Treatment is the care that health care providers provide to control or lessen the symptoms of a disease, illness or injury. It can include medicines, therapies or surgeries. Some treatments can cure health problems, for example, medicine can treat fungus that causes athlete’s foot by killing it with creams, powders or sprays. Other treatments can relieve the symptoms of a mental illness, such as PTSD or schizophrenia, by giving you antidepressants or psychotherapy.
Some states and a number of private agencies have developed a comprehensive continuum of care. These programs are designed to identify persons whose drinking puts them at risk of alcoholism and those in early stages of destructive drinking behaviors, provide referrals, education, and short term counseling and then offer a wide variety of intervention methods, ranging from individual psychotherapy to disulfiram (which prevents the body’s normal breakdown of acetaldehyde) or freestanding hospital and community based detoxification and rehabilitation units.
Choosing the right treatment can be a complex and emotional decision. You should consider all of the risks, benefits and evidence when making your decision. For instance, if there is moderate research support for a treatment and its risks are high but the benefits are relatively low you may not choose to pursue it. You may also want to weigh the cost of different treatments and therapies. This can help you make a more informed decision.