What To Expect From Alcohol Detox?
People suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD) need to take decisive steps toward sobriety to get their lives back on track. It involves discovering the right motivation, enrolling in time-tested treatment programs, and finding a supportive environment. Before getting started, one should contemplate how much time they are ready to invest and what strategies they are going to adopt to achieve lasting results. In this guide, we will explore different stages of alcohol detox and consider the main indicators one should be aware of to stay sober.
What Is Alcohol Detox?
The term refers to efficient interventions administered by healthcare providers to help a person deal with severe signs of intoxication. Many individuals with AUD are reluctant to start treatment, as they do not fully understand how to detox from alcohol safely and achieve sustainable progress. Professional medical supervision facilitates dealing with the consequences of abstention.
Alcohol detox is the first stage of substance abuse treatment. Individuals who stay in a controlled environment and get assistance from health specialists feel more relaxed and comfortable. They remain safe, which permits them to complete the three main stages of alcohol detoxification:
- Evaluation. One should consider what substances they want to abstain from, how much remains in their body, and what methods may help them get better.
- Stabilization. One needs to take prescribed medication, visit counselling sessions, attend a support group, and ensure that their family members fully support them.
- Signing up for treatment plans. After fulfilling medical recommendations, a person is referred to specific programs to discover more about various aspects of addiction.
The danger of AUD lies in the fact that a person’s body starts working differently to adjust to the effects of various substances. When unsupervised, the alcohol detox process can go wrong easily and result in disastrous health outcomes. AUD changes the functioning of a person’s brain, impacting neurotransmitters. If a person decides to cease substance intake, it may be too late to change how the brain works without getting extra help.
It’s advisable to use the services offered by an authoritative health provider to minimize negative effects. Detoxing involves taking medical drugs to dissipate clinical manifestations associated with abstention and diminish the possibility of relapses.
Begin your journey to recovery and take back control of your future.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
People with AUD suffer from severe physical dependence on inebriants and often become chronically ill. However, when they reduce the use of intoxicants, they start experiencing perilous effects that require urgent medical intervention:
- Changes in behavioral patterns. Individuals become restless and agitated. They experience extreme anxiety and show signs of irritation.
- Extreme sensory sensitivity. People with AUD react strongly to light and sound when they stop using a substance they are addicted to.
- Limited ability to focus. Patients may also suffer from memory loss and have issues with judgment.
- Digestive symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting.
- Accelerated pulse.
- Disturbed sleep patterns.
- High fever.
- Tonic-clonic seizures.
- Hallucinations.
The severity of these signs depends on the person. The effects are impacted by multiple factors, including how long a person has been drinking and whether they have gone through a similar process before. Besides, their health, age, and dietary habits may increase or worsen one’s chances of avoiding a relapse. Health professionals use the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA) scale to assess the severity of a health condition.
How Long Does It Take to Detox from Alcohol?
Most people notice the first signs of discomfort 6–24 hours after the last substance intake. This stage typically lasts several days. The highest risk of seizures is around 24 hours after the last drink. They usually occur within the first 2 days. This is why the general recommendation is to stay in detox until a person gets fully stabilized and ready to proceed to the next stage.
Here is the typical timeline of drug and alcohol detox:
- 6–12 hours. The minor signs of discomfort occur soon after a person discontinues substance use. These symptoms are not life-threatening. They may include anxiety, barely noticeable tremors, GI symptoms, headaches, racing heartbeat, and profuse sweating.
- 12–24 hours. Within this period, the initial symptoms remain while other, more severe ones start manifesting. Individuals often experience hallucinations. They typically last up to 48 hours.
- 1–3 days. The most challenging symptoms occur by the second or third day. This is when delirium tremens (DTs) happen. They are accompanied by elevated heart rate, sweating, high fever, disorientation, and hypertension. These symptoms peak at around 5 days.
Most symptoms last 7–10 days until they are resolved. If a person’s health has been seriously affected, these signs may remain for two weeks.
Who Suffers Most From Withdrawal?
Chemical intoxicants act like depressants. They slow down body processes so that a person feels calmer and more relaxed. Once an individual decides to refrain from consuming inebriants, they start experiencing unpleasant effects, some of which may threaten their life. According to stats, about 10% of individuals experience severe issues when they cease drinking.
People with a long history of drinking or individuals who are genetically predisposed to developing AUD may notice significant discomfort during alcohol detox. Individuals with health conditions or a previous history of unsuccessful withdrawals may face difficulties trying to get rid of their dependence.
The misuse of sedative medications also worsens a person’s chances of going through detox without negative effects. Patients with hypertension, low potassium levels, and platelet counts often need special attention.
How to Go Through Alcohol Detox Without Affecting Your Health
Alcoholism is a dangerous condition. Detoxification requires 24/7 monitoring to ensure no complications arise. Benzodiazepines like diazepam and lorazepam are commonly utilized to prevent the intensification of abstinence syndrome. Barbiturates, anticonvulsants, and antipsychotics are often prescribed to reduce agitation and stop hallucinations. Acamprosate, disulfiram, and other treatment medication options enable people to deal with alcohol cravings. Due to the sheer variety of medications a drinker should use, it may be impossible to detox without the assistance of experienced specialists.
Behavioral therapy is often used during counseling sessions to help individuals understand the triggers of their destructive actions and change their attitudes. Community reinforcement is necessary to ensure a patient stays in a supportive environment. Peer support facilitates changing lifestyle habits.
Inpatient treatment necessitates staying at a specific facility while receiving care. Such establishments are staffed with AUD experts and permit patients to achieve lasting progress with the assistance of peers and professionals.
Individuals who want to stay at home choose outpatient treatment programs. They receive care during the workday. Partial hospitalization requires them to attend appointments for 5 days and dedicate around 20 hours per week to treatment procedures. Other programs let individuals choose a more flexible schedule and minimize potential risks to their health due to regular monitoring and supervision.
Main Objectives Of Alcohol Detox Programs
Before detoxing, one should understand that it is not an alternative to AUD treatment. It’s a preparatory stage involving medical intervention. It enables one to deal with physical and mental abstinence signs efficiently, but does not focus on recovery. The key goal is to assess a patient’s state. It involves monitoring symptoms and physical and mental conditions.
One should remain under professional supervision during this period to know when emergency care becomes necessary. Inpatient detox programs are generally considered safer, as they include vital signs monitoring and regular testing. They are especially suitable for binge drinkers and other categories predisposed to AUD, as they help people safeguard themselves against serious complications.
Besides, alcohol detox services enable individuals to get the right medication and dietary support to stabilize their condition and diminish symptoms. Health specialists recommend benzodiazepines and other sedatives with lasting effects. Extra medications may be necessary to stabilize health. Keeping a patient hydrated, suggesting the right diet, and prescribing B1 helps professionals prepare their patients to enroll in treatment programs.
Recovering is a long and challenging process, but you don’t have to be alone. We are here to guide you and offer a safe and substance-free environment to regain control of your life and create a new path for your future.
Moving Toward a Healthy Life
During the detox stage, one should discover motivation to move forward, consider the available treatment options, and communicate with their addiction counselor. At Eco Sober, we understand the importance of staying in a safe environment during alcohol detox. We provide accommodations for individuals who are ready to change their ways and overcome their addiction. We offer clean and well-organized facilities where one can recuperate during the preparatory stage before enrolling in medical programs and going into rehab centers. Get in touch with our team or directly the facility manager today and regain control over your life.
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