Alcohol Detox and Treatment

We Can Help You Detox From Alcohol

If you or a loved one have been struggling with alcoholism and it’s gotten to the point where their mental and physical well-being has worsened, it’s time to receive help from an alcohol rehab.

It may not be surprising to learn that alcoholism is one of the most common forms of addiction out there, despite all we hear in the media about opioids, meth, and other drugs. But did you know that less than 1 out of every 10 people struggling with alcoholism were reported to have received treatment at a specialized AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder) facility?

Not being treated for alcoholism can cause severe consequences. Alcohol use increases the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome in babies born to mothers who drink, increases the risk of liver disease and cirrhosis, and can lead to death.

Because drinking alcohol is normalized for younger adults, during the holidays, and even drinking casually during the week, it can seem impossible to recover when the temptation to drink is everywhere. 

What is Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a medical condition where alcohol use becomes problematic and causes extreme distress. Depending on your symptoms, the condition can be mild, moderate, or severe. Also, depending on your symptoms and diagnosed condition is your care and treatment plan. When it comes to treating AUD, each person has different needs.

Some individuals with an AUD diagnosis are dependent on alcohol and experience intense withdrawal symptoms if they were to stop drinking alcohol all at once, or cold turkey. Withdrawal symptoms affect your mind and body. Both can be uncomfortable and even dangerous. This is where clinical alcohol detox is beneficial.

Alcoholism and Withdrawal Facts and Statistics

Most people are well aware of the fact it can be hazardous to consume an excessive amount of alcohol. However, it can be eye-opening to become familiar with some alcoholism facts and statistics.

• Over 86 percent of U.S. adults have drunk alcohol at least once.
• Just over 55 percent of adults say they have drunk alcohol within the past month.
• Over 70 percent of adults consumed alcohol within the last year.
• Nearly 27 percent of adults have participated in binge drinking.
• 7 percent of adults report they’ve engaged in heavy drinking in the past 30 days.
• In 2015, over 15 million U.S. adults had an alcohol use disorder, which includes nearly 10 million men and over 5 million women.
• In the same year, only 1.3 million adults obtained treatment for an alcohol use disorder.
• During the same year, 623,000 teenagers between 12 and 17 years old suffered with alcoholism, but only 37,000 received alcohol addiction treatment.
• Nearly 90,000 individuals die of alcohol-related causes annually—nearly 10,000 of them were alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, which 31 percent of all driving deaths.
• As such, alcohol is the fourth leading cause of death (that is preventable) in the U.S.
• Over 10 percent of U.S. children live with a parent who has an alcohol problem.

As you can imagine, alcohol addiction is a major problem not being addressed properly. Alcohol is considered a substance that is relatively safe and socially acceptable. Generally, people don’t think twice before they take a drink of alcohol. As a result, it is no wonder that alcoholism continues to rise at such a shocking rate.

What Can You Expect at an Alcohol Rehab Detox Center?

First, let's discuss the common first step at rehab for any substance, which is detox. It is important to understand that detox alone is not alcohol treatment. However, detox is the first step in leading a better life of health and freedom from alcohol dependency.

When an alcohol-dependent individual goes cold turkey with alcohol, withdrawal symptoms typically have an onset within six to 24 hours after the last alcoholic beverage is consumed. It is possible for the symptoms to remain in effect while the alcohol is still in the bloodstream.

Some individuals may only experience mild withdrawal symptoms, but for others, it can be far more severe. Some withdrawal symptoms you may experience include the following:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Problems Sleeping
• Shakiness (particularly in the hands)
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
• Delirium Tremens (DTs)
  • This is a life-threatening problem that could cause you to be upset, restless and confused. It may cause fever, hallucinations and even seizures.
• Unstable Heart Rate
• Unstable Blood Pressure

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms: Do You Need Alcohol Rehab for Detox? 

When you consider feeling “normal,” is any amount of alcohol involved? If so, there’s a good chance that you need some help in order for you to overcome addiction. Getting through any alcohol rehab program requires a significant amount of willpower, and it is never recommended cutting off all alcoholic beverages immediately without some form of medical assistance. In some cases, your life's on the line with withdrawal symptoms. Even if your withdrawal doesn’t get serious, it is a huge challenge to take on by yourself.

Our alcohol rehab program offers you support that will help you through the entire withdrawal phase, including medication to ease your withdrawal symptoms, and medical care for any mental health or medical conditions that you may have.

Withdrawal symptoms can last for a week or longer and often peak 24 to 72 hours into the process. Keeping in mind, individuals are likely to remain in alcohol rehab when they have support.

