Alcohol Detox Programs

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When a person who is alcohol dependent suddenly stops drinking alcohol, he or she usually suffers from alcohol withdrawal symptoms.  When an individual reaches this point, he or she needs professional treatment in an alcohol detox program. 

Such programs manage the alcohol withdrawal symptoms in a safe manner so that the body can get rid of the alcohol that has been consumed.  It needs to be pointed out, however, that alcohol detox is a necessary but not the only step in the alcohol treatment process.

The First Step in Alcohol Treatment: Alcohol Detox

Alcohol detox programs are widely available, traditional forms of alcoholism treatment that are typically undertaken under the supervision of a medical doctor, and are frequently employed as the first step in an alcoholic treatment program.

Due primarily to the relatively long time-frame required for the completion of the alcohol detox process, these therapies are usually part of an inpatient alcohol rehab treatment program.

Alcohol Detox Programs and Withdrawal Symptoms

Recent research findings have pointed to the importance of treating every individual who is suffering from alcohol withdrawal.

This also applies to the roughly 95% of the people who when they quit drinking alcohol, experience mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms.

Fortunately, the vast majority of these individuals will be able to be treated on an out-patient basis by a healthcare professional.

Unlike the majority of people who experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms, however, the remaining 5% of the individuals who suffer from withdrawal symptoms experience symptoms so severe that they need to be treated in an alcohol rehab facility that specializes in alcohol detoxification or in a hospital.

This essentially means that there is a sizeable group of Americans who will experience potentially fatal alcohol withdrawal symptoms if they don't receive prompt medical attention.

Non-Drug Alcohol Detox Programs

Numerous non-drug treatments are available for treating alcohol withdrawal.  Indeed, according to current scientific research, it has been shown that the safest way to treat mild withdrawal symptoms is without medications.

Non-drug alcohol detox programs like these typically employ extensive social support and screening throughout the entire withdrawal process.  Other non-drug alcohol detox programs, furthermore, use proper nutrition and vitamin therapy (especially thiamin) when treating mild withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol Detox Programs Using Medications

Many researchers and doctors state that chronic alcoholics who cannot sustain their sobriety or those who suffer from excessive alcohol withdrawals need to receive drug therapy to manage their withdrawal symptoms.  It is important to emphasise, moreover, that by using drugs, alcoholics are less likely to experience possible brain damage and/or seizures.

According to recent findings in the research literature, the drugs with the highest probability of producing effective results when treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms are the benzodiazepines.  Examples include the shorter-acting benzodiazepines such as Ativan and Serax and the longer-acting benzodiazepines such as Valium and Librium. 

Historically, when doctors have used benzodiazepines, they have used a progressive decrease in dosage over the time-frame of the total withdrawal process.  Furthermore, due to the fact that the shorter-acting benzodiazepines allow for measurable dose reductions and also the fact that they do not linger in the person's body for an excessive period of time, many researchers and practitioners have recommended that intermediate to short half-life benzodiazepines should be used for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

After the individual has successfully overcome his or her withdrawal symptoms, additionally, other doctor-prescribed drugs such as naltrexone (ReViaT) or disulfiram (Antabuse) can be used to help prevent the person from returning to drinking after he or she has consumed alcohol due to a relapse.

For example, since the drug Antabuse triggers vomiting, flushing, nausea, and dizziness if alcohol is ingested, it has proven to be a strong deterrent to drinking even with alcoholics.  Conversely, Naltrexone (ReViaT) is employed in an entirely different way in that it zeros in on the brain's reward circuits and reduces the craving the alcoholic has for alcohol.

Alcohol Detox Programs:  Inpatient versus Outpatient Status

Recent research findings have revealed that inpatient alcohol withdrawal treatment is more effective and longer-lasting than outpatient treatment.  As a consequence, the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms, the more likely that inpatient treatment programs should be considered.

Alcohol Detox Programs:  Conclusion

Although 95% of the individuals who quit drinking alcohol experience mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms, every individual who suffers from alcohol withdrawal needs a professional alcohol detox program.

The crucial lesson to be learned about alcohol withdrawal symptoms, therefore is this:  when experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, always see your doctor or healthcare practitioner immediately so that he or she can evaluate the seriousness of your withdrawal symptoms and recommend the most effective alcohol detox program for your particular circumstance.

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