Addiction, or dependence on a particular substance or activity, is one of the most complex conditions or situations of mental health. Alcohol and drug addiction can often be difficult to treat or cure, and there is a good deal of controversy surrounding the causes of addiction and the best approaches to treatment. Individuals who find themselves experiencing an addiction to alcohol or drugs often find the services of a mental health expert to be helpful in overcoming the addiction.
Your mental health professional or therapist may recommend one or more of the following treatment options:
Several drugs are used to treat alcohol addiction. Such as:
Disulfiram: An alcohol-sensitizing medication that may reduce your desire to drink by making you sick when you intake alcohol. When combined with alcohol, it can cause flushing, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting.
Acamprosate: Which may help combat alcohol cravings by restoring or regulating some of certain chemicals or hormones in your brain and body.
Naltrexone: Which blocks or prevents the feel-good effects that alcohol has on your brain. Without those good or happy feelings, you may feel less inclined to drink.
Naltrexone medications are available in the form of oral pills or injections. Vivitrol is an injected form of the medication that your healthcare provider can give you once a month. It may be more reliable and convenient than oral tablets, especially if you think you may forget or be unwilling to consume a tablet every day.