Effectiveness of alcohol craving control program on alcohol consumption in persons with alcohol dependence

Abstract

Introduction : Alcohol consumption is an individual phenomenon. However, it imposes significant burden on society and its harms the health of the drinker as well as others. Persons with alcohol dependence lack the ability to control their consumption and continue and/or increase consumption, despite adverse consequences presented. Alcohol dependence is a serious health problem; it is a chronic disease that affects the cost of health care. With the alteration of health that may limit what a person can do for himself and may limit his ability to have healthy living and well-being. A factor related to continue and/ or increase alcohol consumption in persons with alcohol dependence is craving for alcohol. It has received increasing attention from many clinicians and researchers. In this aspect, Alcohol Craving Control Program (ACC Program) was conducted to improve craving control agency on decrease alcohol consumption.

Objective : To evaluate the effectiveness of ACC Program on alcohol consumption in persons with alcohol dependence.

Setting : Alcohol Detoxification Ward of Thanyarak Institute on Drug Abuse.

Research design : Experimental pretest-posttest control group designed with randomized subjects.

Patients : The subjects were 61 male alcohol dependent patients (mean age 34.72, ± 7.78 years) who admitted between November 2009 - March 2010.

Method : The subjects were randomized by a computer program; 32 of them were in the intervention group that received ACC Program, while 29 of them were in the control group that received only routine care. ACC Program included 2 phases which were: 1) Investigation and reflection for decision to improve craving control agency; 2) Performance of productive craving control agency. Alcohol consumption was measured by Alcohol Consumption Assessment (ACA: quantity and frequency of alcohol intake) measured before intervention and after discharge. Independent t-test were used to compare the difference between alcohol consumption of the intervention and control group.

Results : The results reveal that the mean different score of the alcohol consumption in the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group, (p < 0.05).

Conclusion : Alcohol consumption was significantly lower in the ACC Program group.