If you are ready to enter recovery for alcohol use disorder, it is helpful to know about the various treatment protocols available. One of the most effective recovery tools is medication assisted treatment for alcohol dependence, referred to as MAT. Please read on to learn all about the benefits of MAT for alcohol recovery.
How Does Alcohol Dependence Develop?
Alcoholism is a disease that impacts the brain. Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system, slowing the functioning and activity of the nerve cells. This is the initial impact of alcohol on the brain and its structures.
Chronic alcohol abuse causes alcohol tolerance to gradually increase, which leads to even higher consumption to achieve the desired effects. The brain’s neurotransmitters then adjust in response to the increase of alcohol exposure and dopamine production. Over time, the neural pathways become altered and alcohol dependence results.
Signs of Alcohol Dependency
The term “alcohol use disorder” pertains to habitual problematic drinking. Based on the number of diagnostic symptoms experienced in a one-year period, the disorder is staged as mild, moderate, or severe.
The criteria for identifying alcohol use disorder include a series of questions about drinking habits.
In the last year:
- Have you had occasions when you drank more or longer than intended?
- Have you attempted to cut back or quit drinking on more than one occasion, but couldn’t?
- Do you spend a lot of time drinking or recovering from its aftereffects?
- Do you experience alcohol cravings?
- Has your alcohol use caused you to neglect family obligations or problems at work?
- Have you continued to consume alcohol regardless of these problems?
- Have you lost interest in or discontinued activities or hobbies you once enjoyed?
- Have you engaged in high-risk behaviors due to alcohol consumption?
- Do you continue to drink even with it causing mental health or medical problems or blackouts?
- Have you increased your alcohol consumption to achieve the initial effects once experienced?
- Do you experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms when the effects of the alcohol wear off?
Answering yes to 2 or 3 questions indicates a mild disorder and 4 or 5 yes answers indicate a moderate disorder. Answering yes to 6 or more indicates a severe disorder.
Medical Detox for Alcohol Dependency and Addiction
Alcohol detox is considered high risk due to the fairly rare occurrence of the delirium tremens, which can be life threatening. To manage the risks that could emerge, it is advised that alcohol detox be medically supervised.
The alcohol detox symptoms and timeline vary depending on the severity of the alcohol use disorder, (mild, moderate, or severe).
For some, MAT can be prescribed during the latter days of the alcohol detox process once the alcohol is out of the system. Naltrexone can help relieve detox symptoms and block alcohol cravings and reduce the risk of relapse during withdrawal.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms begin to surface 6-12 hours after the last drink. The detox takes about one week on average and withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Sweating
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Racing heart rate
- Elevated blood pressure
- Fever
- Hand tremors; body shakes
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Mental confusion
- Agitation
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Medication Assisted Treatment with Naltrexone
Naltrexone is a non-narcotic drug that has been in use for alcohol withdrawal since 1994. As an opioid antagonist, naltrexone blocks the pleasurable effects of alcohol in the reward center of the brain. As a result, the desire or temptation to use the substance is greatly diminished, allowing recovery to progress. Naltrexone is available in a daily pill form, as a monthly time-release injection, or as a pellet implant that can last for months.
MAT is intended for short-term use, designed to help people during the early stages of recovery. In most cases, tapering off the naltrexone occurs at about three to six months into recovery. Over this period, medication assisted treatment for alcohol dependency helps manage cravings until there is no real motivation to drink.
Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
A residential program is the best treatment option for someone with a moderate to severe alcohol use disorder. This level of care provides medically supervised detox and 24/7 therapeutic support and monitoring. Individuals will participate in the following:
- One-on-one therapy sessions. Therapists use evidence-based therapies such as CBT and DBT to help them gain insights on self-defeating thought patterns. Any underlying emotional issues that may be contributing to the alcohol abuse will also be explored in therapy.
- Group sessions. The social component of the treatment process is a common feature in addiction recovery programs. Sharing personal stories and experiences with others who also battle alcoholism helps build social support and confidence. A skilled therapist guides the discussion topics while also teaching coping skills.
- MAT. Some people in recovery for alcohol use disorder may benefit from naltrexone, which may reduce alcohol cravings. MAT is carefully prescribed for up to a year to reduce the risk of relapse.
- Education. Learning how alcohol impacts the brain and contributes to alcohol dependency can be a powerful deterrent to relapse.
- Recovery meetings. The Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step recovery program is often integrated into the programming. In recovery, these local groups provide social support and a chance to form new sober friendships.
Benefits of Medication Assisted Treatment in Recovery
There is mounting evidence that treating alcoholism with MAT can greatly reduce the risk of relapse and even death. One study compared patients who’d had psychotherapy alone for alcohol dependency with others who had also been prescribed MAT. It found that the former group was at a higher risk of mortality than the participants who also had been treated with MAT.
When cravings are controlled by naltrexone, it allows recovery to progress and gain momentum. Sustained sobriety helps the person maintain employment and be present for his or her family, thus improving recovery success.
Pacific Bay Recovery Comprehensive Treatment for Alcoholism
Pacific Bay Recovery is a full-spectrum addiction recovery program that specializes in medication assisted treatment for alcohol dependence. Our expert clinical staff guides you through the medical detox and treatment process to launch your recovery. Case management, aftercare, and alumni services provide additional reinforcement following completion of the treatment program. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use disorder, please reach out to our team today at (866) 511-2610.
