What is alcohol detox?

Alcohol detox refers to a process of cleansing the body from alcohol toxins. In the case of addictive alcohol use, medicated alcohol detox is essential both to relieve the discomfort of alcohol withdrawal and to prevent the occurrence of life-threatening problems that can arise during withdrawal. Physical addiction to alcohol is associated with the occurrence of alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as shakes, sweats, nausea, vomiting and delirium. Typically these symptoms will resolve by themselves after four days or so without alcohol detox. However, in the meantime serious complications such as epileptic fits, permanent severe memory damage and death may occur. Alcohol detox both minimizes the risk of such complications occurring, allows the patient to cease alcohol use comfortably, and prevents relapse to alcohol use during these vital first few days.

What does alcohol detox involve?

Alcohol detox involves the prescription of medication to replace the effect of alcohol on the brain or body. The medication prescribed is sedative medication, although this does not mean the patient is sent to sleep. Usually, the patient is fully awake during alcohol detox, although may be a little drowsy. Other medication is also prescribed during alcohol detox to control alcohol withdrawal symptoms as they occur, to help with sleep and to replace vitamin deficiencies which have built up over the years of drinking.

Does alcohol detox work?

Alcohol detox is not a cure for alcoholism. Alcohol detox merely allows a person with an alcohol problem to cease alcohol use safely and comfortably. After completion of alcohol detox, the person must start to learn the skills to avoid relapse to alcohol use. Learning these skills involves psychological treatment, which can be delivered either as an inpatient (rehab) or as an outpatient (counseling). Essentially, alcohol detox is about stopping alcohol use and rehab or counseling is all about ´staying stopped´.

Our professional advisors are available to you 12 hours daily, 7 days a week, to help you with expert, completely practical advice about drug addiction and alcoholism, free-of-charge. All appropriate forms of treatment can be arranged wherever you live. Telephone 0845 003 8274 now for advice in confidence.