The first step of addiction treatment is a safe and controlled detoxification. This removes all traces of alcohol from your body.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically peak around 24-48 hours after your last drink. The severity of these symptoms varies.
Detox is followed by inpatient or residential treatment, where therapists work with you to develop coping skills and overcome cravings.
Symptoms
Detox is often the most difficult part of recovery, as alcohol withdrawal can cause many unpleasant symptoms. These can include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, tremors and fatigue. Emotionally, detox can trigger anxiety and depression. It’s important to eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and rest regularly to help manage these emotions.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal typically begin within six to 12 hours of your last drink. Early symptoms include headache, mild anxiety, insomnia and tremors. Some people may experience visual, auditory or tactile hallucinations. Seizure risks are highest between 24 and 48 hours after your last drink, and delirium tremens can occur in severe cases.
During the detox process, your medical team will prescribe medications to reduce these uncomfortable side effects. Benzodiazepines, such as chlordiazepoxide (Librium) and diazepam (Valium), are most commonly used to treat alcohol withdrawal. These drugs act on the same receptors in the brain as alcohol and calm the central nervous system, relieving tremors and anxiety. They also help reduce seizures and delirium.
Medication
During detox, a doctor may prescribe medication to help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. These medications are usually taken in pill form, but can also be injected as well. One such medication is naltrexone, which works by inhibiting the feeling of intoxication and can decrease alcohol cravings. It is available in both pill and injection form, including the brand names ReVia and Vivitrol. Check out alcohol detox at Resurgence for more info
Some people who are prescribed naltrexone during alcohol detox are also given antidepressants, which can ease anxiety and depression, both of which are often seen alongside substance abuse. Other medications used in the detox process include acamprosate, which stabilizes the balance of neurotransmitters disrupted by chronic alcohol use, and disulfiram, which causes unpleasant physical reactions to alcohol consumption and acts as a deterrent.
The severity of withdrawal symptoms will affect whether detox is done in an outpatient or inpatient setting. Inpatient detoxification provides constant medical care and prevents patients from having easy access to alcoholic beverages, which can increase the chances of relapse.
Recovery
Detox is the first step in the recovery process. It involves the elimination of alcohol from the body and can be dangerous if done abruptly, so it is best to undergo detox in a medically supervised environment. The treatment team will consider your evaluation and medical history when creating a customized detox program for you.
During the detox process, your health care provider will monitor your blood pressure and heart rate, and will administer medication to ease withdrawal symptoms. Your symptoms may peak during the first week of detox, but they will gradually improve over time as your body becomes used to being without alcohol.
During detox, you will receive counseling to help you break your addiction. This can include group therapy in peer support settings, or individual sessions with a therapist. Some programs offer both inpatient and outpatient detox, so you can live at home while receiving specialized treatment. Some programs also combine detox with long-term rehab treatment, to help you learn to cope with your addiction and avoid relapse.
Relapse prevention
Relapse is a common and potentially dangerous occurrence during drug or alcohol recovery. It occurs when individuals are exposed to triggers like people, places and emotions that remind them of using drugs or drinking. These triggers can cause cravings or even a full relapse. During relapse prevention, individuals learn strategies to identify and manage these triggers. These strategies include avoiding high-risk situations, creating a support network, practicing healthy coping skills and adopting a healthier lifestyle.
It’s important to understand that you may experience emotional relapse weeks or even months before you physically pick up a drug or drink. Emotional relapse can involve thinking about the ‘good times’ associated with substance use, bargaining with yourself about using or minimising negative consequences. It can also include avoiding difficult feelings and neglecting your own needs. These activities can build a foundation for the physical relapse stage, where you will feel strong urges to drink or take drugs. During this phase, you will need to call upon your support network and re-establish coping skills.
