But it also has overwhelming consequences for society. Clearly alcoholism harms society in numerous ways and it is in society's best interest to find effective treatments for alcoholics. The primary goal of all treatments for alcoholism is to get the alcoholic to stop drinking and refrain from abusing alcohol in the future. The paths to this goal are diverse. So treatments vary, depending upon why the alcoholic drinks and what the physician or therapist believes is the best method for recovery.
Some treatments focus on the physical addiction of alcoholism.
Others emphasize the alcoholic's social or psychological cravings. Alcoholics Anonymous and Rational Recovery are two support groups that help alcoholics recover. Finally for some alcoholics, the most effective treatments are those that combine medical treatment with counselling. Such treatments enable the alcoholic to more easily break the physical addiction to alcohol as they evaluate their social and psychological reasons for drinking. Dalum was not dying of cancer, heart disease or any other illness from which one can leave the world with dignity.