Alcohol detoxification is the first step in treating alcoholism and is essential for those who fear stopping drinking due to withdrawal symptoms. The duration of alcohol abstinence varies from person to person, depending on the intensity and frequency of alcohol consumption. Drug withdrawal symptoms and alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be similar, so many people who undergo detoxification can benefit from the advice of a physician or clinician trained to evaluate and treat patients with alcohol withdrawal. It is believed that alcohol withdrawal arises based on various changes in brain activity caused by prolonged and excessive consumption of alcohol.
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 begin therapy to overcome their addiction. Benzodiazepines (benzos) are most commonly used to treat withdrawal symptoms during the alcohol detoxification phase. Whether or not you develop alcohol withdrawal symptoms depends largely on your body chemistry, how much alcohol you drink daily, how old you are, whether you have other concurrent physical or mental health conditions, and many other factors. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction, it's important to understand what to expect during detoxification and withdrawal.
Depending on the level of physiological alcohol dependence, the severity of acute alcohol withdrawal will vary by individual. Due to the severity of some withdrawal symptoms, it is recommended that alcohol detoxification be monitored by a medical professional. In addition, family interventions can be a first step to recovery for those affected by alcohol and drug abuse. It is also important to help children from families affected by substance abuse, as they may be more vulnerable to developing an addiction themselves. At the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr.
Umhau was a senior clinical researcher who studied the neurochemical details of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. His research showed that its associated symptoms reflect compensation for previous alterations in the activity of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, with the balance between the two having changed as a result of prolonged alcohol consumption.
