Baltimore Alcohol Detoxification Treatment: The Beginning of a Safe Recovery
If you are like most people, you associate alcohol withdrawal with hangover symptoms, like headaches, nausea, and shakiness. While it is true that these are the mild alcohol symptoms that occur 6 to 12 hours after a person's last drink, individuals who are physically addicted to alcohol have much more severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms as time progresses. The timeline of alcohol withdrawal symptoms experienced by a person who is physically dependent on alcohol is as follows:
- 12 to 24 hours after last drink: Alcoholic hallucinations
- 24 to 48 hours after last drink: Seizures
- 48 to 72 hours after last drink: Alcoholic withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens/DTs), which is characterized by visual hallucinations, racing heartbeat, disorientation, spikes in blood pressure, fever, and agitation.
Typically, the symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal peak after five days, after which they gradually diminish. Given alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening, alcohol detoxification requires the medical supervision you can only find at qualified rehabs partnered with at Alcohol Detox Centers in Baltimore.
What to Expect at a Baltimore Alcohol Detoxification Center
The treatment goals of drug detox include ensuring patients go through the alcohol withdrawal process safely; to provide detoxification treatment in a manner that is both humane and dignified; and to initiate treatment to provide patients with the tools they need for a lasting sustainable recovery from alcohol addiction. When patients enter drug detox in Baltimore, a doctor conducts a thorough medical examination. If the person is coherent or if family members are present, the medical professional will also determine when the last time the patient had a drink and the amount of alcohol the individual consumed. This information helps the medical professional anticipate the level and type of medical interventions the patient will require during the alcohol detoxification process. The medical team at Baltimore Detox Treatment Programs provides close medical supervision for the duration of the patient's stay.
Common Medical Treatment at Baltimore Alcohol Detox Center
The nature of the patient's alcohol withdrawal symptoms, medical history, previous alcohol detox treatment history, and whether the person used other drugs prior to admission determine the type of medical interventions a person receives at detox centers in Baltimore. Some of the common medical treatments patients receive during their stay at detox centers in Baltimore include:
- Administration of I.V. fluids to prevent dehydration
- Magnesium, as well as other vitamins and minerals to maintain electrolyte balance
- Antianxiety, sedatives, and anti-psychotics, as needed
- Beta blockers for patients with heart conditions
- Anticonvulsants, which prevent seizures
As soon as the patient is stable enough, a team of alcohol addiction treatment specialists starts to work with the person to address aspects of their psychological addiction to alcohol. These treatments are just the beginning of the alcohol addiction recovery process. When patients have completed the detox process, they transfer to an alcohol rehabilitation treatment program. Get help finding the perfect venter for you by calling us at (877) 804-1531.