Most detox units will use ativan for a very short period of time during the initial detox. Benzos act on the same part of the brain as alcohol and that is why alcohol and benzos of any kind are a big no no medically and why alcoholics LOVE benzos. A drink plus a benzo turns that drink into more like the effects of 3 drinks and if you take 3 benzos on top of 5 drinks you get to go soaring up the heights into oblivion and usually a black out opportunity.
Any active alcoholics should only be given benzos under direct supervision and that is the opinion of most progressive detox units.
Keep a real close on this situation....