Author: John Carter
Alcohol Detox and Rehab Programs: What to Expect and How to Choose
Detox can be a physically and psychologically uncomfortable process. Unfortunately, this is also part of what can make getting off drugs and alcohol so challenging. However, medical complications can occur during the acute phase of withdrawal. Inpatient, where you live at a hospital, detox clinic, or rehab center during the process. Although an at-home detox can be intense, there are ways to mitigate severe side effects.
This might be as simple as visiting your health care professional regularly to get meds. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. Delirium tremens (DT) is a life-threatening condition that requires medical attention. It also ensures your body has proper nutrition to maintain stamina during the stress it will go through during detox. You can even use this as an opportunity to develop healthier habits.
Additional Alcoholism Treatment Options
For most people, alcohol withdrawal symptoms will begin sometime in the first eight hours after their final drink. This article discusses alcohol withdrawal, its symptoms, and potential complications. It also provides an overview of the alcohol withdrawal timeline process and when to discuss your drinking with your healthcare provider.
Psychologists specialize in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions, SUD, and addiction. They’re trained in a variety of evidence-based treatment methods designed to improve emotional and interpersonal well-being. Call our helpline now to connect with a specialist who can help you find detoxification and substance abuse treatment options for yourself or a loved one. This may pose risks to both fetal and maternal health if detox is attempted alone or without supportive care from medical professionals.
People struggling with AUD may also feel severe symptoms which can be dangerous. A self-detox involves detoxing from alcohol at home without medical support or supervision. It allows you to manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the comfort of your own home with little cost. These advanced practice clinicians support patients through the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of conditions. They work closely with doctors and care teams to provide medical services and counseling for mental health, substance misuse, and addiction issues. Behavioral treatment programs are helpful for people who want to quit drinking.
How to get care
Antidepressant detox may be recommended for people who have either been taking an antidepressant for a very long time, or for those who misuse one or more medications. Although less is known about flakka withdrawal compared to other addictive drugs, the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse says flakka detox may cause symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Ecstasy, also known as “molly” or MDMA, is a recreational drug that can cause symptoms of withdrawal in people who take it very frequently or in high doses. Cocaine withdrawal is not generally dangerous or very uncomfortable physically. However, it can cause intense cravings for cocaine, as well as other psychological symptoms.
- Overall, the process can take weeks, and you might still feel withdrawal symptoms for months.
- Because of this, it’s important to plan around the alcohol detoxification process carefully.
- For example, if you have a medical or mental health condition, you’ll want services for that.
- Behavioral therapies can help those struggling with alcohol abuse focus on avoiding old patterns and identify the root causes of addiction.
- Behavioral health treatment for alcohol problems is often (but not always) covered by insurance.
- Ideally, you want to find a program you can afford that has licensed, trained staff and a high success rate.
Studies show support groups play an instrumental role in helping people develop healthy social networks that result in continued sobriety. For people who experience hallucinations as part of alcohol withdrawal, these may begin in the 12- to 24-hour time frame. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms range from mild but annoying to severe and life-threatening. When someone drinks alcohol for a prolonged period of time and then stops, the body reacts to its absence. This is alcohol withdrawal, and it causes uncomfortable physical and emotional symptoms. Overall, the process can take weeks, and you might still feel withdrawal symptoms for months.
Drug and alcohol treatment and recovery
These may still be mild, or the existing symptoms might increase in severity. When that person cuts out alcohol, there is a period when their brain hasn’t yet received the message and still overproduces the stimulating chemicals. With alcohol out of the equation, though, these chemicals cause withdrawal symptoms.
Medical supervision, behavioral health treatment, and mutual-aid groups can help you through alcohol withdrawal and stay stopped. Social detox programs, for instance, rely on behavioral treatments, such as behavioral therapy, and clinical care. Amphetamine detox programs may offer support for amphetamine withdrawal and connect individuals with a follow-up drug rehab program for substance misuse. Although it might be safe for people with mild withdrawal symptoms, it can be dangerous to people with alcohol dependence.
These first few weeks are critical because they are when the risk of relapse is highest. Usually, some services will be covered, but how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket depends on your health plan and the program you choose. It looks at your specific case and decides the type of treatment you qualify for. Intensive outpatient treatment involves a scheduled series of visits that are longer and more in-depth than a traditional outpatient program. You may do this after partial hospitalization, detox, or residential rehab. Rehab programs can include a range of services from medical care and counseling to life skills training and help preventing a relapse.
Follow-up Care
Consider avoiding bars and liquor stores, as well as avoiding routines that involve alcohol. Make your tax-deductible gift and be a part of the cutting-edge research and care that’s changing medicine. If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please contact at Hallucinogens are mind-altering drugs that can alter one’s sense of reality and one’s perception of themselves and surroundings. Detoxing from heroin can cause a number of physical symptoms, including vomiting, sweating, tremors, and diarrhea.
Prescription sleeping pills, including ‘z drugs,’ can be misused for their sedative properties and may require a detoxification process in order to safely stop taking them. Opioid detox is not life-threatening by itself, but does carry a high risk of relapse and potential overdose when attempted without clinical support. The experience of detoxing off illicit drugs will look and feel different depending on the type of substance, as well as the severity of a person’s dependence. Drug and alcohol detoxification is a process that is necessary for anyone who has become physically dependent on a substance. For those with alcohol use disorder, withdrawal is just the first (but very important) step on a long journey to recovery.
If you seek out a detox program, this process will begin with a clinical assessment, during which time you may be asked questions about your drug use history and health. For people at low risk of complications, an office visit to your primary care provider, along with at-home monitoring and virtual office visits, may suffice. People at high risk of complications should enter a short-term in-patient detox program. Partial hospitalization or day treatment is where you live at home but you go for treatment at a hospital or clinic at least 5 days a week.
Remember you are facing a difficult challenge during alcohol withdrawal, but you are not alone. There are many resources available to help, including peer support groups, counseling, therapy, and inpatient rehabilitation. You don’t need to be diagnosed with alcohol use disorder in order to quit drinking. If alcohol is interfering with your health or your personal, financial, or professional life, consider quitting. For example, if you have a medical or mental health condition, you’ll want services for that.
People who are daily or heavy drinkers may need medical support to quit. Stopping drinking abruptly can lead to seizures and can even be fatal. For most people, alcohol withdrawal symptoms will begin to subside after 72 hours. If you are still experiencing withdrawal symptoms after three days, talk to your healthcare provider. Once you get back into the swing of your normal life, it might be easy to relapse and start drinking again.