Alcohol Detox
Programs
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 When a person who is alcohol dependent suddenly
stops drinking alcohol, he or she usually suffers from
alcohol withdrawal symptoms. When an individual
reaches this point, he or she needs professional treatment
in an alcohol detox program.
Such programs manage the alcohol withdrawal
symptoms in a safe manner so that the body can get rid of the
alcohol that has been consumed. It needs to be pointed
out, however, that alcohol detox is a necessary but not the
only step in the alcohol treatment process.
The First Step in Alcohol
Treatment: Alcohol Detox
Alcohol detox programs are widely available,
traditional forms of alcoholism treatment that are typically
undertaken under the supervision of a medical doctor, and are
frequently employed as the first step in an alcoholic treatment
program.
Due primarily to the relatively long time-frame
required for the completion of the alcohol detox process, these
therapies are usually part of an inpatient alcohol rehab
treatment program.
Alcohol Detox Programs and Withdrawal
Symptoms
 Recent research findings have pointed to the
importance of treating every individual who is
suffering from alcohol withdrawal.
This also applies to the roughly 95% of the people who when
they quit drinking alcohol, experience mild to moderate
withdrawal symptoms.
Fortunately, the vast majority of these individuals will be
able to be treated on an out-patient basis by a healthcare
professional.
Unlike the majority of people who experience alcohol
withdrawal symptoms, however, the remaining 5% of the
individuals who suffer from withdrawal symptoms experience
symptoms so severe that they need to be treated in an alcohol
rehab facility that specializes in alcohol detoxification or in
a hospital.
This essentially means that there is a sizeable group of
Americans who will experience potentially fatal alcohol
withdrawal symptoms if they don't receive prompt medical
attention.
Non-Drug Alcohol Detox
Programs
Numerous non-drug treatments are available for treating
alcohol withdrawal. Indeed, according to current
scientific research, it has been shown that the safest way to
treat mild withdrawal symptoms is without medications.
Non-drug alcohol detox programs like these typically employ
extensive social support and screening throughout the entire
withdrawal process. Other non-drug alcohol detox
programs, furthermore, use proper nutrition and vitamin therapy
(especially thiamin) when treating mild withdrawal
symptoms.
| To make the argument for alcohol
abstention and pregnancy even stronger,
according to recent studies, women who continue
to drink even small amounts of alcohol while
trying to become pregnant, may reduce their
chances of conceiving. |
Alcohol Detox Programs Using
Medications
Many researchers and doctors state that chronic alcoholics
who cannot sustain their sobriety or those who suffer from
excessive alcohol withdrawals need to receive drug therapy to
manage their withdrawal symptoms. It is important to
emphasise, moreover, that by using drugs, alcoholics are less
likely to experience possible brain damage and/or seizures.
| A driver with a blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) of 0.10 or greater is seven
times more likely to be involved in a fatal
motor vehicle crash than is a driver who has
not consumed alcoholic beverages, and a driver
with an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or
greater is about 25 times more likely. |
According to recent findings in the research literature, the
drugs with the highest probability of producing effective
results when treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms are the
benzodiazepines. Examples include the shorter-acting
benzodiazepines such as Ativan and Serax and the longer-acting
benzodiazepines such as Valium and Librium.
Historically, when doctors have used benzodiazepines, they
have used a progressive decrease in dosage over the time-frame
of the total withdrawal process. Furthermore, due to the
fact that the shorter-acting benzodiazepines allow for
measurable dose reductions and also the fact that they do not
linger in the person's body for an excessive period of time,
many researchers and practitioners have recommended that
intermediate to short half-life benzodiazepines should be used
for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
| According to the American
Medical Association, scientific evidence
suggests that even modest alcohol consumption
in late childhood and adolescence can result in
permanent brain damage. |
After the individual has successfully overcome his or her
withdrawal symptoms, additionally, other doctor-prescribed
drugs such as naltrexone (ReViaT) or disulfiram (Antabuse) can
be used to help prevent the person from returning to drinking
after he or she has consumed alcohol due to a relapse.
For example, since the drug Antabuse triggers vomiting,
flushing, nausea, and dizziness if alcohol is ingested, it has
proven to be a strong deterrent to drinking even with
alcoholics. Conversely, Naltrexone (ReViaT) is
employed in an entirely different way in that it zeros in on
the brain's reward circuits and reduces the craving the
alcoholic has for alcohol.
| At .08 BAC, a driver is 11 times
more likely than the non-drinking driver to be
involved in a crash. As the amount of alcohol
in the driver's system rises mathematically on
the BAC scale, the likelihood of a traffic
accident multiples. |
Alcohol Detox Programs:
Inpatient versus Outpatient Status
Recent research findings have revealed that inpatient
alcohol withdrawal treatment is more effective and
longer-lasting than outpatient treatment. As a
consequence, the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal
symptoms, the more likely that inpatient treatment programs
should be considered.
| 62% of high school seniors
report that they have been drunk; 31% say they
have had five or more drinks in a row during
the last two weeks. |
Alcohol Detox Programs:
Conclusion
Although 95% of the individuals who quit drinking alcohol
experience mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms, every
individual who suffers from alcohol withdrawal needs a
professional alcohol detox program.
The crucial lesson to be learned about alcohol withdrawal
symptoms, therefore is this: when experiencing
alcohol withdrawal symptoms, always see your doctor or
healthcare practitioner immediately so that he or she can
evaluate the seriousness of your withdrawal symptoms and
recommend the most effective alcohol detox program for your
particular circumstance.
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| The following represents some of
the negative consequences of drinking alcohol
and the fertility of the father: killing off
the sperm-generating cells in the testicles and
abnormal liver function and a rise in estrogen
levels that, in turn, affect sperm development
and hormone levels. |
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