Palo Alto Substance Abuse Treatment

11 Advantages of Supervised Alcohol Detox

When struggling with an alcohol use disorder, quitting drinking is much more complex than simply using willpower and putting down the beer, contrary to what many people may think. It is unsafe to quit cold turkey, especially if you have been drinking in large amounts, or drinking regularly, even just one or two drinks a day, for a long time. If you have quit before and have experienced the symptoms of delirium tremens, it is even more dangerous to your health. For this reason, seeking help in a safe at a Palo Alto substance abuse treatment center is important if you want to stop drinking.

What Happens During Alcohol Withdrawal?

Alcohol addiction changes your brain chemistry, causing withdrawal symptoms when you quit that can range from extremely uncomfortable to life-threatening in a flash, so detoxing at home is never a good idea.

Contact Resurgence Behavioral Health at (855) 458-0050 to learn about our addiction treatment services to begin your recovery journey today.

Alcohol withdrawal includes symptoms like:

• Headache
• Tremors and shaking
• Uncontrollable sweating
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Brain fog
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Increased heart rate
• Nightmares and insomnia
• High blood pressure
• Alcohol cravings

Many people with an alcohol addiction will dread quitting because they know how uncomfortable it will feel and will choose to continue drinking rather than go through this experience. A medical detox program during Palo Alto substance abuse treatment can provide you with the care and treatments you need to avoid the worst parts of withdrawal, like aches and pains, restlessness, and anxiety, so you do not suffer as your body begins the process of cleansing your system of toxins.

Your alcohol detox center should conduct an assessment to determine what you need to stay healthy, safe, and comfortable during detox, matching your treatment to your needs as you heal and begin the first step down your path to sobriety.

Alcohol detox is a personal experience that affects everybody differently. Some factors that may make it more severe include:

• Health issues like dehydration, brain lesions, abnormal liver function, and low platelet counts
• Having a history of long-term drinking or heavy drinking
• Having a history of delirium tremens or seizures during detox
• Being of an older age while detoxing
• People who have a mental health disorder, mental illness, or PTSD may require a dual diagnosis program, with mental health care provided at the same time as addiction treatment, so you can begin to get both issues under control at the same time. This may include therapy and psychiatric medications.

Is Alcohol Withdrawal Dangerous?

Yes, alcohol withdrawal can become dangerous, which is why alcohol detox in Palo Alto is so important. Serious symptoms that come with alcohol detox can turn deadly if they are left untreated by medical professionals. If you have a serious addiction to alcohol, you are at risk of developing delirium tremens, sometimes known as “the DTs,” a set of dangerous withdrawal symptoms like:

• Confusion
• Agitation
• High fever
• Tactile, visual, and auditory hallucinations
• Seizures

These symptoms can lead to death if untreated inside a medical facility, which is why it is important to detox inside a professional, licensed treatment center. In medical detox at Resurgence Behavioral Health, our medical team will be there day and night to ensure you are safe and healthy, and your detox is going to plan. They may prescribe prescription medications including pain relief, muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines, and anticonvulsant medications as needed.

We use a trauma-informed approach to treatment, counseling, and holistic methods to keep you safe, comfortable, and healthy as your body recovers. After your initial detox has been completed, you may also enter a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program as you begin rehab, with longer-term prescriptions for medications like:

• Naltrexone, which blocks the relaxing and positive feelings alcohol provides
• Vivitrol, which is an injectable form of Naltrexone
• Disulfiram, which causes unpleasant symptoms, making you feel extremely sick if you drink alcohol, and is used to reinforce abstinence from alcohol after detox

Because of the extreme danger alcohol withdrawal can put you in, even if you are unsure whether you are a heavy drinker, it is better to seek assistance. Just to be safe, consider going to a safe and sober detox center, such as those offered by prescription drug rehab Chicago, to ensure you have the medical and therapeutic support needed during this critical period.

Palo Alto Substance Abuse Treatment Center: 11 Advantages of Alcohol Detox in a Treatment Center

Some advantages to detoxing in a Palo Alto substance abuse treatment center are:

1. Having a full assessment that will let you know the extent of your alcoholism and what treatments will best help you overcome your addiction
2. 24-hour round-the-clock medical supervision, with medical professionals there for you day and night
3. Prescription medications to ease suffering from withdrawal symptoms
4. MAT programs for longer-term sobriety maintenance
5. Counseling will be provided to help you deal with the emotions and painful thoughts that may surface as you go through this difficult process
6. Supportive services like treatment for dehydration and medical care are provided
7. Being surrounded by a supportive community of helpful doctors, therapists, nurses, counselors, and peers so you never feel lost or alone in the treatment
8. Dual diagnosis treatments to help address mental health concerns
9. A comfortable and safe place to rest while your body recovers
10. Being away from easily accessed alcohol prevents immediate relapse
11. An easy transition directly into an appropriate level of care, whether that is inpatient rehab, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient rehab

What’s the Next Step After Alcohol Detox

Detox is only the first step down the road to recovery. You should transition right into the next level of care, usually inpatient rehab after detoxing. Rehab is crucial because addiction is a complex disease of the brain that affects how you think and act, and it does not go away simply because the alcohol is out of your system.

To treat a substance use disorder, you will need behavioral health care, individual therapy, group therapy, and a variety of other holistic treatments designed to help you address the underlying causes of addiction and overcome symptoms of relapse. In rehab you will gain new recovery skills and relapse prevention tools that will last you a lifetime, helping you stay sober even in those difficult moments of weakness months or years down the road. You will also develop a new sober community and learn where to find caring support when needed.

Palo Alto Substance Abuse Treatment Center: Call Resurgence to Get Help With Alcohol Detox

Resurgence Behavioral Health is a supportive, safe place to come for alcohol detox. Palo Alto residents can come to us for high-end treatment options from accredited, licensed doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors. You can count on our team to keep you safe and comfortable while making you feel welcome in our inpatient detox center.

We will assess your history, including your medical and psychiatric background, and evaluate the amount of alcohol you consume and other related factors to create the perfect detox and subsequent rehab plan for your unique needs.

After detox, we offer the full continuum of care, leading from inpatient residential rehab programs to partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs and beyond into aftercare for the long term. We also have an active alumni group, connections to sober living homes, and 12-step programs, ensuring you will always have a sober community to turn to.

If you are considering alcohol detox but are unsure where to start, please call Resurgence Behavioral Health today at (855) 458-0050 and we can verify insurance coverage for you and give you some options. We are here for you and can ensure you get the help you need to stop drinking safely.

Melissa Ramirez
Blue Interactive Agency

Research | Editorial