Many of the professional staff involved in rehabilitation centers are recovered alcoholics who serve as role models. Therapy uses a drug that interferes with alcohol metabolism and produces very unpleasant side effects if even a small amount of alcohol is ingested within 2 weeks after taking the drug.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a self-help group of recovering alcoholics that offers emotional support and an effective model of abstinence for people recovering from alcohol dependence. There are more than I million members worldwide, and local chapters are found in small towns and large cities throughout the US. Al-Anon is a support group for spouses and others who are affected by someone else's alcoholism. Alateen provides support for teenage children of alcoholics. Expectations (prognosis): Alcoholism is a major social, economic, and public health problem. Alcohol is involved in more than half of all accidental deaths and almost half of all traffic fatalities. A high percentage of suicides involve the use of alcohol in combination with other substances. Additional deaths are related to the long-term medical complications associated with the disease. Only 15% of those with alcohol dependence seek treatment for this disease. Treatment programs have varying success rates, but many people with alcohol dependency have a full recovery.