Alcohol Detox
10/12/2009
Alcohol detox refers to a process of safely stopping drinking regular large amounts of alcohol. An alcoholic or someone who is dependent on alcohol will experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking, and in some cases these can be serious, even fatal.
An alcohol detox minimizes the risk of complications from alcohol withdrawal occurring and prevents relapse to alcohol use during the first few days.
Detox for alcohol usually involves the prescription of medication to replace the effect of alcohol on the brain or body. One type of medication is sedative medication. Other medication prescribed during an alcohol detox is to control alcohol withdrawal symptoms as they occur and to replace vitamin deficiencies which have built up over the years of drinking.
Detox is not a cure for alcoholism. But it is often the first stage of alcoholism treatment. After alcohol detox, the person must learn the skills to avoid relapse to alcohol use and this is best achieved through alcohol rehab or rehabilitation which involved counselling of some kind.
"You're the best! I just finished rehab :)" 