Do I Need Medical Detox for Alcohol
Alcohol is a socially acceptable psychoactive substance to consume. Its use across the US is widespread with more than two-thirds of those surveyed in the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (found here) saying they had drunk in the last year. Additionally abusing alcohol is also much more common than any other drug. In the same survey, 25.8 percent of people reported binge drinking in the last month and 6.3 percent reported consistent heavy alcohol use in the last month.
Alcohol misuse can have dangerous and even life-threatening consequences. One of the long-term risks of drinking is developing a substance abuse disorder. Once you have developed this it is very difficult to quit because once you are dependent on alcohol you experience extremely unpleasant and potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking.
In the US, 14.5 million people who are twelve or older had an alcohol use disorder in 2019. However, only ten percent of people who had one in the last year got any treatment. We will discuss alcohol use, what happens when you quit, and therefore whether you should undergo medical detox.
What is Alcohol?
Alcohol is a psychoactive drug that depresses the central nervous system. It does this by increasing the release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. This results in sedation and impaired memory and sensation. Alcohol also increases the activity of dopamine and naturally produced opioids which leads to increased happiness and reduced anxiety.
Alcohol Dependence and Addiction
Consistent alcohol abuse increases your chance of developing alcohol dependence and addiction. Many people will start drinking socially when they are teenagers. This behavior is normalized and tends to be accepted and even preferred for those in their late teens and early twenties. It is particularly common for college students to drink heavily. Most people will reduce their alcohol consumption as they move into adulthood, however, for others it is not so easy. There are risk factors that make you more likely to because addicted to alcohol which we will discuss later.
The more you drink alcohol the greater the risk that you develop dependence. The brain adapts to alcohol through changes in receptors which means that you need more to have the same effect. This is known as tolerance and can result in more heavy drinking. Due to drinking more heavily your risk of developing dependence increases further.
This is where the body and brain start to think that they cannot function normally without alcohol, so when you stop drinking you experience withdrawal symptoms. For alcohol, dependence can be both physical and psychological which means that you experience both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.
Addiction tends to come close behind dependence and is often confused as the same thing. Addiction is a brain disease that causes you to compulsively drink despite negative consequences. It comes with a lot of social stigma with many believing that it is caused and perpetuated by weakness and moral failing. This is a damaging belief that does not do justice to the disease. Like any disease, addiction should not be blamed on the person who is suffering from it.
Medically, the term alcohol use disorder is used for diagnosis and includes alcohol misuse and dependence. It is defined as alcohol-related problems which repeat in at least two of eleven areas of life. Alcohol use disorders affect about fifteen percent of people in Western societies.
Risk Factors for Addiction
- Family history of addiction – genetics, and exposure to and normalization of alcohol use
- Mental health – it is common to use alcohol to self-medicate for a mental health condition
- Previous substance use disorder
- Childhood trauma such as that caused by neglect and abuse
Signs of Addiction
It can be difficult to accept that you or a loved one has an alcohol use disorder because there is so much stigma surrounding it. It is useful to understand the signs of addiction so that you can come to terms with drinking problems and get help if needed.
You may be able to recognize physical and psychological signs of an alcohol use disorder, but behavioral signs are generally easier to spot as people tend to hide symptoms of alcohol addiction as much as possible. Common symptoms include:
- Withdrawing from loved ones
- Secretiveness
- Poorer performance at school or work
- Continuing to drink despite negative consequences
- Lack of interest in once enjoyed activities
- Avoiding responsibilities
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Misuse
Long-term alcohol use significantly impacts your health and life expectancy. An alcohol use disorder can decrease your life span by a decade. One of the biggest causes of alcohol-related deaths is liver damage. There are stages to alcohol-related liver damage the final of which is cirrhosis. Once this has developed it generally cannot be reversed and if you do not quit when you are diagnosed there is less than a fifty percent chance of living for five or more years.
Other long-term consequences of alcohol misuse include:
- heart disease
- memory problems
- mood disorders
- increased risk of cancer and stroke
- and worsening symptoms or inducement of mental health conditions.
Alcohol Withdrawal
As mentioned, when someone who has an alcohol dependence stops drinking, they experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These can be extremely unpleasant and even life-threatening symptoms. While they vary from person to person, we list some common symptoms below.
Physical Symptoms
- Headaches
- Rapid heartbeat
- Increased respiration, blood pressure, and body temperature
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle aches and pains
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Seizures
Psychological Symptoms
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Hallucinations
- Alcohol cravings
- Delirium tremens
Delirium tremens is one of the most severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and occurs in about three to five percent of those who are hospitalized for alcohol withdrawal. It is usually experienced by those who drink most heavily. The main symptoms of delirium tremens are agitation, confusion, hallucinations, nightmares, and seizures. It is fatal in about one to four percent of those who experience it, and they typically die due to cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, hyperthermia, or comorbid medical disorders.
