Openness to a drinker

It can be easy to be blinded by conventional wisdom, but in the field of alcohol addiction, as in most other areas of medicine, new treatments are always being introduced. While it is true that some of them have not accumulated the type of review in clinical trials that many alcohol experts would like to see if a drinker clearly dies if he is not given effective treatment. It can clearly be a case of throwing caution into the wind.

For example, the Ant Baclofen program has produced amazing results and has so far not produced a single case of side effects that we know have not returned quickly enough. Considering that there are cases where people die if they take medications like aspirin that they can buy without a prescription, it is noteworthy that some doctors remain careful with this new form of treatment.

On the other hand, the best alcohol experts generally agree with everything that works and follow these new methods with great interest. It's an interesting phenomenon that followers are sometimes more dogmatic than the prophets, but AA co-founder Bill Wilson wasn't actually against drugs and said it would be wonderful if there was a drug for alcoholics.

One of the few criticisms that we would like to raise against those who work in all areas of the fight against alcohol addiction is the fact that they are usually blinded by the approach they are using and are often unable to identify that the alternative methods may have no value at all. However, we have noticed that most of the great search experts come into the spotlight when they are ready to consider almost anything that might be effective - even if it doesn't necessarily fit their own commercial agenda. ,

They would never rule out the new treatments and they follow them with interest, although they all point out that there is still a lot to discover before we can trust that they will work. You realize that because the drinkers are so different, when the professionals put it all together and say that one size fits, it just doesn't work.

We have practically nothing but praise for AA and the 12-step approach as a whole - a version used by most rehabilitation clinics - because it has changed the lives of millions of people. and can also be the most suitable starting point. for trying to overcome alcohol addiction in many cases. However, the 12-step approach has hardly changed in the 75 years of its existence, and just because it can clearly prove to be effective does not mean that other more modern methods cannot work as well. ,

AA's co-founder, Bill Wilson, has never been so well known, but at the same time tried to incorporate nutritional methods into the AA experience, but his efforts were rejected by members. ,

We believe there are good reasons to consider some of the new treatments for alcohol addiction, such as the Ant Baclofen program, the Sinclair method, and a nutritional approach known as the 101 program. These can save lives if traditional methods such as traditional medicines, rehabilitation in residential areas, advice from addiction therapists and self-help groups have failed.

In fact, we believe that a significant improvement in the treatment of alcohol addiction can be attributed to new medical advances, as these tend to be less resource-intensive than traditional approaches and have the potential to achieve ever higher success rates. high.

If an approach like the Ant Baclofen program recognized the potential shown at the time of writing, it could revolutionize the treatment of alcohol addiction worldwide. One of our key messages for you to find a solution to your loved one's problem is that you are always open.

Alcoholism - a chronic illness, not a lack of willpower

Alcoholism is increasing. The number of people affected is increasing dramatically as our society is flooded with more and more opportunities to buy and consume alcohol.

For the general public, alcoholism is generally seen as a form of inherent weakness. A lack of will and above all the patient's guilt.

However, both the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine define alcoholism as a "primary chronic illness" that is characterized by impaired control over alcohol consumption. "

Unfortunately, this recognition has not been universally recognized and certainly not recognized as such by the population. It is not unique. The exact same scenario affects obesity. Formerly considered the guilt of the individual, experts now generally recognize it as a real disease. This acceptance by the professions is also not reflected in the public.

It is my thesis that public acceptance that these diseases are chronic diseases is crucial for the development of appropriate management protocols. including their funding. I believe that this acceptance can be promoted by using analogies with other chronic diseases.

Therefore, from the beginning I would call alcoholism a chronic, progressive, maybe (still) incurable and possibly fatal illness. Let’s examine this a bit.

It's like asthma. Do we all agree that asthma is a chronic, progressive, possibly incurable, and possibly fatal disease? Of course we are.

It's like type 2 diabetes. Do we all agree that type 2 diabetes is a chronic, progressive, possibly (so far) incurable, and possibly fatal disease? Of course we are.

Plus, it's like being overweight. Do we all agree that obesity is a chronic, progressive, possibly incurable, and possibly fatal disease? Maybe not.

"It's just the fat person's fault, she's fat - it's because she eats too much and doesn't exercise," I hear you say. I hear you say this because I've heard it a million times in 25 years of medicine, both from lay people and from the profession itself.

I would suggest that obesity has epidemic proportions, and has been for many years because:

Some people have a genetic predisposition to this disease; due to many social, emotional and other circumstances, they turn to a calming and well-being of a recreational drug; The recreational drug they "choose" is food. They live in a toxic food environment where their favorite recreational drug is legal. readily available; and their recreational drug of choice really works cheaply. It does what they are looking for. It can have many other unwanted problems and complications, but it doesn't matter. It works

When I graduated in medicine in 1984, obesity was just a "fat person". You eat a lot, you gain weight. Simple. It is your fault. Either diet and exercise, or you stay fat and die. And if you die, it's your fault too. At that time there were (and still are, of course) many other diseases for which we all very much regretted those affected.

Asthma, diabetes, heart disease, many types of cancer, stroke, high blood pressure, polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, gallstones, depression, to name just a few. I have spent hundreds of hours in clinics and services treating patients with these conditions. And many of them were fat too. Too bad they are fat too !!

In recent years, the medical profession has become so slow that not only diabetics (or others) have been overweight. Obesity was actually the cause of her diabetes (or heart disease or infertility or high blood pressure, etc.). You can give them any amount of diabetes or other medications to treat their diabetes. However, if you can reverse your obesity, you can cure your diabetes or high blood pressure. In addition, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing many types of cancer.

It's awesome

For many, but probably not for everyone like us, alcoholism (and perhaps other dependencies) is inherently predisposed. Many, but not all, have personality traits that cause us to seek some form of comfort, convenience, or escape. I know I have it. For us, the recreational drug we choose is alcohol, and we certainly live in an environment with toxic alcohol.

So alcoholism is definitely a disease.

That's why I think we suffer from alcoholism, just as there are asthmatics and diabetics. I am afraid that the term alcoholic will never reach the sympathy of asthmatics or diabetics. Asthma is always more acceptable than alcoholics. We have to accept that.

However, recognizing the principle that alcoholism is a disease means that it must be treated as a disease. It has to be handled and hopefully cured at some point, not just ignored and abused. And resources must be made available to accomplish this honorable task.

Baclofen could be the first step in finding a completely new approach to this cure.