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Alcohol Detox Programs

Alcoholism is a chronic disease. Like other chronic diseases, if left untreated, alcoholism can have serious, life-threatening consequences. Fortunately, there are effective treatment programs for alcoholism. While details vary from program to program, alcohol detox and alcohol rehab programs share certain essential components.

What Is Alcohol Detoxification?

Alcohol detox is an important preliminary step in the management of alcoholism. It is a medically supervised period of alcohol withdrawal. During this period, a doctor may administer medications to control symptoms, and the individual is monitored by health professionals to ensure his or her safety. In addition to medical care while the individual stops using alcohol, the person usually also receives education about his or her alcohol problem and upcoming treatment.

Medical management of alcohol withdrawal for people who are alcohol dependent is often necessary because the symptoms of withdrawal can be dangerous. Symptoms can include:

sweats
nausea
vomiting
tremors
anxiety
agitation
paranoia
hallucinations
convulsions
seizures

Not everyone has all these symptoms, and symptom severity can range from mild to severe. Typically, alcohol detoxification takes place in a regular medical ward of a hospital, a specialized detoxification unit, or as an outpatient. Detox, which may last a few days to more than a week, is not treatment but is an important and necessary preparation for treatment.

What Happens in an Alcohol Rehab Program?

Exactly what happens in an alcohol rehab program depends on what kind of program it is -- for instance, whether it's a live-in program or an outpatient one. But there are certain elements that are common to all.

Initial assessment. When a person is first admitted to an alcohol rehab program, that person receives a thorough clinical assessment. The assessment is then used to help determine the best approach to treatment. It is also used to help develop the treatment plan.

During the initial assessment a counselor will ask questions about:

The amount of alcohol a person drinks
How long the person has been using alcohol
Cultural issues around the use of alcohol
The effect alcohol has had on the person's life
Medical history
Current medical problems or needs
Medications being taken
Mental health or behavioral issues
Family and social issues and needs
Legal and financial issues the person is confronting
Educational background and needs
Current living situation
Home environment
Employment history, stability, problems, and needs
Previous experience with rehab or attempts to quit using alcohol

If it's determined during the initial assessment that there are urgent medical issues that need to be addressed or that the person needs a detox program, the person will be referred to a doctor who will oversee this part of the person's care.

Development of a plan. Following the assessment and provision of medical care, the person will be assigned a counselor or case manager. Together they will work out a detailed treatment plan. The plan will identify problems, goals, and details about how to address the problems and reach the goals. That plan will be carried out by a team of trained individuals that can include a social worker, counselor, doctors, nurses, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other professional.