There are many treatments for alcoholism. However, the popular belief and the majority of information over the last few decades has been that there is no permanent cure. Once an alcoholic always an alcoholic. Now however many products have been introduced to the market which claim to be a complete cure for alcoholism. Is there indeed a magic cure?
To accurately evaluate this question one must first decide what defines a cure. Is a person cured once they no longer drink? If so AA has been providing cures for a decades, but AA itself teaches this is not a cure. AA teaches that there is no cure for alcoholism because the person will always have the urge to drink. Is a cure then when one has no urge to drink? Is a cured alcoholic capable of ever drinking again or is a cured alcoholic one who never drinks again? Without answers to these questions it is difficult to determine whether there is a known cure for alcoholism.
There is now a shot called Vivitro that alcoholics can take once a month to combat the physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings of a recovering alcoholic. The shot is used in conjunction with ongoing therapy which is meant to combat the psychological problems causing the depression and drinking. This claims to be a cure for many alcoholics, but doctors are careful to warn that this medicine is not suitable for all patients. Furthermore, one must wonder if a person who is forced to take a shot every month and attend weekly counseling in order to remain sober is truly cured. It seems to be more of an extended treatment plan than a cure. Would a true cure not allow a person to return to normal life?
Another program that claims to be a cure for alcoholism works by altering the chemistry of the brain and turning on the same feel good reaction that alcohol produces without the alcohol. This is done through the use of herbs and vitamins. Interestingly, this "cure" does not promise to stop the alcoholic from drinking. In fact, this program promises that the person will in the end be capable of social drinking without addiction. This is a controversial program as it chemically alters the brain. If it produces the same effects in the brain as alcohol might it not cause the same dangerous effects of brain damage? It has been proven that people can and do become addicted to their own endorphins and often as an effect they become unable to truly experience joy. This program has yet to be backed by the medical community but in a case study was found to have at least decreased the amount of drinking in most of their clients. Does this constitute a cure? If the patients were truly cured would they still have the urge to drink?
If there is a true cure for alcoholism it seems that the cure too has negative side effects. Also, the alcoholic seems to always have an urge to continue drinking no matter which "cure" is used as treatment. As such, abstinence from drinking seems to still be the best therapy. AA seems to be correct in their belief that an alcoholic is never truly cured but simply recovering or in remission.
By : Stanford Smith
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Tuesday, September 9, 2008
How to Quit Smoking
Stopping smoking is the single most significant lifestyle change you can make to improve your health both today and tomorrow. Soon after you quit, your circulation begins to improve, and your blood pressure starts to return to normal. Now is a good time to substitute healthy habits for your unhealthy smoking.
You've heard all of the warnings. Quitting smoking is tough and remaining quit is tougher, but is certainly worth the effort (and anger and hunger and tears). There is no point in sugar-coating it - it is a painful process. It's hard because your body becomes addicted to the nicotine in tobacco. Giving it up is more than just kicking a bad habit.
Stopping smoking is possible. Every year two million Americans stop smoking. Quitting is a process, not an action. It is something that will be tough at times and remarkably simple at others.
Many hardcore smokers end up quitting after years and years of heavy smoking. Smokers may have a physical addiction to nicotine, the substance found in cigarettes. Another reason could be a psychological addiction to having something in their hands or mouth, or an addiction to a routine that includes smoking cigarettes at different times throughout the day.
All in all, it's not an easy task and many people struggle for years as they try to quit. Most former smokers made several attempts to quit before they were finally successful. It took a while to learn to smoke; it takes a while to learn not to smoke. Quitting your smoking habit is both a mental and a physical undertaking. Mentally, you should be ready and relatively stress-free.
Smokers who want to quit are constantly looking for the best advice and techniques that will help them quit for real this time. Quitting is worth 10 percent off all future doctor bills. Smokers who quit at younger ages realize greater life extensions. The few kilos gained after quitting smoking is not as bad as it sounds. Smoking cessation represents the single most important step that smokers can take to better the length and quality of their lives.
Analogically speaking, quitting smoking is like taking a chair leg away - the chair will always be wobbly unless you put something in its place. Putting an end to smoking, is far and away the single most powerful step you.
By : Brian Schwartz
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You've heard all of the warnings. Quitting smoking is tough and remaining quit is tougher, but is certainly worth the effort (and anger and hunger and tears). There is no point in sugar-coating it - it is a painful process. It's hard because your body becomes addicted to the nicotine in tobacco. Giving it up is more than just kicking a bad habit.
Stopping smoking is possible. Every year two million Americans stop smoking. Quitting is a process, not an action. It is something that will be tough at times and remarkably simple at others.
Many hardcore smokers end up quitting after years and years of heavy smoking. Smokers may have a physical addiction to nicotine, the substance found in cigarettes. Another reason could be a psychological addiction to having something in their hands or mouth, or an addiction to a routine that includes smoking cigarettes at different times throughout the day.
All in all, it's not an easy task and many people struggle for years as they try to quit. Most former smokers made several attempts to quit before they were finally successful. It took a while to learn to smoke; it takes a while to learn not to smoke. Quitting your smoking habit is both a mental and a physical undertaking. Mentally, you should be ready and relatively stress-free.
Smokers who want to quit are constantly looking for the best advice and techniques that will help them quit for real this time. Quitting is worth 10 percent off all future doctor bills. Smokers who quit at younger ages realize greater life extensions. The few kilos gained after quitting smoking is not as bad as it sounds. Smoking cessation represents the single most important step that smokers can take to better the length and quality of their lives.
Analogically speaking, quitting smoking is like taking a chair leg away - the chair will always be wobbly unless you put something in its place. Putting an end to smoking, is far and away the single most powerful step you.
By : Brian Schwartz
Read More..
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