Getting Help for Alcohol Addiction
Although alcohol is a large part of society, it is easy over time to become dependent. Some people can withdraw with very few side effects, but for others, this can be both very difficult and potentially very dangerous. Sometimes, the person might be too ill or vulnerable to withdraw at home, so an alcohol detox centre will provide the care and treatment to ensure they are safe.
These centres are typically facilities with trained medical staff who can administer medication, conduct blood tests, monitor vital signs, ensure the client is as comfortable as possible during the detox process and adjust the correct levels of medication to ensure the detox is as safe and comfortable as possible.
One of the key differences between clinics is the level of medical support, the doctor’s availability, and if the rehab clinic also has 24-hour nursing and other dedicated staff.
Clinics that offer detoxes without extra nursing and medical support are described as providing ‘medically monitored’ detoxes. In contrast, clinics that have a more extensive, medical supervision and support system, including 24-hour nursing, are described as providing ‘medically managed’ detoxes.
There are many different types of drug and alcohol rehab and detox centres, such as those that provide detox for individuals or even those where a family can live together.
For more advice, call our admissions team now at 0207 5818222
Types of Alcohol Treatment Centres
Detoxification programs for drug or alcohol addiction problems typically last for around 10 days and can be either inpatient or outpatient. They are designed to provide a person with a safe, supervised environment where withdrawal symptoms can be managed.
The treatment facility should offer other therapy options such as group and individual therapy in conjunction with detoxification. A multidisciplinary team of experienced staff will offer ongoing support and a range of treatment options. These programs aim to ensure that the person undergoes a comfortable and manageable withdrawal process.
Detox centres are often situated as part of a residential therapy clinic, including drug rehab, and it should also be possible to address psychological and emotional issues even while the drug detox is beginning.
There are common co-occurring substance addictions which often go hand in hand with alcohol dependence including cocaine addiction, prescription drugs addiction, cannabis addiction. These other drugs like cocaine heroin cannabis and others will moderate the type of medications and addiction treatment options to take.
Sometimes people drinking regularly and managing their symptoms with other medications can develop a drug addiction without knowing it is happening. People are particularly at risk of this happening with the class of prescribed drugs known as benzodiazepines ( Valium, Zanax etc.).
If you or someone you know needs help with alcohol use disorder, contact us at PROMIS to find out more about our alcohol detox centre today and how we can provide you with the help you or your loved one needs.
Inpatient Detox vs Outpatient Detox
-Inpatient detox centres are designed to provide a person with the highest level of care. The patient will stay in the facility for up to 10 days. With a gold standard medically managed detox and inpatient treatment, they will be supervised by a medical team, including nurses 24 hours a day. They will have access to nursing, doctors, and psychiatrists on-site and other healthcare professionals.
-Outpatient detox centres provide medical care for up to 3 days in a clinic or hospital setting. Patients are monitored 8 hours a day and will have access to physicians, nurses, and psychiatrists on-site but will return home in the evening.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be severe, and there is a long list of potential complications that may arise if it’s not managed correctly. It is important to start by taking a medical history and exploring if there are any dual diagnosis issues to manage.
Alcohol addiction is a medical problem with many effects on the brain, including dependence. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are a result of alcohol or substance abuse alone. It is one of the two most life-threatening withdrawal processes to manage.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending partly on how much alcohol was consumed in the past and, more importantly, the duration of addiction. Some people are much more vulnerable to risky medical consequences of unmanaged withdrawal than others. The most vulnerable group are those with a high risk of seizures in withdrawal.
The most common symptom of withdrawal is intense anxiety or agitation. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headache, and shakiness.
Some of the most common physical side effects are fever, irregular heartbeat, and seizures. Some people experience severe withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions when withdrawing from alcohol.
Anxiety, agitation, and seizures are also common symptoms of withdrawal when withdrawing from other substances such as Xanax or cocaine. If you need help with your addiction to these drugs, please call PROMIS.
