Question from a reader:
I can’t stop drinking and need help. How do hospitals help alcoholics to detox? Anyone have any experience to share? What should I expect if I try to use one of their programs?
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What Detox Programs Do Hospitals Offer for Alcohol Addiction?
This entry was posted in Addiction and Substance Abuse, Questions about Health and tagged Addiction, Alcoholism, Hospital, Substance Abuse. Bookmark the permalink.
IN the ER and on standard hospital floors we have a scale used to tell what level of detox a patient is going through and what medication and amount is needed to help. The CIWA scale measures a variety of indicators such as nausea/vomiting (including frequency and severity), pulse, blood pressure, tactile disturbances (pins and needles feelings), tremor severity, visual and auditory disturbances, sweating, anxiety, agitation, light sensitivity, headache, level of orientation/disorientation, etc. These can be observed by the nurse and/or reported by the patient. Based on these assessment, the patient is given a score. That score indicates what and how much medication is needed for the patient and how soon the patient needs to be reassessed, depending on if the score is rising, falling or remaining constant.
The generalized idea is to control the symptoms of withdrawl from the start, while they are manageable before the patient experience severe symptoms of withdrawl that can possible lead to seizures, suffering, pain and even death.
Find a treatment center and get the help you need.
Listen…stopping drinking suddenly after a long period of drinking can lead to severe alcohol withdrawals. This includes DT’s, tremors, seizures, and in some cases Death!! Detox is a good way to wean yourself off Alcohol using medications that help with all the withdrawl symptoms, and safely detox your system of any alcohol. That is just the first step in recovery! So if I were you…I would strongly suggest an inpatient rehab, or atleast a outpatient treatment center, combinded with daily AA meetings. Just want to let you know…Alcohol is just a symptom of the bigger problem….take it from me….a recovering Alcoholic…
You will be admitted to the hospital and prescribed sedatives to help with the withdrawal symptoms and to help you sleep etc. Your vital signs will be closely monitored so that you don’t suffer a seizure-depending on the amount you have been drinking daily. A detox will be 2 or 3 to 10 days or so, depending on your condition, amount of use, etc.
Someone at the hospital will have information about meeting schedules. I highly recommend you attend one when you get out. Don’t worry-it likely won’t be a bunch of homeless people, but doctors, lawyers, clergy, housewives,businesspeople, etc.
Alcohol detoxification, or detox, for individuals with alcohol dependence, is the abrupt cessation of alcohol intake coupled with the substitution of alcohol with cross-tolerant drugs that have similar effects in order to prevent alcohol withdrawal. Detoxification may or may not be necessary depending upon an individual’s age, medical status, and history of alcohol intake.
In conclusion, alcohol detoxification can effectively prepare the addicted abuser for rehabilitation and treatment.