Alcohol Detox for Adolescents and Young Adults

In years past, it was relatively uncommon that a young person would have to go through alcohol detox. The detoxification process is made necessary when there has been a prolonged build-up of alcohol in the body, so that when the addict stops drinking, withdrawal symptoms result. This is usually the result of years of heavy drinking.

Unfortunately, there has been a marked increase in binge drinking among adolescents and young adults. An isolated instance of binge drinking, such as the 21st birthday, when the celebrant is urged to consume 21 shots, is extremely dangerous, with a high risk of alcohol poisoning. However, repeated binge drinking, such as the nearly weekly parties on college campuses, can result in a young person having the same need for alcohol detox as someone who has been a confirmed alcoholic for decades.

Young people think they’re invulnerable, and a binge drinker who has become addicted at an early age might well be in denial about the need for treatment. In such a case, an intervention might be appropriate.

Staging an Intervention to Get Someone into Alcohol Detox

Getting the alcoholic into treatment is the sole purpose of an intervention. Promises to stop drinking won’t do. It’s imperative that the person staging the intervention meet first with an intervention expert. This expert will help everyone involved understand what their roles are, and will probably rehearse the intervention with you. You will also need to have made all arrangements for the alcoholic’s immediate entry into treatment, so finances and transportation need to be worked out in advance.

Our website has a list of intervention experts that you can use as a resource. Look for it under “Key Links” on our home page.

Alcohol depresses the Central Nervous System (CNS), which has a central role in the coordination of activity and control of behavior. This is why excessive alcohol intake results in impaired judgment, movement and behavior. Ceasing the presence of alcohol by going “cold turkey” after a prolonged period of drinking can cause the CNS to rebound too quickly, resulting in anxiety, nervousness, tremors, shakes and life-threatening seizures. Alcohol detox should always be medically supervised in order to ensure a safe withdrawal.

The process of going through alcohol detox results in a variety of symptoms that range from mild to severe. Mild withdrawal symptoms include typical hangover symptoms of headache, nausea, vomiting, perspiration, restlessness, agitation, loss of appetite and insomnia. But for the alcoholic who has been drinking heavily and consistently for a long period of time, severe withdrawal symptoms can include night sweats, night terrors, auditory or visual hallucinations, convulsions and the DTs (dilirium tremens). Fear of alcohol detox and the accompanying symptoms keeps many alcoholics drinking long after they know they need to stop. There are three types of alcohol detox available:

Cold Turkey

Cold turkey derived its name from the goose bumps that arise during the process of withdrawal from alcohol, drugs or nicotine.  You just stop drinking alcohol and white knuckle through the withdrawal symptoms as they come. It’s estimated that 1 in 4 people are at risk for a seizure if they choose to go cold turkey rather than receive medical care during alcohol detox.

Medical Detox

The safest form of alcohol detox is a medical detox. Individuals receive mild prescription medication to help ease them through the most dangerous phase of alcohol detox where the potential for seizure is greatest. Hospitals or drug rehab centers state-licensed for medical detox offer these services. Individuals undergoing medical detox receive medication in tapering amounts until their body is physically stabilized and they are able to enter an inpatient alcohol rehab program. This is the most prevalent and comfortable form of alcohol detox available.

NeuroTransmiter Restoration Therapy (NTR)

NeuroTransmiter Restoration Therapy (NTR) is a relatively new alcohol detox process offered by only a few select drug and alcohol rehabs in the United States. NTR utilizes an all-natural amino acid and mineral solution that coats the brain’s neurotransmitter receptor sites where most of the damage from drug and alcohol abuse occurs. This process stimulates the body’s cells to shift into repair mode, easing withdrawal symptoms, cravings and the fogginess that can accompany alcohol detox. In spite of its benefits, NTR is generally combined with medical detox as prescription medication is often necessary to ease alcoholic individuals past the danger stage when life-threatening convulsions can occur.

Living with alcohol abuse can be difficult and scary. If you’ve been drinking for a long time, you will probably be living with not only the effects of alcohol abuse, but will need an alcohol detox because of the physical addiction.

When you decide that you’ve had enough and want to kick the addiction, you’ll want to get a medical checkup so that your doctor can determine what you need in your alcohol detox program. Don’t neglect this and go cold turkey without medical supervision! Alcohol detox symptoms can be severe and quite uncomfortable. Symptoms include: insomnia, anxiety, nausea or vomiting, sweating or rapid pulse, increased hand tremors, various sorts of hallucinations, and in extreme cases Grand Mal Seizures. The withdrawal process can last seven to ten days, and with these unpleasant side affects, it is important to go through alcohol detox with medical supervision. A doctor can prescribe the detox medication that can counter the symptoms, making the process more comfortable and safer.

After going through an alcohol detox center, you’ll start to feel better physically and will need to go through counseling. You’ll want to develop coping mechanisms to help you learn how to live sober and not re-addict yourself. Remember how it felt to go through detox? You don’t want to ever go through that twice!

Medical Supervision is Needed in Alcohol Detox

When you’re going through an alcohol detox, make sure you have a doctor taking care of you. A doctor who is experienced in substance abuse problems will be able to help make you comfortable while you’re going through detox and will know of any dangers signs you need to look for while you’re breaking your addiction. But once you’ve gone through it, the healthy life you will be able to lead is amazing. Be ready for a change that will be worth it all.