How does Antabuse work? If, as I was told, it makes a person sick if he drinks why would any other treatment be necessary?

Antabuse (disulfiram) works by blocking the removal of a toxic substance (acetaldehyde) that occurs in the liver when alcohol is broken down or metabolized. A special enzyme, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, which rids the liver and bloodstream of this substance is the target of Antabuse. Flushing, a tight feeling in the chest, headache and more or less severe discomfort are experienced by the person who takes a drink after taking Antabuse. The effect of a dose of Antabuse usually lasts from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. This very unpleasant consequence of drinking alcohol while taking Antabuse does not address at all the mental and emotional symptoms at the root of alcoholism. Antabuse is occasionally helpful in getting a person through a severe period of craving experienced early in recovery. However, these benefits have generally not been effective in maintaining long-term sobriety.

Q1: What is the difference between outpatient and inpatient alcohol treatment? Are there any special advantages of one over the other?

Q2: I have been in the A.A. program now for about three years and I just don�t seem to be able to get the happy, joyous, and free feeling that most of my friends in the program certainly seem to have. I have attended meetings three to five times a week, have a sponsor and in meetings I always share my thoughts and feelings. However, I still feel not quite part of the group, if you know what I mean.

Q3: What is treatment of addiction?

Q4: How long does alcohol withdrawal last? I ended my last binge twenty-seven days ago and I am still shaky and I can�t sleep. I�ve been going to AA daily. When do I start feeling better?

Q5: What do you think about trying to quit smoking while I�m undergoing treatment for alcoholism?

Q6: After my last two binges, I began to see things and hear threatening voices that I knew were not there. The visions left after about twelve hours but the voices still come back every now and then. Was this the D.T.�s? Is this going to happen every time I drink?

Q7: What is the eventual outlook for the severe alcoholic who won�t or can�t quit?

Q8: Are a few drinks taken at five or six hour intervals a good way to detox from months of heavy drinking � about a quart of whiskey a day?

Q9: How does Antabuse work? If, as I was told, it makes a person sick if he drinks why would any other treatment be necessary?

Q10: What is this new drug naltrexone? Is it the cure for alcoholism?

Q11: What kind of training do physicians get in medical school about alcoholism and drug addiction?

Q12: Do prayers help in trying to get an alcoholic to stop drinking?

Q13: Does taking a cold shower or drinking a couple of cups of strong coffee sober a person up faster? It does not seem to work when I try to sober up my friends.

Q14: What is the success rate of Alcoholics Anonymous? I have never seen it published.

Q15: Can a person be expelled from A.A. if he keeps having slips?

Q16: Is it necessary to go to A.A. meetings for life? How long does treatment for alcoholism take?

Q17: I am in the ninth year of my sobriety and for the last three years I have attended A.A. perhaps once a year at most. During the first seven years, I had a wonderful analysis and in the final year my therapist�s goal was to wean me away from A.A. He is familiar with and supportive of the program but claims that my progress, growth and insight were so strong that A.A. and its "peer counseling" were restrictive to my growth. I am not better than anyone else and I am grateful to A.A. for starting me on the road to recovery. I have no desire to drink and if I meet a newcomer to A.A. socially, I help them. I feel that A.A. is no longer in my best interest after seven or so years. Your feedback, please!

Q18: What is this business of having an A.A. birthday?

Q19: How can I start an A.A. group? I live in an isolated ranch area and the nearest town (population 3,500) is 15 miles away. I got sober four years ago and moved here to work a month ago. I was told there was no A.A. in the town.

Q20: I am a newcomer to A.A. I heard about it and I just started going to meetings. Some in A.A. tell me I need a sponsor. Do you think having a sponsor is absolutely necessary?

Q21: How long does a person who has gone through a treatment center have to keep going to A.A.? I feel that I have learned enough in the treatment center to get along without drinking. How about it?

Q22: I have been hanging around A.A. for years and it hasn�t worked. I know all about the steps and all that stuff. I even went to A.A. meetings while I was in prison. I�ve had the D.T.�s a couple of times. Doctors don�t know anything about alcoholism�they just tell me I�m going to die if I don�t quit�anyway there are more old drunks than old doctors, ha ha. I�ve had a couple of drinks just to write this but I�m just about to give up.

Q23: I have been married to an alcoholic for over forty years. I have watched my husband�s mother die from alcoholism. That was enough for me but it seems it wasn�t for her two sons. My husband goes religiously to A.A. twice a week here in our city. He doesn�t enjoy going but he goes. He said he does need a sponsor and when he asked for one, he was told that their organization wasn�t large enough to supply one. What I am asking for is a suggestion. We can�t afford for him to go to a private organization for help.

Q24: What is aversion therapy?

Q25: Will you say something about acupuncture. I have heard that some people in treatment for alcoholism have benefited from it. How does acupuncture work?

Q26: I am a health care insurance consultant. Are there any statistics to show that alcoholism treatment is cost effective?