Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

Aversion Therapy for Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Aversion therapy is a type of therapy that teaches an alcoholic to associate some type of negative outcome with getting drunk. Aversion therapy is a way of conditioning the recovering alcoholic to not like alcohol because of the negative effects that alcohol has on them thus breaking the cycle of addiction. Aversion therapy can be an excellent form of treatment for individuals who are addicted to alcohol.

Alcohol Abuse Aversion Treatment

Because everyone responds differently to alcohol abuse treatment, no single type of treatment is guaranteed to be effective for everyone. Alcohol abuse aversion treatment is a means of helping the addict to not want to use alcohol because they have learned how to associate negative experiences with the use of alcohol. Certain medications can also be used to cause such negative effects making aversion therapy even more effective.

Antabuse, a common medication used to cause negative effects on the individual when they drink alcohol, is one form of aversion therapy. Antabuse makes the body not able to break the alcohol down so when an addict is taking Antabuse and drinks they do not feel any of the pleasurable effects of the alcohol and they do not get drunk. There are even medications that cause the individual to feel sick when they drink which can help them to stop using and avoid the desire to drink.

Biological Aversion Therapy

Biologically, aversion therapy can be used to condition the individual to associate negative outcomes with alcohol. Using a means of conditioning, the patients learns how to think about alcohol as a negative experience. Similar types of aversion therapy are also used to help individuals who are addicted to various other drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine or prescription medications.

Using aversion therapy, the individual learns to associate negative side effects with their drinking. Some of the effects that may be felt when an individual takes medications that promote aversion therapy include nausea, vomiting, severe headache and shortness of breath. Over time, the individual will associate these effects with their drinking and will ultimately stop having the urge to drink.

While aversion therapy is not for everyone, it can be a beneficial means of treatment for some people. If you or someone you love is addicted to alcohol and needs help, consider talking with your doctor or therapist about aversion therapy and if it can work for you. For more information or for help finding a local alcohol treatment center that can help you overcome addiction to alcohol, call 1-888-461-2155.

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Missing the pint

When Nick Kemp took a group of business clients to a rain-affected Headingley Test match he was astonished by what he saw. Having decamped to the pub owing to the lack of cricket, he watched in amazement as his companions proceeded to down a dozen pints of beer each. “I was keeping a tab because….

Avoiding alcohol's temptations in 'overwhelming' war zone

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN — Once each week, in a fluorescent-lit room in a stout building near the heart of Kandahar Air Field, a multinational mix of troops and civilians gather to take on a battle that can’t be fought with conventional weapons. Sitting around a table, or on overstuffed furniture, they talk about bad days, frustrating….

Drinking Can Be Triggered By The Right Place And The Right Time

Strong cravings for alcohol can be sparked by the mere sight, smell and taste of a person’s favorite drink. Responses to such cues that are associated with the positive effects of drinking are a lead cause of relapse in abstinent alcoholics. Using a behavioral animal model, researchers of a new study, scheduled for publication in….

Drug addiction: 'The true cost often ends in tragic loss of life'

THE death of Perry Fowler should remind us once again that the true cost of drugs does not always end at causing misery and fuelling crime but often ends in the tragic loss of life. It also demonstrates that addiction knows no bounds and that drug misuse is not confined, as many would choose to….

How Drug Abuse Treatment Helps You Stay Clean and Sober

Whether addicted to drugs or alcohol, the physical and psychological effects of addiction can transform a normal everyday person into a shell of what he or she once was. Addictive substances are well known for their ability to alter brain function in such a way as to create a cycle of dependency that becomes all….