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There is a great deal of reasons why families break apart or why marriages turn to divorce. One of them is alcohol addiction. To enumerate some problems caused by this vice: parents quarrelling because there is not enough money for food but there is for booze, wayward children because there is no peace and love at home, and depression and lack of self esteem for the individual; and sometimes, domestic violence. There are some instances where this is the cause of death especially for those who drink and drive. Addiction starts early for some, some as early as 8 years old which the parents tolerate because they are alcoholic themselves. Teens are also susceptible because of peer pressure. While some recovers from alcohol addiction, others felt trapped in it for long periods even with rehabilitation.

Alcohol addiction or alcohol dependence is a disabling addictive disorder characterized by compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol despite its negative effect on health, relationships and social standing. Like any other addictions, this is treatable. Alcoholism was first coined in 1849 but was replaced by “alcohol abuse” and “alcohol dependence” in the 1980s. Alcohol problems vary in severity from mild to life threatening and affect not only the individual but also the people around him in numerous adverse ways.

Because of the rising need for treatment, an alcohol treatment center was established. These centers provide care for individuals undergoing alcohol dependence by giving the best quality care at an affordable price for those who ordinarily cannot afford this level of treatment. They have a holistic approach to the addiction and alcohol treatment encompassing the client’s physiological, emotional and spiritual needs. An example of a drug treatment is through alcohol detoxification or “detox” for alcoholics which is an abrupt stop of alcohol drinking coupled with the substitution of drugs, such as benzodiazepines that have similar effects to prevent alcohol withdrawal. Individuals who are only at risk of mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms can be detoxified as outpatients. Individuals at risk of severe withdrawal symptoms can be detoxified as outpatients. For those who are at risk of severe withdrawal syndrome as well as those who have significant or acute co-morbid conditions are generally treated as inpatients. Detoxification does not actually treat alcoholism, and it is necessary to follow up detoxification with an appropriate treatment program for alcohol dependence or abuse in order to reduce the risk of relapse. A drug treatment center is not only concerned with individuals with substance abuse problems but for alcoholics as well. The treatment center offers counseling even after detoxification to help continue the process and this can be a one year aftercare program that provides a support system with a focus on relapse prevention plan and problem solving. The various treatment centers offer group therapy or psychotherapy that can be used to deal with the underlying psychological issues that are related to alcohol addiction. They also provide relapse prevention skills. The mutual-help group=counseling is one of the most common ways of helping alcoholics maintain sobriety.

The various health problems associated with long-term alcohol consumption are generally perceived as detrimental to society. For example, money due to lost labor-hours, medical costs and secondary treatment costs. This is also a major contributing factor for vehicular accidents, violence and assaults. Alcoholism must be curtailed if it cannot be stopped. As the doctor says, an early prevention is better than a pound of cure.