Friday, December 16, 2011

What Is Alcohol Detoxification

Are you an alcoholic who has ultimately decided to be sober? Do you know of a special person who has lapsed into the clutches of alcoholism and in desperate need of help? Then enroll yourself or your loved one in one of the professional alcohol rehab centers in your place.

After registering in an alcohol rehab center, the first thing that is typically done in any program is alcohol detoxification, or detox, in short. Detoxification is the complete termination of alcohol intake by taking cross-tolerant drugs that counteract the effects of alcohol withdrawal. Therefore, the term "detoxification" is not really accurate since the drugs do not actually get rid the toxic substances from the body.

Many drugs are used by alcohol rehab centers in order to help an alcoholic cope up with withdrawal symptoms. Drugs such as chonidine, benzodaizeopine, haloperidol, and beta blockers are normally introduced to slowly ease withdrawal pains. Dosage of these medicines must be strictly monitored for a safe withdrawal.

During the first few days of detoxification, a patient may need some sort of intervention before complete withdrawal from alcohol can be achieved. In most cases, patients deny that they have a problem; denial is a part of alcoholism. They won't see their drinking as a problem since the withdrawal symptoms are quelled rapidly with a drink. To substitute that drink with a detoxifying drug is not something that they will readily welcome.

An intervention may even be needed to initiate detoxification. Intervention can come in many forms: a heart-to-heart conversation with a family member, an intensive consultation with a counselor, or self-reflection. In other times, the degree of alcoholism is so great that concerned parties may have to actually use force to have him treated in a rehabilitation center.

Alcohol detoxification is not enough to cure the disease. Patients in alcohol rehab centers must undergo psychological counseling; remember that alcoholism is a psychological disease. Without continuous psychological support, a detoxified patient will most probably relapse once he gets out of the facility.

Visit Charter Day Care, one of the leading drug and alcohol rehab centers in UK.