More than 23 million Americans older than 12, according to 2007's National Survey on Drug Use and Health, needed treatment for drug or alcohol dependence. Only 2.4 million got help at a medical facility. The purpose of alcohol detoxification is to gradually wean the body away from dependence on alcohol, a physically addictive drug. Detox involves medical monitoring, medication administration and reduction of withdrawal symptoms. Detox and rehabilitation are not the same.
Intake
Alcohol is an extraordinarily addictive drug. Detoxing without the aid of medical supervision can be dangerous. The American Academy of Family Physicians developed criteria for determining the extent of a patient's withdrawal symptoms and treatment needs. First, how long after reducing alcohol intake the patient will experience withdraw symptoms. Second, whether two or more of certain symptoms occur within several hours to a few days after drinking ceases, including sweating, rapid pulse, tremors, nausea or vomiting, insomnia, hallucinations, anxiety or seizures.
When you check in to a detox facility, a substance abuse counselor will evaluate your detox needs.
Detox Plan
Depending on the detox facility you are in, you could be medicated on a fixed-schedule plan, a symptom-triggered regimen or be monitored with no medication. On a fixed-schedule plan, the patient will be given medication prescribed by an addiction specialist. An example of how this system works is by administering a benzodiazepine, such as Valium or Ativan, once every six hours. On a symptom-triggered detox plan, the patient will receive medication when withdraw symptoms occur.
Benzodiazepines are used as sedatives to help treat anxiety and stress. They also help reduce symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. It can take about seven days for a person to fully detox from alcohol.
Aftercare
Once a patient is thoroughly detoxed, meaning that she no longer has symptoms of withdrawal, no longer needs medication and has been cleared by her doctor to leave detox, before being discharged she will talk with an addiction specialist about beginning rehabilitation. It is recommended that alcoholics receive rehabilitation to maintain their sobriety. The National Institute of Drug Abuse states that counseling and behavioral therapy are a critical part of addiction treatment.
Many detox facilities have inpatient treatment programs or partner with an inpatient treatment program. These programs can last from 28 days to 90 days. Outpatient rehab is a daytime program that offers many of the same benefits of inpatient rehab: group therapy, 12-step meetings and one-on-one therapy. Alcoholic Anonymous is a free program for anyone who desires to stop drinking.
