Although alcohol is legal and readily available in any state, the withdrawal symptoms for hardcore alcoholism can be deadly. For this reason, many heavy alcoholics must first go to a detox center to be safely and effectively withdrawn to eliminate the risks of severe withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and DTs.
Withdrawing from alcohol dependency in a medically-supervised setting may only take a few days, and often there are prescriptions used on a very short-term basis to help stabilize the patient physically. However, not all alcohol detoxification programs are the same, and some are much better than others.
The history and physical examination upon intake to a detox facility establish the diagnosis and severity of alcohol withdrawal. Important factors include the quantity of alcohol consumption, period of alcohol usage, time since one had the last drink, earlier alcohol withdrawal, existence of additional physical conditions, and possible use or abuse of other substances, including prescription drugs.
Minor withdrawal symptoms can occur when a person has been under the influence of even smaller amounts of alcohol. These symptoms may include sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression.
Withdrawal seizures are more common in alcoholics who have a history of several attempts at detoxification and heavier amounts of alcohol consumed over a longer period of time. The risk of seizure is greatest in the first 24-28 hours after consumption ceases.
Alcohol withdrawal delirium tremens may cause death in 1-5$ of patients if not sufficiently treated with proper medical care. A successful detoxification facility can help someone safely withdraw from alcohol by reducing or eliminating most of the major symptoms, and specialty facilities may also use additional supplements to help repair and rebuild the individual’s body with proper nutrients and other therapeutic procedures.
There are several types of detoxification programs. The lowest level is an ambulatory or outpatient detox. This is often a tapering process where there is a gradual step-down from the drug.
The next level up would be a social detox, which is also known as drug-free withdrawal. It is done in a residential setting and has clinical supervision, but it doesn’t require the administration of other drugs.
Medical detox is also an inpatient setting, often in a hospital-type facility, and it is a doctor-supervised procedure where medications are administered on a short-term basis to ease the withdrawal symptoms and stabilize a person physically while withdrawing. It provides the least discomfort but can also be the most expensive. It may or may not be medically necessary, but we can help put you in touch with appropriate detoxification specialists who can help determine which setting will be best for your situation.
We strongly disagree with rapid detox methods for alcohol, opiates or other drugs, as the risks associated with it vs. the costs involved are too great. There are other much more effective and less dangerous methods available.
Additional types of detox programs may include extended physical detoxification and body cleansing. There are methods that remove stored residues and/or use nutritional supplements that are natural body detoxifiers that can help eliminate unwanted lingering symptoms that appear after initial withdrawal.