If a person drinks alcohol on a regular basis then he/she is at risk of developing dependence on alcohol. This means that the body has become so used to having alcohol in the system that if it is not there the body can't function. Alcohol detox helps the individual end this physical dependence. It should be overseen by a medical professional and is the first step in helping an alcoholic join an alcohol rehabilitation treatment program.

Alcohol detox helps to make the withdrawal symptoms more manageable. Alcohol withdrawal can actually be dangerous and is very unpleasant to go through. People who are withdrawing from alcohol can expect to have "the shakes", feel nervous and irritable, have mood swings, feel depressed. They will have physical symptoms like vomiting, sweating, loss of appetite. In severe cases alcohol withdrawal can result in seizures and hallucinations. No wonder it is recommended that this happen under medical supervision in an alcohol detox center!

Because withdrawal is so unpleasant it is one of the first hurdles in finding alcohol recovery. Detox is not treatment in itself, it only prepares the alcoholic for alcohol treatment. Detoxification (detox) can last a few days to a few weeks depending on how much alcohol the person has been drinking, how long they have been drinking, and the personal constitution of the patient. It is generally advised to alcoholics to consult with a doctor specialized in providing alcohol detox before giving up "cold turkey".

Not everybody has the same reaction to alcohol detox. Some people are able to tough it through without experiencing too many symptoms, other people require hospital care. It depends on the makeup of the individual and for how long they have been problem drinking.

Alcohol detox is the first essential step in alcohol rehabilitation. A person is unable to benefit from an alcohol treatment program until he/she can think clearly. While a person still has alcohol in his/her system he or she will experience cravings which demotivate and distract from the recovery process. Alcohol detox is a preparatory step in the path towards alcohol recovery.

People who have been drinking heavily for long periods of time are recommended to approach a medical doctor and be admitted to an alcohol detox facility. They might be expected to have severe withdrawal symptoms. People who have an existing illness or have previously failed at stopping drinking should also seriously consider an alcohol detox facility as an option. A general practitioner is able to prescribe the same medication that will be used in an alcohol detox facility but being an inpatient in a specialist unit provides extra care and safety.

It is common to prescribe vitamin B1 and folic acid to people undergoing alcohol detox. These vitamins are often in low supply in the systems of people who have been abusing alcohol. Vitamin B1 has an important role in the body and supplementing it in the early stages of alcohol rehabilitation is often performed as a precautionary measure.

We Do Recover can help you to find a world class alcohol rehab center in South Africa. We understand how difficult this illness is to beat and offer individualized assessments to help you find alcohol recovery.