Let me start off by saying that I am not an alcoholic but am a drug and alcohol counselor working at a treatment facility. I have been wondering about how drugs such as Antabuse work for an alcoholic. I mean, I know they work by causing intense sickness upon having a drink, but what I'm wondering is, if an alcoholic can be deterred by the physical consequences of their behavior (having a drink) then why haven't their past behaviors and consequences deterred them from drinking such as physical sickness/liver issues, loss of relationships, jobs, family, financial etc.....Thank you for any insight you can provide.
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Question about Antabuse and other such drugs
It's the difference between trying to keep yourself motivated on a long-distance run, and having someone keep zapping you with a cattle prod while you're running. Antabuse is the cattle prod.
The things you mention - liver disease, past relationship, employment, financial problems etc. are abstractions. I might get sick and die from cirrhosis...but then I may not. I may lose my job again, but then again I may not. While the rational person knows these things to be near-certain, the alcoholic mind is not rational. On the other hand, if you take Antabuse and drink, it is not an abstraction. You will quickly get acutely ill.In the middle of my life's journey, I found myself in a dark wood, as I had lost the straight path. It is a difficult thing to speak about, how wild, harsh and impenetrable that wood is. Just thinking about it recreates the fear. It is scarcely less bitter than death, but in order to tell of the good that I found there, I must tell of the other things I saw there. --Dante, paraphrased -
Question about Antabuse and other such drugs
Yes, I think it's the acute illness (Antabuse) vs the chronic illness. You can tell a child that he shouldn't stick his finger in a light socket because it will hurt and be potentially life threatening. For some kids it's enough of a warning. Then for some they just want to test it. Parents have to be vigilant with those kids and give stern consequences for even attempting it. Soon enough for those kids, knowing they'll get in trouble for even approaching the light socket is enough of a deterrent. They don't have to actually test it out.
I think it's the same for Antabuse with me. I respect that there will be horrible consequences that I really don't want to have. This is enough for me.Well it's all right now. I've learned my lesson well. You see you can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself.Comment
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