Benefits of Alcohol Detoxification
Alcohol detox centres can be a great way for an individual to get help with their alcohol addiction. This alcohol rehab treatment programme focuses on getting the person sober and back into society so they can maintain sobriety.
The benefits of alcohol detox centres are many, but the most important is that one of the hardest things to do is to stop drinking in the first place. Alcohol detox centres provide a safe and controlled environment where people can get sober.
Other Benefits
- Learning how to live without alcohol.
- Safe and controlled environment
- Medical staff available to monitor
The most important benefit is helping the person rid their body of the toxin of alcohol and resetting the body’s chemical balance safely and comfortably. They also help get people sober so they can start more intensive treatment for their addiction and maintain sobriety.
The Side Effects of Alcohol Detox
Alcohol detox is a process in which the body eliminates alcohol from the system. Withdrawal symptoms are often experienced and can be severe or mild depending on how much alcohol has been consumed and, crucially, over what period.
The following are the most common side effects:
- Anxiety and depression, which can be severe or mild
- Restlessness, which can be severe or mild
- Insomnia, which typically occurs within the first week of withdrawal and usually lasts for less than one week.
- Sweating, which can be severe or mild
- Headaches are common in the early stages of withdrawal and usually last for less than one week.
- Nausea and vomiting, which typically occur within the first day of withdrawal and usually last for less than 24 hours when alcohol consumption is reduced or stopped.
- Irritability, which typically occurs within the first week of withdrawal and usually lasts for less than one week.
Psychological Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
The psychological symptoms of both alcohol use and withdrawal are classified into two categories: early and late. Symptoms related to the central nervous system usually occur within 8-12 hours after cessation, while other physical effects happen later.
Early-onset symptoms can include anxiety, insomnia, agitation, tremors, and hallucinations. Late-onset withdrawal effects are often more severe. They can cause depression or psychosis as well as symptoms of delirium tremens (DTs), which can include rapid heart rate, fever, and seizures.
Physical Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
The symptoms are not just limited to the mind, though, because alcohol withdrawal also has many physical effects. The person struggling can experience dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting.
Since drug and alcohol addiction and withdrawal can be so severe, it is important to know what treatment options are available. The person struggling with addiction should first aim for medical detoxification before adding other treatment options like therapy.
It is important to know what treatment options are available. Medical detoxification should be one of the first goals for addiction recovery, before trying other treatments like therapy.
Length of Detox Treatment
Detoxification removes toxic substances, such as alcohol or drugs, from the body. This can be done by managing the body’s adjustment to the lack of drug and alcohol being in the system while the liver works to rid the body of toxins.
The length of the detoxification process will depend on a number of factors, including:
1) The amount of alcohol consumed
2) Whether the person is a chronic drinker or has had binge episodes
3) How long since the person last consumed alcohol
What Happens in an Alcohol Addiction Treatment Program?
In an alcohol addiction treatment program, the person has an opportunity in a tranquil environment with a community of people to explore their addiction triggers with addiction recovery experts. Addiction cognitive behavioural approaches help reduce the risk of relapse by learning to be able to become aware of psychological process that have been driving the alcohol problem perhaps without the person being fully aware of what is happening.
Therapy for addiction typically is a 28-Day Addiction Programme but can be longer if it is more complicated by other issues such as addiction to drugs or physical health issues.
A person may work with a counsellor or therapist to explore and understand their addiction and how it affects them and their family members. They will learn about triggers that lead to addictive behaviours and how to avoid or manage them. Then, they will work on developing coping skills for life without alcohol.
Long term recovery journey is often achieved by integrating a number of stages to the recovery process. Starting with a Detox, a client usually progresses to alcohol rehab, often in residential rehab clinics, and then follows this up with Day Care and After Care sessions. Attending some self-help support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Smart Recovery, has significantly improved longer-term recovery rates.
The rehab process will involve different treatments depending on individual needs, but it will include group sessions, individual therapy sessions, evidence based treatments and a holistic approach to help someone stay sober.
