One thing certain about chronic alcoholics is this: They drink all the time. On a daily basis. Hard-core alcoholics drink when things are bad and they drink when things are good. They even drink when they’re sick – and they justify that action by quoting their doctors who tell them to drink lots of liquids. To a full-blown alcoholic’s way of thinking, vodka is a liquid.
So when everything comes crashing down around them – and it does – one of the first concerns is whether or not the patient requires an alcohol detox program. To make that determination, the intake staff at a recovery treatment center might ask the alcoholic what happens when he or she goes a day without alcohol. The problem is, many chronic alcoholics don’t have an answer to that question. They can’t remember the last time they went a whole day without a drink.
Most problem drinkers who reach the point where they or their families are inquiring about treatment probably require alcohol detoxification as the first step in achieving a lifelong abstinence from alcohol. Detox is an important part of any alcohol treatment program, and that applies to chronic alcoholics as well as those drinkers whose lives are still in one piece, but are beginning to show cracks around the edges.
A truly comprehensive alcohol and drug recovery treatment center includes a fully staffed detoxification program. For those seeking treatment for alcoholism, detoxification is normally the first step in that process. Those who suffer from alcoholism often need a brief detox, in conjunction with medication before a residential treatment program can even begin.
Detox admissions begin with a mental and physical examination by medical professionals. They will ask how the patient feels, and this self-assessment will be backed up by close observation of their condition by the medical staff. It’s at that point where a recommendation will be made for medications to ease withdrawal symptoms and stabilize the patient’s condition.
Many factors must be taken into account, including the patient’s drinking history, age, and any medical issues they might have in addition to alcohol abuse. Once admitted to a detox unit, they will almost certainly begin experiencing the discomfort of alcohol withdrawal. Symptoms can include nausea and vomiting, hallucinations and disorientation, sweats, gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, sleeplessness, tremors and shakes, and in extreme cases, a risk for seizure.
Unlike procedures practiced decades ago, those undergoing alcohol detox today don’t have to experience the absolute horrors of “drying out.” The days of locking a patient in a dark room equipped with a single bed and a concrete floor are ancient history. Today, most detox units feature comfortable rooms, well-stocked kitchen areas and, best of all, patients have the benefit of medications that can greatly minimize and nearly eliminate many of these symptoms.
Among the medications often available to detox patients are Valium, Librium, gabapentin, Vistaril, Inderal, omeprazole and B complex (thiamine, folic acid.) Many of these medications are related to symptoms, so each patient is assessed and placed on his or her own detoxification management plan. This plan is closely monitored and reassessed as the detox continues.
The time required for alcohol detoxification – like everything else – varies from individual to individual. But a normal stay for a patient undergoing alcohol detox is five days for most and from seven to 10 days for those who are heavy drinkers and chronic alcoholics.
A good detox program will put the emphasis on removing doubt and fear from the patient’s mind, enabling them to receive answers to all of their questions. Health professionals know that a patient is much more likely to successfully complete the process if they are kept abreast with the procedure and their progress.
In addition, a good alcohol detox program also features a professional nursing and counseling staff that constantly monitors patients’ progress. Patients are told that when the craving for alcohol raises its ugly head, or they are experiencing discomfort, let one of the counselors know immediately. The goal is to get patients through this process as uneventfully and painlessly as possible.
Other frequent emotions experienced by those in alcohol detox include bouts of depression and despair. Confusion, disorientation and hallucinations can also be a part of early detox and again, telling a member of the staff about their experience is addressed with medication or therapy.
Once the symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal are relieved and the patient has been treated for any physical or psychiatric conditions, the next step is admission to a residential treatment program, an outpatient program and/or attendance at Twelve Step meetings.
Morningside Recovery in Newport Beach, California, features a fully staffed alcohol detoxification program, as well as detox programs for a number of drug-related addictions. Morningside also offers treatment programs for those suffering from alcoholism, drug abuse and mental disorders. For more information, call 866.725.8565.
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