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Old 05-16-2007, 05:07 AM
  # 26 (permalink)  
steve11694
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: where the streets have no name
Posts: 1,078
Beer was on the medication list at a VA Hospital

being told it may be necessary to give alcohol to someone while enroute to detox is not secret information or advice

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below is summary of complete article (fair use) link is
http://www.jointogether.org/news/res...ithdrawal.html




Hospitals Treat Withdrawal Symptoms with Alcohol
February 7, 2003


Research Summary

Researchers in Kentucky found that two-thirds of the major teaching hospitals in the United States treat patients who are in withdrawal from alcohol dependency with alcoholic beverages, Reuters reported Feb. 4.

From a poll of 116 teaching hospitals, the researchers determined that 72 percent had dispensed alcohol to patients during the previous year. In the majority of cases, the alcohol was given to treat or prevent alcohol-withdrawal syndrome.

The researchers found that instead of treating patients with the recommended sedative drugs, the hospitals dispense beer, wine, distilled spirits, or IV-based ethanol.

"Beer was dispensed at 53 hospitals, distilled spirits at 31, wine at 25, brandy at 10, and grain alcohol at 7," according to the report.

Furthermore, at 38 hospitals, alcohol was given to patients as a "courtesy," while a few hospitals used alcohol to sedate patients or to stimulate appetites.

The researchers said that such policies are sending the message that alcohol is an effective treatment for illness. They further noted that the policies could lead to dangerous drug/alcohol interactions.

Acknowledging that sedatives like benzodiazepines may not be appropriate in all situations, lead author Dr. Richard D. Blondell of the University of Louisville in Kentucky said when alcohol is used, it should be treated as a drug.

"If we are going to use alcohol, we ought to prescribe it as a drug dosed at a specific time," Blondell said.

The study is published in the February 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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PS God forbid but should I ever need detox, please check me in where they dispense Chivas Royal Salute
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