Hospital Alcohol Detox: With habitual drinking, the body system becomes dependent on liquor. Alcohol detoxification is a process that helps the body to get rid of all traces of alcohol thereby leaving the patient alcohol-free. This can be done at home or in a medical facility. The reason why hospital alcohol detox is advised is so that the detox process can be monitored and any complications of withdrawals can be dealt with as and when they arise.

What Is Hospital Alcohol Detox in The Facility?

Detoxification is a multi-stage process that begins with substance withdrawal which is then followed by treatment for alcoholism. There are a number of interventions that are used during rehab alcohol detox some of which include medical, pharmacological, and psychological. The goal of all these approaches is to minimize the severity of the resultant withdrawal symptoms and give adequate support to the individuals as they start their recovery journeys.

The detoxification process involves a number of stages which end in treatment for alcoholism. The interventions carried out in an alcohol rehab detox comprise medical, psychological, and pharmacological procedures. Even though each facility has its own set of processes, all of them are geared towards minimizing the severity of withdrawal symptoms and supporting the patients on their recovery journeys.

Detox is not a complete form of addiction treatment. All that hospital alcohol detox centres and medical professionals do is to assist the individual in finding the right mix of treatment resources and help them to transition into the recovery process.

The treatment process oftentimes involves both individual and group therapy and incorporates support groups. Medical facilities may have their own customized treatment modalities.

The two main categories of treating alcoholism offered at recovery facilities are inpatient and outpatient. Inpatient alcohol detox is where the patient lives in the hospital, rehab centre, or detox clinic during the entire process. The patient is accorded care around the clock to ensure recovery is on track.

The outpatient alcohol detox program allows the individual to get treatment and go home. This is cost-friendly, but the services offered are not as many as in inpatient. Outpatient is suitable for people with moderate or mild withdrawal.

Need For Medical Assistance In Hospital Alcohol Detox Process

People addicted to drinking face incredibly dangerous and life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. For this reason, it is recommended that the detox should be done in alcohol detox. Medical professionals play a key role in guiding individuals on how to detox from alcohol. 

The health complications that may result from the detox combined with a likelihood of relapse makes it imperative that medical attention should be made available throughout the process. Self-detoxification from alcohol at home though possible is not encouraged. The detox process is usually associated with withdrawal symptoms that usually surface as early as 8 hours after one stops drinking and may last for up to 72 hours.

Detox may also give rise to other physiological conditions such as electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, and vitamin deficiencies. Throughout the hospital alcohol detox process, medical supervision is needed to monitor these complications as they arise and provide emergency support where needed.

Patients with pre-existing medical conditions may experience complications during the withdrawal process, and such require close monitoring in hospital alcohol detox treatment to ensure comfort and safety.

In the course of detox, some medication may be recommended which is prescription-based and where guidance and monitoring from medical professionals are required.

What Is Detox?

Detox alone isn’t treatment, but it’s the first step to getting better for people who are dependent on alcohol.  Learn more: Why start with detox for alcohol recovery.

When someone with a dependence on alcohol suddenly stops drinking, usually within 6-24 hours after their last drink, they might develop withdrawal symptoms. This can start while they still have alcohol in their blood.

What Is Alcohol Detox?

The best way to conquer addiction to alcohol or any other substance is to stop using. When someone undergoes alcohol detox, they deliberately abstain from drinking to give their body time to adjust to functioning without alcohol.

Alcohol detox can be painful, distressing, and dangerous because it requires a person to experience the full range of withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal often causes a person to relapse, but detox affords them the opportunity to stop drinking safely and less painfully.

Someone who resolves to experience withdrawal and not suppress it by having another drink will take the process most seriously, but the gain is lost if they endanger their life by using again.

Since some symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are dangerous, people should undergo alcohol detox under medical supervision at a rehab facility. People who detox from alcohol with professional help are more likely to weather the process safely and successfully.

Detox may not be pleasant, but it is a necessary first step for anyone who wants to recover from alcoholism. After detox is over, a person in recovery can begin therapy in a treatment program.

When you’re addicted to alcohol, the idea of quitting can feel overwhelming – especially when you think about going through withdrawal. One of the first questions that may cross your mind is, “do I need medical detox or can I safely detox on my own/at home?”

Whether you should seek detox treatment when detoxing from alcohol depends on a number of different factors, including how long you’ve been drinking, how often you drink, other co-occurring disorders (such as anxiety or depression), how many times you’ve tried to quit, and others. You should talk to your doctor or a professional addiction treatment provider about a detox plan for you.

What Are The Symptoms Of Alcohol Withdrawal?

Everyone who undergoes alcohol withdrawal will have a different experience, but the most common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are:

·         Anxiety

·         Delirium tremens (DTs), a life-threatening issue that can make you restless, upset, and confused and cause fever, hallucinations, and seizures

·         Depression

·         Hallucinations, when you see or hear things that aren’t there

·         Problems sleeping

·         Shakiness, especially in your hands

·         Unstable changes in blood pressure and heart rate

·         Sweating

·         Nausea and vomiting

·         Confusion

·         Fatigue

·         Headaches

·         Heart palpitations

·         Heightened blood pressure

·         Insomnia

·         Irritability

Hospital Alcohol Detox: Process And Timeline

The hospital alcohol detox process comprises three steps.

Evaluation

This is the first step admission in hospital for alcohol detox and involves a comprehensive review of medical, drug, and psychiatric histories of the patients. This is done by the medical team with a view to understanding each situation before admission. The evaluation includes:

·         Screening for mental and physical co-occurring conditions

·         Assessment of the patient’s social situation

·         Blood tests

·         Assessment of psychological and mental status

·         Assessment for withdrawal severity risk and the need for medical supervision

Stabilization

This is largely a therapy stage where the patient goes through psychological and medical therapies to enable them to attain a balance of body and mind. This step includes:

·         Medications to lessen the severity of withdrawal symptoms

·         Diet and nutrition

·         Familiarizing the patient with the treatment and recovery expectations

·         Including family and friends where appropriate as part of the treatment and recovery support

Treatment

Lots of detox programs incorporate medications that mimic alcohol effects. This is deliberately done to mitigate withdrawal symptoms. The alcohol detox medications are also targeted at general discomfort and co-occurring disorders. 

The National Library of Medicine documents that withdrawal happens within 8 hours following the last drink. The symptoms may peak anywhere between 24 and 72 hours with some lasting for weeks. How long does alcohol detox take in hospital, is determined by several factors amongst them:

·         The quantities of liquor consumed

·         The length of time the individual has been drinking

·         Weight and age

·         Nutritional considerations

·         Other substances present in the drink consumed

·         Co-occurring mental health issues such as eating disorders and depression

Choosing the Right Hospital Alcohol Detox Facility

Getting the best hospital for alcohol detox, involve a lot of information gathering and decision making. Questions on affordability, inpatient versus outpatient, staff qualifications, and the specific individual needs must be answered appropriately.

·         Obtain as much background information – Find out the services offered at the alcohol detox facility and their suitability to the kind of treatment the patient is looking for.

·         Financial considerations – Find out if they accept insurance and whether the cover includes the facility as one of the treatment centres. State-supported hospital alcohol detox and those offering financial subsidies can make treatment less costly. There are also free alcohol detox rehab centres some of which are run by faith-based organizations.

Aftercare concerns – The detoxification process is linked to recovery and life after. Alcohol and drug detox centres with a network of support groups, job placement, and housing can help individuals settle down once they leave.

Created On: 2021-12-29 12:24:49