Why Use Medications To Treat Alcohol Dependence?
When implemented according to recommended guidelines, medication-assisted treatment combined with brief intervention or more intensive levels of nonpharmacologic treatment can do the following: Reduce postacute withdrawal symptoms that can lead to a return to drinking (e.g., acamprosate’s hypothesized mechanisms of action) Lessen craving and urges to drink or use drugs (e.g., naltrexone) Decrease impulsive or situational use of alcohol (e.g., disulfiram). In addition, maintaining a therapeutic alliance with a healthcare practitioner can achieve the following: Improve patients’ attitudes toward change Enhance motivation Facilitate treatment adherence, including participation in specialty substance abuse care and support groups. The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism indicates a genetic link between how an individual experiences alcohol and his or her susceptibility to an AUD (reviewed by Edenberg, 2002). Risk of chronic AUDs appears higher for people with certain genetic
