Alcohol detox has become a buzzword lately, used by juice cleanses and luxury rehab clinics alike to imply a kind of vague health benefit. Its actual medical meaning is the period of adjustment as the body learns to function without alcohol – which can be nothing for a light drinker and a life-or-death situation for someone with a severe addiction.
Either way, it is one of the least understood parts of the treatment process, as anyone Googling for information will find out quickly. If alcohol detox Los Angeles is searched, half the links will talk about the luxury of the rehab and the other half will talk about the horrors of cold turkey. What neither will discuss is what actually happens during detox.
Why Alcohol Withdrawal Is Different
There are many addictive substances but few whose withdrawal is genuinely dangerous. Alcohol falls under this category along with benzodiazepines and barbiturates. The reason for this is that the nervous system essentially short-circuits after months or years of exposure to these drugs and can require medical supervision to return to normal. The range of side effects during withdrawal is very broad and can include everything from mild shaking to delirium tremens, a potentially lethal condition. The only certainty is that nobody can know in advance which one they will get, which is yet another reason why quitting cold turkey is not recommended.
What Supervised Detox Is Like
The supervised detox is less scary than it is infamous. After all, it is normal for heart rate and blood pressure to be monitored constantly. Medications can be administered to reduce discomfort and risk. Someone looks after the patient making sure they eat, drink, and rest properly. Days pass by slowly and, for many people, not unbearably – the most frightening part of detox is the idea of doing it unsupervised.
How Long Detox Lasts
Days. Detox is rarely longer than a few weeks, with most people being done with it in days. The actual length varies from person to person based on how much and how long they drank, their overall health, and their particular response to sudden loss of alcohol. The last factor often comes as a surprise to people who think that, having struggled before, they will have an easier time next time – in reality, repeated withdrawals are often much harder for the body to handle. This is why medical staff asks about your history with alcohol and other drugs during the intake procedure.
Why At-Home Detox Is Problematic
At-home detoxes fail for two reasons: first, because some of the side effects of withdrawal really do require professional medical care, and second, because the moment someone gets through the worst of it, they feel good enough to convince themselves the danger has passed. The combination of these two factors leads to a very high number of relapses among people who attempt detox at home. The reason for this is simple: when the terrible side effects of quitting are at their peak, alcohol becomes much more appealing than it ever was before.
What Detox Can and Cannot Do
Detox is not the magic cure it is sometimes advertised to be. All it really does is help the body get through the transitional period, which is why it is best combined with other forms of treatment. Detox is not a rehab, it does not help with cravings, and it does not address any of the psychological causes of addiction. In fact, people who get detox as their sole intervention are often surprised to realize how little it does on its own. It might be worth considering further treatment right about the time the detox procedures are finished. This way, you will have someone to talk to about what comes next, and what is actually needed to prevent another binge in the future.
The Important Questions to Ask
The choice of a facility is often much more limited than the choice of an actual rehab, but there are certain questions that can help distinguish between them. Ask them in advance: what kind of medical staff is available at the facility and when can they be reached? After all, the most important moment of detox is when unexpected complications arise at 3 am. Ask in advance what plans the facility has for the moment when detox is over, because places that cannot answer this question are offering a revolving door.
Conclusion: Days of Supervised Transition
Detox is much more straightforward than many alternative treatments. The main danger comes from unsupervised attempts to get through withdrawal, which is why the most responsible way to handle it is to go through a few days of supervised transition. There is no point in risking serious health issues to get to the more involved and comprehensive treatment later: with good care, most of the dangerous effects of sudden cessation can be mitigated and the body will be much happier to get through this difficult time with a little help from its friends.
