Take Action: Find an Alcohol Detox Center

According to the twelve-step model used by Alcoholics Anonymous, the first step alcoholics must take on the road to recovery is to admit that they can no longer control their drinking. This is true no matter what type of treatment model you choose. Once you have come to that realization, it’s time to take action and find an alcohol detox center. Alcoholism has both physical and psychological aspects, and it is usually necessary to get the alcohol out of your bloodstream and get over the short-term physical issues before psychological elements can be addressed.

Alcohol withdrawal results when a habitual drinker stops drinking abruptly. Symptoms increase in severity with the amount of alcohol consumed, but withdrawal can occur no matter how much you habitually drink. Symptoms include tremors, anxiety attacks, fatigue, headache, excessive sweating, rapid heart rate, nausea, fever, delirium and convulsions. Liver failure, dehydration and internal bleeding are manifestations that can be fatal. Withdrawal usually starts from 5 to 10 hours after the last drink, but may occur as much as a week to 10 days later.

At an alcohol detox center, the patient will be kept under constant observation, and usually will be given fluids intravenously. If symptoms are severe, the patient may be kept under sedation until the worst of the withdrawal has passed. The patient will be tested for medical problems related to alcoholism, such as liver disease, malnutrition, heart disorders, brain disorders, blood clotting disorders and nerve damage, and treated as necessary.

Find an Alcohol Detox Center Now

At SoberRecovery.com, we maintain a list of alcohol detox centers that you can use as a resource. All of the treatment centers on our list are reputable facilities, and you can use our filters to find one near you. The sooner you get yourself to an alcohol detox center, the sooner you can begin your recovery.