Alcohol Abuse Treatment
Sahara Behavioral Health uses a whole health recovery approach to alcohol abuse treatment. Depression and anxiety often accompany alcohol abuse. Studies show that people who are alcohol dependent are two to three times as likely to suffer from major depression or anxiety over their lifetime. We consider the patients physical, emotional, and mental health in their treatment plan addressing multiple recovery needs and strategies.
Medications
Our providers may support you with medication assisted treatment for alcoholism. Certain medications have been shown to effectively help people stop or reduce their drinking and avoid relapse. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three medications for treating alcohol dependence:
Naltrexone can help people reduce heavy drinking.
Acamprosate makes it easier to maintain abstinence.
Disulfiram blocks the breakdown (metabolism) of alcohol by the body, causing unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and flushing of the skin. Those unpleasant effects can help some people avoid drinking while taking disulfiram.
It is important to remember that not all people will respond to medications, but for a subset of individuals, they can be an important tool in overcoming alcohol dependence. These medicines are designed to help manage a chronic disease, just as someone might take drugs to keep their asthma or diabetes in check.
TMS
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been found to be an effective treatment for alcohol abuse disorders. TMS targets the impulse and reward areas of the brain that are negatively impacted by alcohol use and can work to regulate and restore those areas to proper function.