-counseling approach to treatment began and has become very popular. Alcoholics Anonymous is the best-known example of the support group movement. Other groups that provide similar self-help and support without AA’s spiritual focus include LifeRing Secular Recovery, Smart Recovery, Women For Sobriety, and Rational Recovery.

Medications

Medications for alcohol abuse are most often used to supplement a person’s willpower and encourage abstinence.

Antabuse (disulfiram), for instance, prevents the elimination of the chemical acetaldehyde. This causes severe discomfort when alcohol is ingested, effectively preventing the abuser from drinking in significant amounts while they take the medication. Heavy drinking while on Antabuse can result in severe illness and death.

Naltrexone has also been used because it helps curb cravings for alcohol while the person is on it. Both Antabuse and Naltrexone are used to encourage abstinence. The have, however, been demonstrated to cause a rebound effect when the user stops taking them.

Pharmacological extinction (also called the Sinclair Method)

Pharmacological extinction is the use of opioid antagonists [e.g. naltrexone] combined with normal drinking habits in order to eliminate the craving to consume alcohol. While standard naltrexone treatment uses the drug to curb craving and enforce abstinence, pharmacological extinction targets the endorphin-based neurological conditioning. Our behaviors become conditioned when we do something and endorphin bathes our neurons, and that conditioning is reversed when we do that thing and we don’t receive the endorphins. This method involves the alcohol abusers going about their normal drinking habits (limited only by safety concerns). Naltrexone is used to prevent the endorphins from being released by the alcohol, and thus rewarding the drinker’s neurochemistry. As such, the desire to drink is eliminted over a period of about three months. This allows an alcohol abuser to give up drinking as being sensibly unbeneficial. The effects persist after the drug is discontinued, but the addiction can return if the person drinks without first taking the drug. This treatment is highly unusual in that it works better if the patient does not go through detoxification prior to starting it.

This technique is used with positive results in Finland, Pennsylvania, and Florida, and is sometimes referred to as the Sinclair Method.

However, there is a lot of professional bias against this treatment for two reasons.

First, most alcohol abusers cannot successfully drink in moderation. Second, some studies have also been done which claim to demonstrate naltrexone to be of questionable value in supporting abstinence. However, the evidence is inconclusive.

Nutritional therapy

Nutritional therapy is not a treatment of alcohol abuse itself, but rather a treatment of the difficulties that can arise after years of heavy alcohol abuse; many alcohol dependents have insulin resistance syndrome, a metabolic disorder where the body’s difficulty in processing sugars causes an unsteady supply to the blood stream. While the disorder can be treated by a hypoglycemic diet, this can affect behavior and emotions. These side-effects are often seen among alcohol dependents in treatment. The metabolic aspects of such dependence are often overlooked, resulting in poor treatment outcomes.

There are other less popular treatments for alcohol abuse. This list is not meant to be an exhaustive compilation of every known treatment, but merely a general description of the most common treatments in use today. People are unique; what works best for one alcohol abuser may not be the same treatment that works best for another. For the greatest level of success, the treatment used must address the root causes of abuse to begin with. Only then will long-term success be achievable.



Bethany