Based on data from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, nearly a full 18 million Americans abuse alcohol at one time or another. Add to this the 100,000 alcohol-related deaths each year in the United States and it becomes clear the alcohol abuse and dependence is a major problem. Alcohol is also a contributing factor to close to 50 percent of domestic traffic deaths. The commonplace nature of alcohol abuse requires innovative detox methods.
Complete detoxification is a vital component of any long-term rehabilitation program. During the process of detox, medications may be used to ease the withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms can include nausea and vomiting, anxiety and insomnia, hallucinations, intense sweating, hand tremors, and even seizures. Since these symptoms can be severe and possibly dangerous, it's important that any detox program be carefully planned and monitored by professionals. Safety and comfort are paramount in this initial step, and the Canyon's highly trained staff is expert at easing the detox process while ensuring effectiveness.
The benefit of undergoing detox treatments at the Canyon is the safe, controlled environment. Each client's detox program is individually created based on personal factors such as age, level of dependency, and underlying medical issues. With this personalized detoxification program in place, withdrawal symptoms can be carefully monitored for any unusual or dangerous problems. Residential-style detox can help ease program members into the treatment process, as it allows concurrent social contact and individual therapies.
Detox is normally a necessary step for those who have developed a physical dependency on alcohol. To become physically dependent, a person usually must consume large amounts of alcohol on a regular basis. This creates tolerance, driving the user to imbibe larger and more frequent amounts of alcohol. Those who are dependent can expect to experience withdrawal symptoms whenever alcohol is not in the system. This level of alcoholism can be hard for outsiders to detect, though, since the person experiences fewer of the behavioral signs of drinking and can often function in a seemingly normal manner. Meanwhile, the body continues to be ravaged by substance abuse, leading to conditions such as hepatitis and advanced liver disease.
Those who are suffering from a psychological addiction to alcohol can also benefit from detox before beginning a more lengthy treatment program. Anxiety and feelings of panic can accompany detox in this situation. In these cases, the amount of alcohol consumed as less important as the psychological effects of alcohol, which are what the body has grown to crave.
If you have questions about whether you or a loved one may need alcohol detox services, please reach the Canyon's call center 24 hours a day at .
Talk to someone now: