Alcoholism is a disease and as with any disease medical treatment is necessary for successful recovery. Being an alcoholic consumes a person’s entire life, often they damage their relationships, have trouble with employment and they are sometimes even a danger to the community they live in.
Alcohol detoxification is a medical intervention that involves counseling and other treatments to help addicts overcome their addiction. Many people are unaware of the fact that people who are addicted to alcohol often experience physical symptoms of withdrawal when they stop drinking. The first goal of any alcohol detox program is to relieve the symptoms caused by alcohol withdrawal and monitor the patient and a safe environment with trained medical staff. Patients in alcohol detox may experience some physical withdrawal symptoms like sweating, nausea, tremors, vomiting, and anxiety. The possible of serious medical complications like seizures or convulsions are also there, which is why it is essential to detox in a medically equipped and staffed environment. The next step in treatment for alcoholics in detox is determining whether or not they need to be in an inpatient treatment facility. Although you will receive a certain amount of counseling while in detox, generally it is a good idea to continue forward with an inpatient program. However, if that is not possible an outpatient program can be set up through your alcohol detox center. It is also helpful after rehab for patients to attend 12 step meetings at a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous. These groups are free and they have meetings all the time.