Something important is happening in France at this time in the field of alcohol dependence and maybe we can call it « the Baclofen case ».
Over the last three years, the word baclofen has appeared on the cover of many mainstream newspapers and non-specialized French medical journals, which don’t hesitate to call it « the miracle cure for alcoholism ».
Originally developed as an antiepileptic drug, Baclofen a selective GABA-B receptor agonist, was initially approved in 1977 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a muscle relaxant and a treatment for the spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis. Its pharmacologic properties have led since the 90’s to investigation of its benefit in the treatment of addictions and especially alcohol dependence (1) but a recent review shows that currently published literature involving baclofen for the maintenance of alcohol abstinence is still limited and difficult to apply to many patient populations (5). There are very limited safety data utilizing High-Dose Baclofen (HDB) in alcohol-dependent patients and some significant adverse effec...
Jenson, S., & Ramsey, R. (1963). TREATMENT OF CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM WITH LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE. Retrieved from Erowid: https://www.erowid.org/references/texts/show/2277docid2093
All living units ranging from single cells and organs to entire organisms carry out homeostasis (source 1). Homeostasis refers to the ability of the body or a cell to seek and maintain a condition of stability within its internal environment when dealing with external changes. It is involved in the maintenance of the constant internal environment which includes the function of kidney, liver, skin and many organs. The abuse of drugs alters the body’s internal environment, causing a response in order to achieve homeostasis, this is via negative feedback. Modern lifestyle poses many pressures on human homeostasis responses due to the use of drugs in our society. Specifically, Alcohol, and its effect on the human homeostasis responses.
Over 17 million Americans suffer from an alcohol abuse disorder, most of which is alcoholism. (NIH, 2014) It is reported that over 15% of those 17 million people never seek treatment for their disorder. Those who do find themselves faced with the task of beating their alcohol abuse disorder are faced with many options as far as treatment goes. One of the most medically controversial is Disulfiram (Antabuse). This medication reacts negatively with alcohol and will send the person’s body into a state of turmoil to hopefully combat their severe drinking problem. As every medication does, Antabuse has its few problems here and there, but overall, this treatment seems to be an extremely effective way to rid those of alcohol abuse disorders.
People have believed in medicinal benefits of alcohol since ancient times, using it to cure snake bites and control disease. Even though the belief has begun to dwindle in the early twentieth century, alcohol was legally manufactured for medic...
Bill emphasized that alcoholism was a malady of mind, emotions and body. Though a physician, Dr. Bob had not known alcoholism to be a disease. Due to Bill’s convincing ideas, he soon got sober, never to drink again. The founding spark of A.A. had been struck (Wekesser 26). Both men immediately set to work with alcoholics at Akron’s City Hospital, where one patient quickly achieved complete sobriety (Pitman 69).
WebMD.com - WebMD.com WebMD, 2009. Web. The Web. The Web. 25 Mar. 2014. The 'Standard' of the Roleff, Tamara L. Alcoholism.
As illustrated the model of drug abuse and the theories behind addiction are varied. There is no concrete reason for one person who drinks to become alcohol dependent versus the person who does not. Several factors contribute to why a person begins drinking and why they continue to do so despite reasons to stop. The case history exhibits a client with many risk factors associated with alcohol use and dependence.
Robinson, David. From Drinking to Alcoholism: A Social Commentary. London: John Wiley and Sons, 1976.
Arias, M.D., A. J., & Kranzler, M.D, H. R. (n.d). Treatment of co-occurring alcohol and other drug Use disorders. Retrieved from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh312/155-167.htm
Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the US. One in every 12 adults suffers from alcohol abuse. Alcohol addiction is very common in modern ...
Jody was born biologically with male genitals and he was brought up as a boy. Unlike his more gender-typical older brother, Jody’s childhood behavior was considered “sissy”. Jody genetically preferred the company of girls compared to boys during childhood. Jody considered herself a bisexual male until the age of 19. At 19 years of age, she became involved with a man, and her identity would be transgender, meaning that Jody was unhappy with her gender of birth and seeks a change from male to female. It would seem that there was some late-onset dissatisfaction, and late-onset is linked to attraction to women; in comparison to early childhood-onset, which are attracted to men. Jody identified herself as bisexual. The relationship with the man ended; nevertheless, Jody’s desire to become a woman consumed her, and Jody feels that’s he was born in the
“For every family that is impacted by drugs, there are another 10 to 15 families impacted by alcohol abuse. It's a pretty big deal. We have a tendency to only look at part of the puzzle.” (Kevin Lewis). As a society we tend to categorize the severity of addiction in a way that drugs are the most dangerous and alcohol being just a problem. Because alcohol addiction can be a slow progressive disease many people don’t see it in the same light as drug addiction. An addiction to drugs is seen as being a more deadly and dangerous issue then that of alcohol because a drug addiction can happen more quickly and can kill more quickly. Alcohol is something that is easy to obtain, something that is found at almost every restaurant. People with an alcohol addiction can not hide from alcohol as easy as a drug addict. Approximately 7 million Americans suffer from alcohol abuse and another 7 million suffer from alcoholism. (Haisong 6) The dangers of alcohol affect everyone from children with alcoholic parents, to teenagers who abuse alcohol, then to citizens who are terrorized by drunk drivers.
The problem of alcohol abuse has been recognized for thousands of years, but only more recently have we begun to see alcohol addiction as a treatable disorder. According to the Classical Disease Model of `Alcoholism,' habitual use of alcohol can be identified as a disease. Webster's Dictionary defines the concept of `disease' as follows: "Any departure from health presenting marked symptoms; malady; illness; disorder." Therefore, as many occurrences of alcohol excess provoke such symptoms, it is somewhat understandable that `alcoholism' is classified as a disease. The Classical Disease Model appears to offer a hopeful option. Treatment and sobriety can allow people to lead fulfilling lives. Adjacent to the notion of alcoholism as personal failure or moral deterioration, the Classical Disease Model appears to be a more desirable concept as it provides a motive for the alcoholic to seek treatment and gain sympathy, minimizing personal guilt. As alcoholism is seen as a progressive and, to an extent, hereditary illness for which those afflicted are not accountable, victims avoid being ostracized from society (Jellinek, 1960). Labeling the problem as a `disease' allows the medical profession to take responsibility for the treatment of alcoholism, which puts the problem in a more favourable light than if it were in the hands of psychologists or social workers, thus detaching the stigma connected with the problem while it is put on a par with other diseases such as diabetes or cancer. However, critics of the Classical Disease Model believe stigma helps reduce alcohol problems and aids the alcoholic. Any effort to reduce the stigma which is faced by the alcoholic will reduce pressures to moderate consumption and could have the additional ...
Marcus, D. (March 27, 2000). Drnking To Get Drunk. U.S. News & World Report [On-line], Available: www2.gasou.edu/library/ (Galileo)(EBSCOhost)(Search=Alcohol Abuse).
Zelman, K. (1995, Dec). Retrieved from The Alcohol Debate: Should You or Shouldn't You: www.medicine.net