Alcoholism is without doubt a disease that without treatment can lead ultimately to the death of the addicted person. The problem is how to combat the disease and help the alcoholic to stop drinking before it kills them.

Many alcoholics continue to drink even though they are aware that they are killing themselves. The alcoholic finds it impossible to control their drinking because of psychological and physical cravings. The alcoholics health will decline, their relationships and finances suffer and they will find it hard to hold down a job.

Giving up drinking can be dangerous and before the alcoholic quits they will need to talk to their doctor. The doctor will prescribe drugs and possibly arrange counseling and rehabilitation programmes.

The first stage of recovery and the treatment of alcoholism will involve having an alcoholism detox. Alcohol detox is a combination of techniques for managing alcohol withdrawal and addressing medical problems and psychiatric issues resulting from alcoholism. The symptoms of withdrawal can be made quite tolerable with medication prescribed by a doctor. These medications will remove the harshest of withdrawal effects, control anxiety and pain and also reduce the chance of having a seizure.

Once the alcoholic has completed the detox they will then need to receive advice on diet, nutrition and receive individual/ group counseling to enable continual sobriety.