Alcohol Detoxification Process

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• For people whose bodies have become dependent on alcohol, withdrawal symptoms can appear when they cut down or stop, and some of these symptoms can be dangerous or even life-threatening
• Medical detox keeps you safe through 24/7 monitoring, eases discomfort with medications, and can be the entry point into ongoing treatment
• Delirium tremens, the most severe form of withdrawal, occurs in about 3% to 5% of people and can begin around 2 days after the last drink
• Medications such as benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, and others are used to ease symptoms and help prevent seizures and other complications
• Laguna Treatment Center provides hospital-based medical detox in Orange County. Call any time, day or night

For heavy drinkers whose bodies have become dependent on alcohol, quitting is far harder than simply saying no to the next drink. 

Withdrawal symptoms can arise when someone tries to cut down or stop, and because dangerous, sometimes life-threatening symptoms can come on suddenly, medical detox is often recommended. 

If you or someone you love is thinking about stopping drinking, please know that help is available and that you do not have to do this alone.

Why Get Help for Alcohol Withdrawal?

There are several benefits for getting professional help from a medical detox from a Newport Beach detox when you want to get sober:

• It can keep you safe. Alcohol withdrawal is not dangerous for everyone; however, it’s not always possible to predict who will suffer severe or life-threatening symptoms.³ Being in an environment that can provide continuous monitoring and a quick response in the event of an emergency can lend you peace of mind of knowing any complications that arise will be managed.
• It may help you avoid relapse. Even symptoms that aren’t particularly dangerous can be challenging or uncomfortable to deal with alone, which can lead to a return to use. Comfort care and medications available in a medical detox program can ease your distress as you overcome dependence on alcohol.³ Should you chose to detox in an inpatient program, you’ll have the added benefit of being in a safe, substance-free environment where you won’t have alcohol nearby.
• It can be an entry point to further treatment. Though it is a vital part of recovery from alcohol use disorders, alcohol and drug detox itself does not constitute a comprehensive course of treatment; it only addresses physical alcohol dependence and not the psychosocial issues that contribute to a person’s alcohol misuse.⁶ However, while in detox, individuals often start going to therapy or meetings, which can provide a helping step on the road to recovery.³

Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal can be incredibly difficult and potentially life-threatening. Withdrawal symptoms may include:^2,3

The most severe form of alcohol withdrawal is delirium tremens, a rare and potentially life-threatening event that occurs only in about 3%–5% of those experiencing alcohol withdrawal.⁴ DTs can occur as early as 2 days into the detox process and can last up to 5 days.⁴ Symptoms of DTs include:^3,4,5

• Racing pulse.
• High blood pressure.
• Fever.
• Sensitivity to light, sound, and touch.
• Extreme agitation, excitement, or fear.
• Profound confusion.
• Hallucinations.
• Tremors.
• Seizures.*

Seizures may arise without other symptoms of delirium tremens.⁵  If seizures do occur, they generally happen with 1-2 days of the last drink. Should a second one come on, it will usually happens within 6 hours. Status epilepticus, a series of seizures that arise one after another, is a rare complication of alcohol withdrawal. ³

Risk Factors for Severe Alcohol Withdrawal

Severity varies widely. Some people have few symptoms, while others face a significant, even life-threatening, withdrawal syndrome. ³

Withdrawal from alcohol may be worse for those who:^2,3

• Have a history of very heavy alcohol use.
• Have had an alcohol use disorder for a long period of time.
• Are older.
• Have one or more comorbid medical illnesses.
• Are dependent on other depressant drugs (e.g., benzodiazepines).
• Have had alcohol withdrawal experiences in the past.
• Have a history of DTs.
• Have extreme cravings for alcohol.
• Have abnormal liver function.

If you have any of these risk factors, please talk with a physician before stopping drinking on your own.

Are You Ready for Alcohol Detox?

Excessive alcohol use can take a significant toll on your health and your life. If you’re coming to terms with alcohol’s negative impact on your life, you may be feeling ready to enter detox and get sober.

A feeling of readiness can be a benefit to you as you begin the path to sobriety. Detox is increasingly viewed as an action that should be undertaken when the patient feels ready.⁷ Motivation to enter and complete the detox process can be an important source of determination when facing withdrawal symptoms.⁸

It is important to know, however, that that you don’t always have to be 100% ready for treatment to be successful. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that unwillingness to enter treatment doesn’t necessarily correlate with treatment failure. Those who enter treatment involuntarily, due to a court order or family pressure, often have similar rates of treatment success as those who enter rehab voluntarily.⁶

The Alcohol Detox Process

Detox from alcohol can occur on either an inpatient or outpatient basis; however, inpatient detox is frequently recommended for those at risk of severe withdrawal or with a history of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms.¹

1. Assessment

Detox begins with a thorough assessment that examines the severity of symptoms, evaluates any medical or psychiatric conditions, and gauges the risk of complications. Care is then tailored to what the assessment reveals.

2. Medical Supervision

During withdrawal, medical supervision is a key safeguard. Inpatient programs like Laguna’s alcohol treatment center in Orange County provide this oversight 24/7, which can ease the mind of both the patient and their loved ones.

3. Medications

Medications may be used to relieve symptoms and prevent emergencies (detailed in the next section).

4. Continual Reassessment

Because a person’s condition can change quickly, providers perform periodic reassessments and adjust the plan as symptoms wax and wane.

Treatment for Alcohol Addiction After Detox

Many rehab programs provide a full spectrum of care wherein patients can move from detox right into inpatient rehab or outpatient therapy. In some cases, therapy is initiated before the end of detox. This can make continuing the process of recovery very easy and smooth. However, you do not need to detox in such a program to access comprehensive care. Your detox treatment providers should be able to help you to arrange another form of drug rehab care—whether inpatient or outpatient or even mutual-help groups—so you can transition to further treatment without a significant delay. Leaving detox and waiting too long to address the psychosocial aspects of treatment may leave you vulnerable to relapse when you haven’t developed the strategies and coping skills you’ll need to maintain your recovery.^1,3

Treatment for alcohol addiction beyond detox may include:⁶

• Individual counseling.
• Group therapy.
• Family therapy.
• Relapse prevention.
• Social and/or legal services.
• Vocational support.
• 12-Step (e.g., AA) or secular (e.g., Smart Recovery) peer support or mutual help groups.
• Medication-assisted treatment (medications + behavioral therapy).

Alcohol Detox at Laguna Treatment Center in Orange County

Laguna Treatment Center in Aliso Viejo is California’s first and only addiction treatment facility licensed as a chemical dependency recovery hospital, which means it is equipped to manage severe withdrawal and certain co-occurring medical conditions. 

Laguna offers hospital-based medical detox with 24/7 physician and nursing oversight, inpatient rehab, a range of evidence-based therapies, and specialized tracks, including a Veterans and first responders program and a chronic relapse program. 

The hospital is Joint Commission accredited and holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Insurance and Payment Options

Laguna accepts most commercial insurance plans. Please note that at this time, Laguna is not in-network with Medicare or Medicaid. 

You can verify coverage with carriers such as Anthem Blue Cross, Carelon, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Kaiser, UnitedHealthcare, and Optum. The admissions team can also walk you through other ways to pay for rehab.

Alcohol Detox FAQs