Action in Alcohol Detox Facilities

Here are questions you'll get answered in this hub on alcohol detox. When you are finished you'll be able to identify the situation that requires alcohol detox, and know more about the costs, length of treatment, and the potential issues a recovering alcoholic will deal with in their new life without alcohol.

Consumption of alcohol in excess accumulates toxins in the body. The toxins can be responsible for irreversible health complications. Like eating sugar is extremely dangerous for diabetic people, consuming excessive alcohol on a regular basis is extremely dangerous and can be fatal. Country singer Keith Whitley is an example of a person killed by alcohol poisoning in the late 1980's.

• Do you lose time from work because of drinking?
• Does drinking make your home life difficult?
• Do you drink alone?
• Do you drink because you are shy?
• Have you had financial problems because of drinking?
• Do you crave a drink at a specific time each day?
• Do you drink to escape troubles or worries?
• Do you drink to build up your self confidence?

There are many more questions which would indicate you need alcohol detox. If you answer two of these with "yes", or you can answer that for a friend, alcohol detox is probably needed.

The next step is choosing an alcohol detox rehabilitation facility that can help. You can expect to pay $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the facility you choose for detox. Pay careful attention to the worker patient ratio when choosing an alcohol detox center. The closer the ratio is to 1:1, the better it will be for you or your friend. The higher ratio also increases the costs, keep that in mind.

A detox session usually lasts 5 to 6 weeks. The idea is to flush the liver and kidneys of alcohol. Diet is very involved, protein-rich and with a generous amount of fiber, fluids, and water. Any foods that stimulate the kidney elimination processes are helpful. Withdrawal is a big issue in alcohol detox. Common symptoms of withdrawal include tremors, mild headaches, cold sweat, vomiting, loss of appetite, insomnia, restlessness, rapid pulse, anxiety and auditory hallucinations. The signs and symptoms appear between six to 48 hours after the patient stops drinking alcohol.

Following alcohol detox program, counseling is normally required. Self help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous are a good choice to help recovering alcoholics stay away from the substance.

If you can answer the questions above with a yes, or you have a friend whom in your opinion would answer yes, please seek help. On a personal note, I lost a dear friend to a drunk driver. The more we can do to spread the word AND get treatment, the better. I don't think anyone is unaware of the dangers of alcohol. Its taking the next step that's the toughest. You're armed with the first set of information you need to make an informed decision.