The clear answer to the question in the title of this article is: "Yes, but with the necessity to understand the limits of online help."

 

 

What "alcohol dependence" or "addiction" are often employed without definition. So, let's first define some terms. As utilized in this article, alcohol or drug addiction means that a person's alcohol or other drug use has reached the idea that the individual cannot use without loss of control over use of the substance and/or cannot use without producing adverse consequences in significant life areas. The addicted person is rolling out a psychological and/or physical dependence upon the substance. An addicted person will continue to utilize the substance in the face area of adverse consequences.

 

The term alcohol or drug dependence is often used interchangeably with addiction, but here I utilize the term dependence to mean physical dependence on a substance, meaning that stopping use of the substance will result in withdrawal symptoms. A person can develop dependence on a substance without developing addiction; the best example with this physical dependence is the person who buy oxycodone online without a prescription requires a narcotic analgesic (pain killer such as for example oxycodone or morphine) as prescribed by a physician good enough to be physically determined by the drug, a natural, inevitable consequence of chronic use of this type of drug. Under these circumstances, abruptly stopping use of the substance will result in the withdrawal syndrome typical for the class of substance involved. Most persons with addiction (for ex., alcoholism) are NOT physically determined by their drug and won't experience the entire blown physical withdrawal for the substance. They'll, however, experience cravings, sleeplessness, and other symptoms due to their psychological dependence on the drug.

 

 

Alcohol or other drug problems fall within two diagnostic categories: abuse or addiction (as I said, often called dependence). Abuse basically means the individual is rolling out a sample of use of the substance in the face area of adverse consequences in significant life areas (medically, financially, legally, problems in relationships). Addiction is summarized in the very first paragraph with this article.
 

 

 

Alcoholism and other drug addictions are devastating disorders which negatively impact affected individuals and all who worry about them, physically, emotionally and mentally, and spiritually. For persons diagnosed with full blown addiction, I favor an abstinence based treatment model, meaning a type whose basic ultimate (it may have a while to obtain there) goal is abstinence from use of alcohol or other drugs. This model includes education, cognitive behavioral counseling, and use of Twelve Step (for ex., AA) spiritually based principles. Online addiction treatment can be helpful by itself and/or within a thorough treatment program that features traditional face-to-face counseling and other treatment interventions.

 

 

Successful treatment of persons with full blown alcohol or other drug addiction may require a thorough treatment program, with services supplied by professionals face-to-face. This treatment could be beyond that made available from online addiction treatment. Such a comprehensive program should be staffed by helping professionals from many disciplines. Staff includes physicians to address medical problems such as for example withdrawal, mental health professionals such as for example psychiatrists or psychologists, to treat co- or pre-existing psychiatric disorders that could be present, and last however, not least, certified, licensed addiction counselors, preferably an important number of whom are in recovery themselves. Such a Treatment Program should provide individual and group counseling, educational groups, and, as important as any of the treatments, use of Twelve Step self-help groups such as for example Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon and Nar-Anon (for loved ones), and ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics), to mention but a few.

 

An evaluation will reveal the extent of the treatment required. This evaluation can be performed online by way of a qualified addictions counselor.

 

 

Online help for persons with full blown addiction problems can be helpful, however the comprehensive programs outlined under Treatment of Severe Addiction might be necessary based upon the seriousness of the problem. A comprehensive evaluation of the addicted person is needed. This evaluation can be carried out online, resulting in recommendations for the correct treatment.
 

Persons who are already associated with any stage (intensive outpatient, continuing care, aftercare) of traditional treatment programs may use online services as a complement for their treatment and to Twelve Step Program attendance. Persons who've completed traditional treatment also can take advantage of these services.

 

 

Spouses, lovers, friends, co-workers, parents, brothers, sisters, and sons and daughters, to mention several, can get worried that the individual they worry about could have an alcohol or other drug problem. When adult children are involved about use by way of a parent, the term "Adult Child of an Alcoholic or Addict" (ACOA) may apply. Persons near to someone with a drug or alcohol need help because of their natural feelings of confusion, hurt, anger, and loneliness. Online services can offer support, education, and recommendations for these concerned persons.

 

 

Persons with serious emotional or psychiatric conditions (such as, however, not restricted to, eating disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia), not stabilized through traditional treatment by way of a qualified mental health professional aren't right for the help offered online and should seek help from such professionals before accessing online services. These patients can, when stabilized by appropriate treatment, take advantage of online counseling.

 

Persons who are depressed and thinking of harming themselves or others will also be not right for online help and should get help immediately by calling a crisis line, planning to the Emergency Room of a hospital, or seeking other immediate help. These patients can, when stabilized by appropriate treatment, also take advantage of online counseling.

Persons who've a sample of using addictive substances on a daily or almost regular basis need to access face-to-face evaluation and treatment service providers to address possible medical and other problems associated with withdrawal which could accompany physical dependence, before using online services available here.

 

Limitations
 

1. By its nature, internet counseling can be interrupted by technological difficulties beyond the control of either the counselor or the client. Before services are provided, the client will soon be given ideas for alternative methods for contacting the counselor should disruptions in the client's service occur (for ex., a public library). The counselor should pledge that should technical difficulties be a consequence of his/her laptop or computer or other access to the internet, the counselor could have alternative access to the internet readily available.

 

2. The visual and auditory cues available during face-to-face counseling are, of course, not available in internet counseling. Therefore, it is critical that both the client and the counselor be diligent in seeking clarification of any communications, as needed.

 

3. The addictions counselor must at the outset of the counseling relationship help the client to spot local therapists and other treatment providers, including crisis services.

 

4. The addictions counselor must include safeguards to help keep client information confidential and protected from unauthorized access. Client information, including history, diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and progress notes, should be for the counselor's eyes only. No-one else must have access to this information. The data should be retained on a safeguarded CD for 12 months after the counseling relationship has ended, or for a longer or shorter period of time dictated by the client.

 

Beneath the circumstances outlined in this article, online counseling of persons with drug or alcohol abuse or addictions can be effective.