Drug Treatment Essay
Jason Green
April 24, 2013
ADC150
History of Alcoholism Treatment
The view on alcoholism has changed dramatically throughout history. The way to treat it has also changed. There are many withdrawal symptoms that made it hard to treat. Today therapy and medication or regular attendance at meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous is the primary treatment. In the past there have been many different ways to treat alcoholism and many failed attempts. According to the Web MD website withdrawals can start as soon as 6 hours to 5 days after drinking has stopped. Some of the early symptoms include shaking hands, sweating, headaches, nausea or vomiting. After 5 days there can be seizures, disorientation, and confusion. Many people experience visual and auditory hallucination (Alcohol Abuse Heath Center, n.d.). According to the website Armenian Medical Network, one of the early methods of treatment in 1880 to 1920 was called “The Keely Method”, developed by DR Leslie E. Keely. This method did not work at all with the exception of those people who responded to the placebo effect. This method consist of shots 3 to 4 times a day. He claimed it would cure alcoholism. As many as 500,000 alcoholics bought in to this method (Methods of Treatment of Alcoholism Throughout History, 2011). Another form of treatment was a frontal lobotomy. As mentioned on the Armenian Medical Network website the process involved severing the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This was performed by DR Walter Freeman and DR James Watts in 1936. However this method also failed, the patient disappeared, after searching through bars and taverns was found hours later extremely intoxicated (Methods of Treatment of Alcoholism Throughout History, 2011). Throughout history there has been different attempts to treat alcoholism, many did not work. People tried various methods and most of them unsuccessful. The treatment method has evolved from drugs to surgeries to a spiritual program today known as Alcoholics
April 24, 2013
ADC150
History of Alcoholism Treatment
The view on alcoholism has changed dramatically throughout history. The way to treat it has also changed. There are many withdrawal symptoms that made it hard to treat. Today therapy and medication or regular attendance at meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous is the primary treatment. In the past there have been many different ways to treat alcoholism and many failed attempts. According to the Web MD website withdrawals can start as soon as 6 hours to 5 days after drinking has stopped. Some of the early symptoms include shaking hands, sweating, headaches, nausea or vomiting. After 5 days there can be seizures, disorientation, and confusion. Many people experience visual and auditory hallucination (Alcohol Abuse Heath Center, n.d.). According to the website Armenian Medical Network, one of the early methods of treatment in 1880 to 1920 was called “The Keely Method”, developed by DR Leslie E. Keely. This method did not work at all with the exception of those people who responded to the placebo effect. This method consist of shots 3 to 4 times a day. He claimed it would cure alcoholism. As many as 500,000 alcoholics bought in to this method (Methods of Treatment of Alcoholism Throughout History, 2011). Another form of treatment was a frontal lobotomy. As mentioned on the Armenian Medical Network website the process involved severing the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This was performed by DR Walter Freeman and DR James Watts in 1936. However this method also failed, the patient disappeared, after searching through bars and taverns was found hours later extremely intoxicated (Methods of Treatment of Alcoholism Throughout History, 2011). Throughout history there has been different attempts to treat alcoholism, many did not work. People tried various methods and most of them unsuccessful. The treatment method has evolved from drugs to surgeries to a spiritual program today known as Alcoholics
Bibliography: Alcohol Abuse Heath Center. (n.d.). Retrieved from Web MD: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/alcohol-abuse/alcohol-withdrawal-symptoms-treatments Methods of Treatment of Alcoholism Throughout History. (2011, April 13). Retrieved from Armenian Medical Network: http://www.health.am/psy/more/methods-of-treatment-of-alcoholism/