According to the Journal of Studies on Alcohol, about 13 percent of the population of the United States will suffer during their lifetime from alcohol dependence, commonly referred to as alcoholism. A person who drinks heavily and regularly can have serious withdrawal symptoms. Many different types of facilities offer detox programs, intended to care for the patient during the initial phase of alcohol cessation.
Detox Centers
Many alcoholics stop drinking on their own at home. In most cases they get through this without ill effects. However, alcohol withdrawal can lead to serious symptoms including seizures and death. For this reason it is safer to detox in a treatment center, especially if the drinking has been long-term and heavy, or if there have been serious withdrawal symptoms during previous detox attempts.
Choosing a Detox Program
The choice of detox center depends on local availability and insurance coverage. Some non-medical detox centers don't have medical personnel on hand 24 hours a day. Detox is preferably done in a hospital where the patient's medical needs can be properly addressed, especially when the patient has serious medical conditions, such as heart disease, or a history of withdrawal seizures. Detox often occurs in general psychiatric units. If possible, the prospective patient should check in advance if the unit has specific programs for alcohol and drug dependence. Groups and individual sessions with drug and alcohol counselors are an important part of treatment and should be started during detox.
What to Expect
Cessation of alcohol, a central nervous system depressant, makes the nervous system more excitable. This can cause nausea, vomiting, trembling, hallucinations and seizures. Craving for alcohol accompanies the physical symtoms of withdrawal. Psychological and social treatment should begin during detox. The detox center often has a group of alcoholics anonymous, or AA. The patient's life needs to be rearranged to accommodate an alcohol free lifestyle, and that includes setting up outpatient groups such as AA and starting to rehabilitate all aspects of life, including the living situation and work. Proper aftercare plans reduce the chance of relapse.
References
- "Journal of Studies on Alcohol"; Prevalence and correlates of alcohol use and DSM-IV alcohol dependence in the United States: results of the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey.; Sept 1997
- "Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry; Virginia Sadock and Pedro Ruiz (editors); 2009