Withdrawal Timeline
Withdrawal symptoms start when the alcohol in your blood drops below what is normal for you. The timeline varies depending on who you are, but a rough idea follows:
Six to twelve hours – symptoms typically start within six to twelve hours from your last drink. Common initial symptoms are anxiety, headaches, sleep problems, and nausea.
Twelve to forty-eight hours – from twelve to forty-eight hours you start to experience more intense withdrawal symptoms which can include hallucinations and seizures.
Forty-eight to seventy-two hours – from forty-eight to seventy-two hours symptoms usually peak and can include increased heart rate and blood pressure, confusion, fever, and delirium tremens. This is the most dangerous stage of alcohol withdrawal.
Five to seven days – after the most severe stage, symptoms start to reduce. Most people’s symptoms will have reduced drastically by five to seven days. These stages are known as acute withdrawal. For many, this will be the end of symptoms, though you may continue to experience cravings after this.
Post-acute withdrawal symptoms – some people will experience post-acute withdrawal syndrome which includes symptoms of anxiety, depression, and alcohol cravings. This can last for weeks and even months after your last drink. It is therefore important to continue receiving treatment to help you deal with these symptoms and to reduce your chances of relapsing. You are more likely to experience post-acute withdrawal symptoms and more severe withdrawal symptoms if you are a heavy drinker, drinking frequently and heavily.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Getting treatment for an alcohol use disorder can be difficult due to the stigma that surrounds it. It can be hard to admit that you have a problem because there may be judgment associated with it. It is also difficult because your body and brain do not want you to stop.
Alcohol Detox
The first step of quitting is to detox from alcohol. This is where you stop consuming alcohol so that your blood alcohol levels reach zero and the toxins leave your body. The detox process is different for everyone and depends on factors such as how heavily and frequently you drink, your weight, age, sex, and mental and physical health. There are different options when thinking about alcohol use treatment.
Cold turkey vs tapering
Cold turkey is where you quit in one go without decreasing the amount of alcohol you drink first. With this method, you do not use replacement drugs to ease withdrawal symptoms. Since withdrawing from alcohol is one of the most dangerous withdrawal processes of any drug, quitting cold turkey is not recommended due to not alleviating withdrawal symptoms.
The more common way to quit is by tapering. This is where you gradually reduce how much alcohol you drink until you are free from it. It is also common to use substitute drugs to ease withdrawal symptoms. Benzodiazepines are commonly used because, like alcohol, they increase the activity of GABA. By using them your brain does not experience such a shock from the lack of its usual amount of alcohol. However, benzodiazepines also carry a significant risk of dependence and addiction so they should not be used for more than two to four weeks.
Inpatient vs outpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment is where you undergo treatment in a treatment center. This allows you to receive twenty-four-hour medical supervision to manage your withdrawal symptoms. Treatment programs typically last up to six weeks but you can also undergo much longer care, even up to one or two years.
Outpatient treatment is where you undergo detox at home, visiting a treatment facility only during the day. This method still allows you to receive medication and advice from medical professionals, but you will not receive twenty-four-hour observation to manage your withdrawal symptoms. However, there is typically there a twenty-four-hour helpline available if you do experience any problems.
Since alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous and even fatal, it is recommended to receive inpatient treatment. This is the safest way to detox as your symptoms can be managed as they occur. You may need changes in medication throughout the process or psychological support due to depression and cravings.
Aftercare
Detox is not the end of the recovery journey. While you will not be drinking alcohol, you still need to deal with the initial reasons for drinking and triggers which could cause you to relapse. Most treatment facilities will offer you aftercare once you have completed detox. In this, you will receive continued support through options such as cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, and support groups. This can help you to make changes in your life to increase your chances of staying sober.
So, Do I Need Medical Detox?
Ultimately you should get professional medical advice about whether you require medical detox. The chances are that if you have developed dependence, medical detox will be the safest way for you to quit. If you have milder alcohol problems, such as frequently taking part in problematic drinking, but you have not yet developed dependence, you might not require this.
Get Help Today
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, less than ten percent of people with an alcohol use disorder receive treatment. At Ebb Tide, we understand that seeking help for a drug and alcohol addiction can be extremely difficult. We offer a treatment program suited to your individual needs because the recovery journey is different for everyone.
Our treatments include:
- cognitive behavioral therapy
- dialectical behavioral therapy
- acceptance and commitment therapy
- physical activities such as gym workouts, yoga, swimming, volleyball, and basketball
- balanced and nutritious meals
- and aftercare
If you would like further information about treatment at Ebb Tide or if you are already ready to start the treatment process with us, please visit our website or call us on 561-508-8330.