• Oral presentation
• Open Access

• Received: 1 November 2003
• Published: 23 December 2003

The problem of alcoholism is as diverse as the types of persons suffering from it. We have to remember that alcoholism is likely to be both a polymorphous illness and a chronic relapsing condition. Treatment of individuals dependent on alcohol involves two stages: detoxification and prevention of relapse. Many different drugs are used in the pharmacotherapy of alcoholism, depending on the stage of treatment as benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants alpha adrenergic agonists, beta adrerengic blockers for withdrawal and dopaminergic agents, cholinergic agents, GABA agents, anti-dipsotropic agents, glutamirergic agents, opiate antagonists and serotonergic agents for relapse prevention. In the same time individual, group and family psychotherapies are used for ongoing treatment of alcoholism.