Detox is the first part of treatment for anyone undergoing treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Detox is the body’s natural process of flushing the alcohol from its system, and it’s during this time that people begin to experience the symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal.

Because of the potential health risks associated with alcohol detox, every person who wants to enter rehab should check into a facility and go through a medically supervised detox. Having the support and assistance of medical staff at an alcohol withdrawal treatment in Fort Wayne, IN can prevent relapse, reduce the severity of withdrawal, and make the transition to treatment much easier.

All substance use disorders involve a level of physical dependency. As you drink alcohol, your body becomes used to having the substance in its bloodstream. Over time, you will have to consume larger quantities to experience the same mental and physical effects you could once achieve after only a few drinks. People will severe alcohol use disorders will have to drink just to feel normal.

Detox can start within the first six hours after your last drink. The exact duration of detox and the intensity of your alcohol withdrawal symptoms will depend on how much you drink, how often you drink and the severity of your addiction.

Your body needs time to adjust and restore its natural balance without alcohol. Drinking heavily for years or months causes your body to adapt and rely on alcohol to function normally; unfortunately, prolonged drinking also comes with its own health risks, including liver damage and heart disease.

As the last remnants of alcohol are absorbed into your bloodstream and expelled through your kidneys, lungs, and liver. During this time, you may begin to experience the symptoms of withdrawal.

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is the name for the symptoms that occur when a heavy drinker suddenly stops or significantly reduces their alcohol intake.

Withdrawal is the term used to describe the physical and mental effects a person experiences as the body adjusts to being without alcohol or drugs. Withdrawal can range from mild to severe, and alcohol withdrawal can be deadly, which is why you should consider checking into a rehabilitation facility rather than quit on your own.

The mild symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include anxiety, depression, nausea, headache, and sweating. People with a severe AUD may experience seizures only a few hours after they stop drinking; doctors and medical staff at rehab can pay close attention to your vital signs and prescribe medication to prevent life-threatening reactions to withdrawal.

People with minor cases of withdrawal typically experience the worst of their symptoms between 18 to 24 hours after their last drink, and their symptoms resolve completely within five days. More severe AUDs may experience longer withdrawal symptoms, and by day two or three, they could have heart complications or develop a condition called delirium tremens (DTs). DTs can cause a high temperature, disorientation, hallucinations, and seizures.

Patterns of binge or heavy drinking, (drinking more than four drinks for a woman or five for a man in a span of two hours, or more than seven drinks a week for a woman and 14 per week for a man) can contribute to a problem with alcohol, according to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

Almost all American adults over the age of 18 have consumed alcohol at some point. The NIAAA estimates close to 87 percent of the adult population has had at least one drink in their lifetime.

Stats on alcohol abuse and its effects include:

• An estimated 16.6 million American adults in 2013 had an alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to the NIAAA.
• One out of every three visits to the emergency room is related to the consumption of alcohol, per the International Business Times.
• Alcohol consumed in excess was responsible for one out of every 10 deaths in working-age adults (ages 20-64) from 2006-2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) publishes.
• Alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of death in America according to NIAAA, as 88,000 people each year die from an alcohol-related cause.

It is certainly not recommended that you attempt to treat your addiction by yourself, or even with the help of family or friends.

Sometimes, the damage from persistent alcohol abuse can linger long after the last drink has been ingested. Medical detox programs combine medical therapies with physical support, so people can get sober without falling ill and/or resorting to a return to alcohol use and abuse.

During the detox process from alcohol, some complications can occur such as:

If and when they appear, the proper therapies should be provided to alleviate the distress. This is one of the many benefits of a professional, medical detox facility

Once the detox program is complete, the person is escorted to some form of rehab to continue the healing process.

Without proper care and being surrounded by temptations, you’ll have a very hard time beating your alcohol addiction or successfully completing the detox phase.

these substances cross the placenta to the baby to some degree. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) publishes that substance abuse can double or even triple the risk for stillbirth, depending on the substance abused. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), other birth defects, miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, neurological defects, and babies born with a dependence on opioids (neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS) are all potential consequences of continued drug or alcohol abuse during pregnancy.

The safest and smoothest way to stop using addictive substances is through medical detox, and it’s essential for pregnant women.

Detox during pregnancy should be closely supervised by highly trained professionals, as withdrawal symptoms may be especially harmful to the fetus. Therefore, if a pregnant woman is physically dependent on a substance, medical oversight during detox is considered the safest course of action for both the mother and the unborn baby.

According to a literature review in the Industrial Psychiatry JournalTrusted Source, the following are general guidelines about when you can expect to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms:

6 hours

Minor withdrawal symptoms usually begin about six hours after your last drink. A person who has a long history of heavy drinking could have a seizure six hours after stopping drinking.

12 to 24 hours

A small percentage of people going through alcohol withdrawal have hallucinations at this point. They may hear or see things that aren’t there. While this symptom can be scary, doctors don’t consider it a serious complication.

24 to 48 hours

Minor withdrawal symptoms usually continue during this time. These symptoms may include headaches, tremors, and stomach upset. If a person goes through only minor withdrawal, their symptoms usually peak at 18 to 24 hours and start to decrease after four to five days.

48 hours to 72 hours

Some people experience a severe form of alcohol withdrawal that doctors call the delirium tremens (DTs) or alcohol withdrawal delirium. A person with this condition can have a very high heart rate, seizures, or high body temperature.

72 hours

This is the time when alcohol withdrawal symptoms are usually at their worst. In rare cases, moderate withdrawal symptoms can last for a month. These include rapid heart rate and illusions (seeing things that aren’t there).

Don’t let any of this scare you or stop you from seeking treatment. We’ll help you every step of the way.

The cost of medically treating alcohol addiction and withdrawal varies depending on a number of things. In general, outpatient care is less expensive than inpatient care, but inpatient care might be more effective for some people. To many, the added cost of successful treatment might outweigh the savings involved with cheaper programs that just do not work.

Additionally, we work with most major insurance carriers and it’s likely that much, if not all, of your treatment, could be covered by your insurance. The first step is to reach out to us, and we’ll walk you through it.