Awareness Reframes Assumption – ALCOHOL De-addiction – Myths & Facts

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Volume-1 Issue-5 November, 2011

❌ Once a person quits alcohol after de-addiction he will never relapse again.


✅ Majority of patients have recurrent relapse & hence treating team should develop rapport with patients.


❌ Disulfiram is given immediately once the patient or their relatives seek help for problems due to alcohol.


✅ Patients are assessed, whether they are dependent or abusing the alcohol & examined for intoxication, if so then they are detoxified with tapering dose of benzodiazepine & then de-addiction is considered.


❌ Alcohol de-addiction can be done without patients knowledge as widely publicized with Disulfiram.


✅ It is not only unethical & illegal but also dangerous to treat a person without his knowledge with Disulfiram.


❌ Alcohol De-addiction involves use of only Disufiram.


✅ Most important aspect of management is Motivational Interview wherein patient gets the feedback & decides from the option of medications like Disulfiram/Acamprosate/ Naltrexone etc & Evidence based Counseling.


❌ Alcohol De-addiction is a costly process and needs specialized centers.


✅ De-addiction can be carried out in any medical institutions at very affordable price.


❌ Disulfiram is unsafe and should never be prescribed for Alcohol De-addiction.


✅ Disulfiram is the most cost effective drug available when it is used in recommended way & tailored to patient.

Compiled by –Dr.Pampi Majumder, Resident in Psychiatry, AIMS

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