Alcohol Awareness Month: Raising Awareness of AUD and Offering Novel Treatments for Alcohol Misuse and Addiction

April marks Alcohol Awareness Month, a time of year when we are particularly focused on gaining a better understanding of alcohol addiction, the health risks associated with problem drinking, and ways to combat the stigma surrounding alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol use has been a major public health concern for decades. Each day, 261 people in the U.S. die due to excessive alcohol consumption -- that’s one person every 5 minutes. And around the world, more than 3 million people die each year from causes related to alcohol misuse.?

Not surprisingly, alcohol consumption has risen dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly due to increased stress and trauma, with young, college-aged people often at the highest risk for alcohol misuse. In fact, nearly 2,000 college students will die this year from alcohol-related consequences.?

The Sobering Realities of Spring Break

One particularly troubling spot on the calendar for young people is Spring Break. This traditional period during which college students from all across the U.S. break free from their classes and school responsibilities is notorious for nonstop parties -- and binge drinking. In fact, on average men will consume 18 drinks per day and women up to 10 drinks per day during their vacation week.

But did you know, binge drinking is linked to both immediate and long-term consequences, including alcohol poisoning, gagging and vomiting, blackouts, seizures, pancreatitis, and compromised liver, gastrointestinal, and brain function. The risk of physical injury, abuse, and assault are also heightened during binge-drinking periods.

How to Limit the the Associated Risks??

In the short-term, there are many actions people of any age can take to limit their risk when consuming alcohol. First, knowing our limits is critical, including understanding that some alcoholic beverages contain more alcohol than others, as well as moderating our intake with that awareness. Staying hydrated and consuming healthy foods when drinking is also important. Another important tip: Never leave our drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers. Also, always plan ahead to secure options to get from place to place safely via a designated driver, taxi, or rideshare services.

Treatment Options Based on Severity of Use

In the long-term, there are many treatments available to help people with both mild and severe alcohol drinking concerns. While many people may simply want to reduce their alcohol consumption and desire to drink for health benefits, others may have a more serious condition called Alcohol Use Disorder, or AUD.

AUDis a chronic, relapsing disease often associated with alcohol use that is difficult to control

This is a chronic, relapsing disease often associated with alcohol use that is difficult to control, as well as compromised physical and personal responsibilities due to alcohol use, a preoccupation with drinking and/or recovering from drinking, and a negative emotional state when alcohol is not being used. Medications such as naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram that act on receptors in the body which respond to alcohol can help people reduce their drinking and craving to drink.

Small Doses of Ketamine and Psilocybin

More recently, new scientific discoveries have begun to reveal the therapeutic use of non-traditional compounds such as ketamine and psilocybin to treat drug and alcohol craving. Ketamine was historically considered an anesthetic and later a potentially dangerous hallucinogenic drug. Ketamine acts on the brain’s glutamate system, which controls how excitable or active neurons in the brain become. Under controlled medical conditions, small amounts of ketamine can greatly improve the symptoms of depression, reduce heavy drinking, increase sobriety, and limit the risk of relapse.?

Similarly, psilocybin, a hallucinogenic compound found in particular mushrooms, acts on the brain’s serotonin and glutamate systems. Psilocybin is becoming rapidly accepted in the scientific and medical community as a powerful tool in reducing anxiety and combatting treatment-resistant depression. Psilocybin has also been found to reduce alcohol use in carefully controlled healthcare settings.

All medications for alcohol use are most effective when combined with motivational or cognitive therapy.

Importantly, all medications for alcohol use, including ketamine and psilocybin treatments, are most effective when combined with motivational or cognitive therapy with a healthcare professional.

TMS Emerging as an Effective Treatment

Finally, one exciting, emerging non-pharmacological treatment to address alcohol use is transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS. TMS uses a small magnetic coil to generate pulsed magnetic fields that are placed in a concentrated manner over the scalp of the head. By using a navigator, TMS can apply these magnetic pulses to specific areas of the brain that regulate mental health, emotions, and decision-making, such as the prefrontal cortex. TMS is a completely non-invasive procedure with very few side effects, allowing clients to immediately go about their day after each treatment session. This simple procedure significantly reduces craving for alcohol, improves abstinence, and suppresses relapse risk, in part by improving functional connectivity between key areas of the brain.

We have achieved unparalleled success in addressing clients’ mental health concerns such as reducing drug and alcohol craving, anxiety, and depression.

GIA Miami has pioneered the use of personally-tailored double TMS protocols, which coordinate activity across two or more brain regions depending upon an individual’s mental wellness goals. The expert team at GIA Miami has achieved unparalleled success in addressing clients’ mental health concerns, from reducing drug and alcohol craving, alleviating anxiety, and freeing clients from depression.

About GIA Miami?

GIA Miami distinguishes itself from other mental wellness programs by taking a whole-brain-body approach, combining cutting-edge treatments like TMS with comprehensive counseling, pharmacotherapy, and brain imaging techniques. GIA Miami recognizes that every individual is unique and designs treatment programs that are specialized for each individual client.?

If you or a loved one wants to reduce alcohol use or address another mental wellness question, reach out today to schedule a consultation by visiting gia.mami or by calling 786-741-7637.?

PHOTO CREDIT: jonah-brown-l1iwe7l6-2Q-unsplash