Alcohol Detox
Understanding Alcohol Detox
If you're suffering from alcoholism, then you have most likely been misinformed about alcohol detox. Many think that this is the instant cure for alcohol addiction when treatment for alcoholism involves much more. If anything, alcohol detox is just the beginning of the treatment. It's an integral part of the process, but is certainly not the end-solution to addiction.
What do you mean by detox?
When someone goes through alcohol detox, this means that s/he has made the decision to stop consuming alcohol. The term "detox" can be considered misnomer because it suggests an instant cleansing of the body for toxic substances, in this case alcohol. Unfortunately the process is much more complex than that. Alcohol detox is a medical treatment which involves the cessation of alcohol intake while introducing other drugs into the body which produce the same effect.
This way, the body doesn't suffer from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Going "cold turkey" can be too difficult, so with the help of medical professionals, the patient's body is gently weaned off of alcohol dependence.
Why isn't detox enough?
Alcohol detox is necessary, but is in no way enough to treat alcoholism or alcohol dependence. Alcohol addiction is both a psychological and a physiological disorder. The detox treatment purges the body of current alcohol levels in the body, but does not instantly cure the long term effects of alcohol on the behaviors of the person. Long term substance abuse physiologically changes the structure of the brain which makes the patient behave differently.
At the slightest inclination, the individual may fall back to drinking alcohol excessively. Proper treatment for alcoholism entails the treatment of both the body and the mind or spirit. Unless the patient is able to win over his or her addiction to alcohol by sheer will power, the treatment cannot be called a success.
In-Patient Treatment
If alcohol dependence is severe, the patient may be asked to leave his or her current surroundings so that the treatment can be done outside of the negative environment. Some believe that alcoholism is triggered by emotional trauma or personal problems and while these stressors may also be the cause of someone's alcohol dependence, unseen factors in the patient's environment are most often the cause the addiction.
For example, the behavior of those around the alcoholic may actually trigger him or her to drink more alcohol in attempts to either join in the fun or to escape the pressure of life in general. The abundance of alcohol can also lead to uncontrolled alcohol drinking. These factors could be counter-productive to the initial intent of the patient when he or she decided to go for an alcohol detox session.
What happens inside the rehab center?
Rehabilitation centers offer more than just alcohol detox to patients who have entered the facility. After the physiological treatment, patients also go to individual and group counseling. As they progress with their rehabilitation, they're re-introduced to factors which they'll have to face outside the center. These are specific to the patient's needs.
Family and Environmental Support
Once outside the rehabilitation center, individuals in out-patient treatment need a lot of guidance to adapt to the real world. These patients are actually most susceptible to relapse when they've just "come out clean". This is why the support of family and friends is very much needed for their full recovery. The patient needs to feel that what they're doing to overcome the addiction is needed. This also helps the families of individuals who are prone to alcoholism understand the situation better.
Choosing a Facility
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Facility for Alcohol Detox
If this is your first time seeking alcohol detox for yourself or a loved one, it would be helpful to know which questions to ask when searching for possible programs.Recovery Now TV will guide you in making the most appropriate decision based on your individual needs.
When researching alcohol detox programs, consider the questions below to help guide you to making the most appropriate decision for treatment:
- Will the facility work with your health insurance company? If you have health insurance, please click here or scroll to the bottom of the page to access the complete Insurance Guidance Information page.
- Where is the facility located? Oftentimes facilities will urge you to travel out of your area to receive treatment. Consider the list of pros and cons below for traveling out of the area for treatment.
Treatment out of the area-
- PRO- Getting out of the area for alcohol detox will help an alcoholic or addict to focus on themselves rather than their familiar surroundings.
- PRO- Going out of the area for alcohol detox creates a mindset where a client is taking a journey for their recovery.
- PRO- If the going gets tough in treatment, a distance between the home and the treatment facility might affect a person's decision to not give up and to stay in treatment.
- CON- Going to an alcohol detox program out of the area puts distance between you and your loved ones. Most treatment programs offer a family component and a long distance could make it difficult for supportive family and friends to participate in the treatment program.
- CON- Going to an alcohol detox program out of the area might make it difficult to return to the home environment. If you choose to go out of the area for treatment, it is crucial to make sure that the treatment facility has a discharge planning process which includes assistance in finding outpatient and Twelve Step Support systems for when you return home.
- What governing body is the treatment facility licensed through? All alcohol detox programs providing therapeutic services and treatment planning, must be licensed by a State governing body. If one of the facilities that you are considering is NOT part of the RecoveryNowTV network, then you will need to make sure that the facility is licensed through the state.
- Is the facility accredited? If so, what is the accreditation agency governing the facility? Accreditation is a true sign of a quality and safety assurance plan for a facility. While accreditation is not mandatory for a facility, it does provide a higher level of standards for a facility to adhere to. The two major accrediting bodies are The Joint Commission (JCAHO) and Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities (CARF). Both accrediting organizations ensure that the facility actively participates in rigorous quality and safety improvement protocols.
- What does a typical day entail? Ask the alcohol detox facility go through the daily schedule and feel free to ask questions of each item on the schedule. This will give you an understanding of all of the services offered. This will allow you to take full advantage of the treatment protocols being offered.
- What is the price of the treatment? Are there additional costs over and above the stated cost? Is there a daily rate? Is there an early termination policy?
- Is there an extended care program? When searching for an alcohol detox, if time and your schedule permits, it is recommended that one enter an extended care program or a structured sober living environment. This will ensure that the re-entry back into daily living is a safe transition. Many programs offer a step-down or sober living program which includes mandatory Twelve Step participation, curfews, and drug testing
- Is there a program in place for relapse? It is important to know if the alcohol detox program will support you during a relapse. Many programs have relapse prevention or a refresher course in case of a relapse. Although many people do not want to consider readmitting to a treatment facility, it is important to know that your treatment program will support you if you have a relapse.
