Alcohol Detox Los Angeles: Make the Right Choice

What is Alcohol Detox?

If you or a loved one lives in California and struggles with an addiction to alcohol, you may need to go through alcohol detox in Los Angeles. The alcohol detox stage is the first step in recovery for alcoholics and those addicted to alcohol. Alcohol detox is a process for people who have consumed alcohol for long enough and consistently that their bodies have built a tolerance to it. The body can get used to the presence of alcohol, meaning that it takes more and more to feel the effects. When people stop drinking or severely reduce their alcohol intake, they may start experiencing withdrawal symptoms from going to alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

During detox, people may experience withdrawal symptoms that range from mild intensity to life-threatening. The severity of withdrawal symptoms depends largely on the severity and length of alcohol use disorder. For instance, those who have struggled with heavy drinking for years are more likely to experience serious withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures or delirium tremens. Other common symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol detox in Los Angeles include: 

• Anxiety
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Extreme hallucinations
• Disorientation
• Delirium tremens
• Seizures

Because of the seriousness of withdrawal symptoms, alcohol detox should be monitored by a medical professional in a controlled and safe environment. Alcohol detox should be supervised by a medical professional to prevent adverse reactions and ensure the patient’s safety. If alcohol detox is not done under medical supervision, there could be severe health consequences such as seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, or malnutrition.

The timeline for alcohol withdrawal will differ depending on the individual. Withdrawal symptoms can begin as little as two hours after your last drink. Although most uncomfortable and painful withdrawal symptoms subside within the first week, some mild symptoms can last for several weeks to a year. Withdrawal symptoms don’t have an exact timeline, however, this is what you can expect from the alcohol detox process:

• Withdrawal symptoms begin six to 12 hours after your last drink and can include headaches, anxiety, shaking, nausea, and irritability
• At the end of your first 24 hours in detox, symptoms may become more severe and include disorientation, hand tremors, and seizures
• Painful symptoms may continue into day two of detox and include hallucinations and panic attacks
• Symptoms may come and go for the remainder of your first week of alcohol detox
• After a week, many withdrawal symptoms will taper off 

When going through alcohol detox in Los Angeles in an inpatient rehab facility, you may be prescribed different medications to help reduce withdrawal symptoms. This is known as medically-assisted treatment (MAT). Medications help keep a person’s body chemicals in balance, which lowers the risk of complications. Medications commonly used in MAT include:

• Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are the most frequently used medication to help with alcohol detox. They work by calming your central nervous system to reduce insomnia, anxiety, and muscle spasms
• Naltrexone works by inhibiting the high feeling that alcohol may cause
• Acamprosate helps your brain begins to function normally after you quit drinking
• Disulfiram works by producing severe reactions if alcohol is consumed 

Alcohol detox is an important part of the recovery process, which can be particularly challenging for people who are dependent on alcohol and have been using it for a long period of time. While alcohol detox can be difficult, it does not have to be painful or uncomfortable — with the proper care and supervision from a qualified professional, you will be able to safely withdraw from alcohol so that you can begin your recovery.

Who Should Consider Alcohol Detox?

If you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol, it’s time to get help. Alcohol detox will help you safely withdraw from alcohol, which can be medically supervised and given under the care of a doctor. It’s important to understand that there are many different levels of treatment available, depending on your situation and needs.

Alcohol detox is a form of rehabilitation to help people detox and recover from alcohol dependence. Many people who drink too much or at the wrong times often require this process, but it can also be helpful to those who are concerned about upcoming drug tests or need to pass a test for a job, school, or any other situation where their alcohol consumption must be kept secret.

Alcohol detox is recommended for those who have consumed alcohol heavily for a period of at least two weeks and are experiencing symptoms related to withdrawal. Drinking alcohol regularly leads to tolerance, meaning you need more of the substance to get the same effect as before you started drinking. After a period of time, individuals may require large quantities of alcohol to feel intoxicated—although they may not realize this because they have adjusted their perception of intoxication, or their body recovers faster than before.

3 Things to Do to Prepare for Alcohol Detox

If you’ve ever had a drinking problem, you’ll know that alcohol detox can be a stressful time. If you’re planning to cut back on or stop drinking altogether, it’s essential to prepare your body and mind for the change. Before you admit yourself to an alcohol detox Los Angeles treatment center, here are three things to do to help you prepare for the program. 

• Assessment: this is required for the detox team to figure out what kind of support you need during your recovery journey. During the assessment, you may undergo blood work, an interview about your health and drinking history, as well as other tests to test your physical and mental health
• Detox support: detox support can include MAT for withdrawal symptoms and care for other issues that may come up during detox. The goal of this step is to help you stabilize mentally and physically
• Other recommendations by the clinic: many alcohol detox Los Angeles centers help patients transition into further addiction treatment programs to help overcome alcohol addiction

In addition to these three things, patients may prepare loved ones and their homes for their return after alcohol detox treatment. 

What Happens After Alcohol Detox?

The hard work of staying sober doesn’t stop after completing alcohol detox. Instead, consider joining an addiction treatment program to help identify your needs and offer support for sobriety. These are a few treatment options to consider: 

• Age-specific programs
• Gender-specific programs
• Inpatient treatment
• Outpatient treatment
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs)
• Trauma-informed programs
• Luxury programs

After a period of intense recovery, people have a clean slate to start over with and find a new path. Being sober gives you time to reflect on your past decisions while setting goals for the future. You are once again in control of your decisions, something many people didn’t think would ever happen.

Get Top-Rated Alcohol Detox in Los Angeles with Resurgence

We know that detox can be difficult, and we’re here to help you achieve recovery with our alcohol detox programs. Whether you’re struggling with one-time use or are addicted to alcohol, you deserve the best care possible. At Resurgence Behavioral Health in Los Angeles, we offer compassionate detox programs tailored specifically to you and your needs.

Josh Chandler
After growing up in Chicago and North Carolina, Josh chose to get help with substance use disorder and mental health in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than five years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for four years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. Josh remains passionate about the field because he understands that one phone call can alter the course of a person's life.

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