What Exactly Occurs During Addiction Recovery?

Generally, a detox problem can include the following:

• Detox: If you or a loved one is physically dependent on alcohol, the first step to receiving treatment is detoxing their body of this toxin. This will eliminate the physical need for alcohol, but the mental dependency still needs to be addressed.
• Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapies: This is where you or a loved one will learn healthy ways of coping with stress and their mental health, past trauma, etc. You can also understand their diagnosis more clearly and identify harmful thoughts that can cause addiction. Behavioral therapies are so important because they can decrease the chance of you or your loved one having a major substance abuse problem later in life.
• Family Therapy: There are many serious concerns and questions that family members have when their loved one is experiencing a drug or alcohol addiction. Is your behavior enabling, are you being codependent? What else can you do to help your loved one remain sober? These questions and concerns are addressed during family therapy sessions. Family members can be one of the most important sources of long-term recovery, and maintaining healthy relationships can be learned through this form of therapy.
• Specific Programs: Our locations have many options for you or a loved one to cater to specific needs. Therapy in exercise, like yoga, is offered at all our residential facilities. At our Taos location, we offer gender specific treatment. This can be important because in the United States, the rate of alcoholism among men is more than twice the rate of alcoholism among women. This means men might need specific treatment different to how women are treated at an alcohol rehab.

Different Types of Alcoholism Treatment Programs

There are two main options for alcohol rehab programs:

• Inpatient – This involves living at a detox clinic, hospital, or rehab center during the detox process. Throughout it all, you will have around-the-clock care.
• Outpatient – This is where you will receive treatment during the day, but you will continue living at home. In most cases, you will simply visit your health care provider on a regular basis to receive medication.

Generally, you will receive more services through the inpatient option, but it is often more expensive. Outpatient is a more affordable while still being a safe and effective option. It may be especially ideal for those with a mild to moderate alcohol problem. It’s best-suited for individuals who have been cleared mentally and physically, have a stable home, have support at home and don’t have an extended history of problematic drinking.

As long as you are not a current danger to yourself or other individuals and you have the capability of remaining sober when you are at home, other types of rehabilitation may be better-suited for you. The following are examples of alternatives to residential or inpatient treatments.

• Day Treatment or Partial Hospitalization is when you continue living at home, but you visit a clinic or hospital for treatment a minimum of five days a week.
• Intensive Outpatient Treatment consists of a series of visits that are more in-depth than traditional outpatient programs. These are often done following a detox, residential rehab, or partial hospitalization. However, it can also be a way to prevent needing those services.

How Do You Choose an Alcohol Rehab and Control Your Drinking?

When you are ready to choose an alcohol rehab program, you will want to begin with a list of your individual needs. For instance, do you have a mental health condition or a medical issue? If so, your list should begin with that since you will need services for it. Have you struggled over the years due to not having a support network? If so, then it may make sense to opt for an inpatient program.

After you have a list of your needs, you can begin looking at the quality and cost of the programs. You want to ensure that you choose a program that you can afford, but you also need to ensure that you locate one that has trained, licensed staff and a program with a high success rate.

Here are some questions that you may want to ask about various programs:

• Are your staff members licensed? How are they trained?
• What types of insurance do you accept?
• Do you offer medical services and counseling?
• Can I see a sample treatment plan?
• How is a relapse prevented?
• Is there any type of aftercare offered when the program is completed?

Health Insurance Coverage

Generally, some services in the alcohol rehab program will be covered. It will depend on your individual health plan and the program that you choose to know exactly how much money you will be paying out of your pocket. Keep in mind your insurance company will only pay for medically necessary services. To determine what is medically necessary, the insurer will look at your individual case and determine the type of treatment for which you qualify. They will take notes from your health care provider into consideration.

Mental health care in hospitals is covered by Medicare Part A and includes alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment. Outpatient services for AUD are covered by Medicare Part B.

Ultimately, you should call your insurer and ask them what is covered. Specifically, ask about the following:

• Copays and similar costs
• Services that your particular plan covers (inpatient/outpatient rehab, detox, etc.)
• How they decide what will be covered

Help and Follow-Up Care and Recovery from Alcohol Withdrawal

Once you finish your detox and alcohol rehab, you will go back to your normal life – in the real world. This can be a tough transition, and many people relapse. To help prevent this from happening, you will want to participate in follow-up care for approximately one year. This can include anything from 12-step programs to group counseling or private therapy.

For more information about alcohol detox and rehabilitation programs, contact Shadow Mountain Recovery today.