NCJ Number
181157
Journal
Alcohol Research and Health Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: 1999 Pages: 69-77
Date Published
1999
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes some of the characteristics and recent findings of alcoholism treatment research.
Abstract
It introduces the two general treatment settings (inpatient and outpatient) and reviews recent research on currently used alcoholism treatment approaches. These approaches include detoxification to manage alcohol withdrawal, nonpharmacological treatment methods, pharmacotherapy, and brief interventions that are designed to be delivered by primary care physicians rather than alcoholism treatment specialists. Detoxification, with or without pharmacotherapy, is the first step of treatment. The major behavioral approaches currently used in alcoholism treatment include cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or related 12-step programs. Clinical studies, such as the Project MATCH trial, have compared the effectiveness of these approaches. Overall, that study detected no significant differences among the three treatments in patient outcome, although certain treatment methodologies may be most appropriate for patients with certain characteristics. Pharmacotherapy with aversive or anticraving medications may supplement behavioral treatment approaches. Brief interventions that are delivered by primary health care providers also have been shown to reduce drinking levels, particularly in nondependent drinkers. 32 references