Most insurance plans will cover either all or a portion of the treatment.
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SUD treatment executive, national news contributor & keynote speaker.
Navigation:
- Overview
- Why Do I Need Alcohol Detox?
- Common Physical, Psychological and Behavioral Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
- What Happens In Alcohol Detox?
- Pros and Cons of Outpatient Alcohol Detox
- What Type of Alcohol Detox is Right for Me or My Loved One?
- Does Insurance Cover Alcohol Detox?
- Find Alcohol Detox Centers
Overview
It’s easy to dismiss your or your loved one’s problematic drinking as an isolated incident, to tell yourself that it was just one or two bad nights, or that it was just relieving stress or blowing off steam. You may even genuinely believe that you’re in control of your alcohol use, but eventually, the cravings and withdrawal symptoms become impossible to ignore.
Because alcohol is legal and so many people engage in social drinking, the lines often get blurred between what’s acceptable and what’s excessive. After a while, however, your body lets you know just how dependent it’s become on alcohol, and by then it may be too late to stop on your own. When you or your loved one’s alcohol use has escalated to the point of dependency, you need expert medically supervised detoxification and withdrawal management to help you safely get past your acute physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.
Why Do I Need Alcohol Detox?
Alcohol detox becomes necessary when the body and brain can’t function properly without a constant and escalating pattern of drinking–this is called dependency. It occurs when specific areas in the brain, specifically the ventral striatum and nucleus accumbens are flooded with dopamine triggered from drinking. This dopamine surge is a key factor in the reinforcing effects of alcohol and the development of addiction. When alcohol use suddenly ceases after a prolonged and untreated period of heavy drinking, it usually leads to physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms that can range from mild to life-threatening.
Common Physical, Psychological and Behavioral Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms are one of the primary indicators of dependency. They mean that, even though you may intellectually “want” to stop, changes in your neurochemistry and central nervous system have caused your brain to tell your body you need alcohol to function properly. These effects impact the brain and body, and can even play out in behavior and relationships with loved ones.
Common Physical and Psychological Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Headache and Migraine
- Nausea, Vomiting, and Diarrhea
- Delirium Tremens (DTs)
- Muscle and Joint Pain
- Sensitivity to Light and Sound
- Anxiety and Irritability
- Sensitivity to Light
- Paranoia and Mood Swings
- Excessive Sweating
- Fever and Flu-Like Symptoms
A person who is in the throes of alcohol withdrawal may also become angry and even confrontational, depending on the severity of the symptoms they’re experiencing.
Withdrawal should be handled by an experienced and qualified medical professional who is equipped to minimize these symptoms and also knows what to do in the event of a medical emergency, such as cardiac problems or seizures.
What Happens In Alcohol Detox?
The actual detox experience depends on what kind of detox process patients are going through, as well as their previous medical history and ongoing care needs. While outpatient detox options are available for milder withdrawal symptomology, inpatient detox is usually preferable because it helps ensure round-the-clock help, experienced doctors and nurses, and
Inpatient alcohol detox typically lasts around three days to a week and is best administered in a residential treatment facility. Patients are monitored closely by medical staff as the blood-alcohol concentration levels naturally decrease. Patients may be given certain types of medications, such as Acamprosate, antiadrenergic agents, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and other medications to assist in detoxification.
Pros and Cons of Outpatient Alcohol Detox
The reality of alcohol detox is that it can be an uncomfortable process, and people are never their “best selves” as they’re going through withdrawal. To that end, it’s natural for them to gravitate toward the comfort and privacy of their own home while they purge their system of alcohol-related toxins.
For the right patient, outpatient detox may have some advantages, such as:
- A Lower Cost for Detox
- Privacy and Familiarity of Surroundings
- Comfort of Home
- Flexibility to Stay at Home
- Being Able to Work and Take Care of Your Other Responsibilities
There are also, however, some very real disadvantages and dangers, including:
- Lack of Consistent Physician Oversight
- Limited Accountability and Real-Time Support
- Greater Risk of Relapse
- Delayed Response to Emergencies
Outpatient detoxification treatment generally requires patients to travel to a hospital or other facility for therapy each day. Assessments typically take around one to two hours and include intake history, physical examination, and lab tests when applicable. The first session of detox treatment usually lasts two hours, with subsequent sessions ranging from about 15 to 30 minutes. Outpatient detox may be combined with hospital care, in which case sessions may last considerably longer, depending on progress and ongoing care needs.
What Type of Alcohol Detox is Right for Me or My Loved One?
Each person’s detox needs and journey are unique. This includes how long their program will last, its exact clinical programming, and whether outpatient or inpatient care should be administered.
When considering which type of detox program to pursue, it may help to ask yourself the following questions:
- Have I tried outpatient detox before? If so, inpatient detox may be the best option.
- How bad are my withdrawal symptoms?
- What do I have to do to enter an inpatient program?
- Do I have any serious alcohol-related health complications? If so, inpatient detox may be necessary.
It’s important to realize that the alcohol detox is, by all accounts, a medical procedure and that the withdrawal process can often lead to serious illness that should be managed by a doctor. To that end, it’s generally advisable to seek inpatient treatment whenever possible.
Does Insurance Cover Alcohol Detox?
Yes, detox is generally covered, at least partially, by private insurance and Medicaid. The exact scope of coverage will depend on plan type, so it’s important to have the facility you’re considering conduct a full insurance verification to let you know how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket. Whether you choose inpatient or outpatient alcohol detox, the most important thing is to get help.
Following the alcohol detox process, behavioral rehabilitation is generally recommended to address the psychological causes and triggers of alcohol dependency. This can also be done on an inpatient or outpatient basis.
Find Alcohol Detox Centers
Alcohol detox is the first step toward complete recovery and we want to help you start your treatment now. Use our directory to find a rehab center that administers alcohol detoxification.
