Alcohol abuse refers to excessive or problematic use of alcohol with one or more of the following: (a) Failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school, or home (b) Recurrent use in situations where it is hazardous (such as driving a car or operating machinery) (c) Legal problems (d) Continued use of alcohol despite having social, family, or interpersonal problems caused by or worsened by drinking.
Alcoholism can be fatal. Therefore alcohol treatment is best administered by trained medical professionals. Alcohol treatment can be broadly divided into three steps (a) Medical Stabilization (b) Detoxification and (3) Long-term abstinence and rehabilitation.
Alcoholics may suffer from a vast array of medical problems. Prolonged abuse of alcohol has a huge impact on an individuals health resulting in many complications related to but not limited to heart, liver, kidneys, eyes, stomach, intestines etc. It is the responsibility of physician treating the alcoholic to treat medical conditions related or unrelated to alcoholism. Vitamin (B1) levels are very low in Alcoholics resulting in a medical condition called Wernicke's encephalopathy, a disorder characterized initially by the eyes looking in different directions from each other. Any alcoholic treated by a doctor should receive thiamine (vitamin B1). Other necessary vitamins such as Folate and magnesium are as well administered to an alcoholic.
While choosing the drug rehab it has to be made sure that all the aspects of what caused the addiction problem in the first place have to be addressed.
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