Sylvain Balester-Mouret | PubMed Health

PubMed2006

[Maintaining abstinence after alcohol detoxification].

"To quit drinking" is not the panacea of alcohol dependence treatment; it is only its first step. Abstinence should be considered more as a mean than a purpose of the after-withdrawal cares. The frequent resistance of the alcoholic patient to undertake in a long term abstinence can be by-passed by suggesting to fix himself renewable terms for periods during which he feels rather confident to raise the bet of a "most accomplished possible" abstinence. To facilitate the realization and the preservation of this abstinence in the best conditions (potentiation of the profits and minimization of the difficulties), a "therapeutic menu" will be proposed to the patient besides a "minimum plan" containing a medical follow-up over one year, with variable frequency of visits according to the evolution and the prescription of one or two anti-craving drugs registered. Psychotherapies using different techniques as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, group therapy or psychoanalysis could be proposed after a necessary clarification to the patients of the mechanism of action of each and the waited profits. In the final, two thirds of the patients with alcohol dependence fire in one year a profit of their treatments; the practitioner takes, actually, no risk and should propose systematically a project to the only 20% of them who come to consult him.

Acamprosate↗

PubMed2003

[Care network in addictive pathologies: where is it?].

Network practise is important in the care of addictive pathologies. It aims to fulfill patient needs on a social and health level, as part of a concertive approach from the different health workers. Co-ordinated practise seems to provide an adapted and proven response for more than twenty years now, but has only recently been recognised as such by the health authorities. It was originally initiated by militant care workers in response to a daily reality too complex to be managed alone. The bringing together of experience and competencies, an adapted response to the demands in a context of dependency, patient care facilitated by exchanges, complementarily and the sharing of competencies are the objectives of a rich and beneficial network. However, it seems necessary to supplement with financial, human and legal help in order maintain the continuity and improve this novel approach.

Community Networks↗