People suffering from alcoholism often find that the first step on their path to recovery is detoxification or detoxification. Detoxification is the removal of alcohol from the body after the body has chemically adjusted to have the substance on a regular basis. It can be performed in an outpatient or inpatient medical detoxification setting and is done to help the body overcome withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe depending on several factors, such as how much the person drank, how often, and if they have any co-occurring disorders.
While this alone does not guarantee lifelong abstinence, alcohol detoxification may be the first step to living cleanly when following up with rehabilitation or therapy. Some people fear stopping drinking because of withdrawal symptoms, but alcohol detoxification is the first step in treating alcoholism. Some people with AUD become dependent on alcohol and have withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly stop drinking. The Effects of Withdrawal on Body and Mind Can Be Uncomfortable and Dangerous.
Keep reading to learn more about how long it takes to detox from alcohol. We also discuss the signs of addiction, some withdrawal symptoms that a person can expect when detoxifying, and how to treat these symptoms. For many people struggling with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) or who have otherwise developed significant alcohol dependence as a result of chronic binge drinking, quitting smoking can be challenging. While you may feel discouraged when entering a treatment program, it is the safest way to detox from alcohol. The level of withdrawal management and the intensity of attention needed to detoxify from alcohol vary depending on the magnitude of physical dependence and other individual addiction problems.
Detoxification is the process by which all traces of alcohol and drugs are removed from the body, ensuring that a person is physically stable and ready to start therapy to overcome his addiction. Inpatient detoxification centers help guide people through the process and customize a treatment plan, from detoxification to follow-up support, that will give the person the best chance of achieving recovery and avoiding relapses in the future. Due to the severity of some withdrawal symptoms, alcohol detoxification should be monitored by a medical professional. When treating alcohol detoxification in an inpatient rehabilitation center, different medications may be used to help reduce uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Benzodiazepines (benzos) are most commonly used to treat withdrawal symptoms during the alcohol detoxification phase. The alcohol detoxification phase can involve withdrawal symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening.
The second, and longest, phase of alcohol detoxification occurs over months, as the brain begins to regulate itself slowly and returns to normal functioning. Drug withdrawal symptoms and alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be very similar, so many people who undergo detoxification. Phase 1 occurs within hours after an alcoholic stops using alcohol and continues for days or weeks. American Addiction Centers (AAC) offer evidence-based alcohol detoxification services in locations across the country.
Inpatient medical detoxification allows the body to get rid of the influence of alcohol in a comfortable and controlled environment.
