Explain how substance abuse treatment works and what family interventions can look like. It explains how substance abuse treatment works, how family interventions can be a first step to recovery, and how to help children from families affected by alcohol and drug abuse. If you make the decision to stop drinking daily and excessively, you are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms. How long it takes to detox depends on a few factors, including how much you drink, how long you've been drinking, and whether you've had a detox before.
Keep reading to learn more about how long it takes to detox from alcohol. We also discuss the signs of addiction, some withdrawal symptoms that a person can expect when detoxifying, and how to treat them. The symptoms caused by alcohol detoxification can range from uncomfortable to dangerous. Some people may experience more severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as hallucinations or seizures.
While the detoxification process is different for each person, alcohol withdrawal symptoms often include rapid heartbeats, heavy sweating, and irritability. Some people fear stopping drinking because of withdrawal symptoms, but alcohol detoxification is the first step in treating alcoholism. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can begin only two to six hours after the last drink. Withdrawal symptoms usually peak one to three days later in people with mild symptoms.
On the other hand, severe alcohol withdrawal can last for weeks. Benzodiazepines (benzos) are most commonly used to treat withdrawal symptoms during the alcohol detoxification phase. After completing the detox, people with alcohol addiction enter a residential or outpatient treatment, where they can work to change their feelings about alcohol and learn ways to control their cravings. Due to the severity of some withdrawal symptoms, alcohol detoxification should be monitored by a medical professional.
This range remained the same whether they used home remedies for alcohol withdrawal or if they were detoxified in a medical facility. While doctor-supervised detoxification can be helpful for any type of drug withdrawal, these programs are especially vital for those who abstain from alcohol. While people may experience alcohol detoxification differently, there is a general timeline that follows withdrawal symptoms. While there is no right way to treat alcohol addiction, it can be difficult to endure the withdrawal and detoxification process alone.
When treating alcohol detoxification in an inpatient rehabilitation center, different medications may be used to help reduce uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Research shows that medical detoxification alone is not enough to help people recover fully from alcohol addiction. Some people fear stopping drinking because they are nervous about the withdrawal symptoms experienced during alcohol detox. Alcohol detox symptoms can be simply uncomfortable if you haven't had a drinking problem for a long time.
Medical and treatment professionals urge alcoholics not to attempt detoxification without constant attention, preferably from a doctor. Detoxification has uncomfortable physical and psychological symptoms and people often benefit from the additional supportive therapies offered in detoxification programs.
