The first hurdle of drug and alcohol addiction treatment often involves cleansing someone’s body of a substance’s toxins. Otherwise known as detoxification, or detox for short, this process is frequently associated with unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and mental strain. However, it does not have to cause such severe discomfort. By attending a specialized alcohol detox in Florida, individuals can stop drinking alcohol with minimal distress.
Alcohol addiction affects over 14 million adults in the United States every year. As a chronic and progressive disease, those who live with it should seek treatment as soon as they recognize the problem. Addiction treatment centers in Florida provide the specialized care they need to stop drinking alcohol and work toward long-term recovery.
If you have an interest in learning more about alcohol rehab, continue reading. We will discuss the effective treatments utilized by detox centers to ensure their patients have a smooth start to recovery. When you decide it is time to get help, you can begin treatment confidently knowing what to expect.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Those looking for an alcohol detox in Florida may already realize that they shouldn’t attempt the process alone. But do they know why? Detoxing from alcohol can trigger an assortment of adverse side effects known as withdrawal symptoms. Many such symptoms are mild in nature, though if ignored, they may evolve into a bigger issue.
For example, common withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol detox include:
- Sweating
- Nausea/vomiting
- Fever
- Anxiety
- Agitation or irritability
- Tremors/shaking
- Difficulty sleeping
- Headache
While uncomfortable, most of the above symptoms are not particularly life-threatening. Thankfully, many alcohol detox patients will only experience minor symptoms like these. However, especially for those with more severe addictions, there is always a chance of developing additional symptoms.
Less common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Elevated heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens
These symptoms tend to pose a larger threat to a patient’s wellbeing. That being said, provided the patient has access to medical staff and their resources, even severe side effects can be successfully mitigated. The best way to ensure one’s safety is to attend a specialized alcohol detox in Florida.
Delirium Tremens
Individuals with a more intense or longer history of alcohol abuse are at a higher risk of experiencing delirium tremens (DTs). DTs are the most extreme and dangerous manifestation of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Though they only occur in rare cases, it is important to be aware of the possibility and what it means.
DTs are primarily characterized by cognitive disorientation. This may include difficulty focusing, a distorted perception of reality, or intense feelings of general confusion. When this reaches an extent known as delirium, a patient may lose their sense of reality entirely and pose a threat to themself or others.
In addition, the small percentage of alcohol detox patients who develop DTs are also prone to experiencing symptoms like:
- Worsened seizures
- Circulatory shock
- Difficulty breathing
- Irregular heart rate
- Cardiovascular collapse
- Coma
Due to the severity of these symptoms, it is crucial for individuals to seek care at a medical alcohol detox in Florida. Untreated delirium tremens can be fatal, but with the correct precautions in place, they can be managed safely.
Benefits of a Medical Alcohol Detox in Florida
Medical professionals do not recommend quitting alcohol cold turkey at home. By searching for an alcohol detox in Florida, you may have already heard this piece of advice before. At-home detoxes are unadvised for numerous important reasons, the likes of which we will discuss below.
To circumvent the risks associated with detox, most physicians recommend participating in a medical detox at a rehab center instead. These are specialized programs that allow individuals to detox from alcohol and drugs while under medical supervision.
The first and most prominent advantage of a medical alcohol detox in Florida involves patient safety. If someone attempts to detox at home, they risk encountering any of the withdrawal symptoms addressed above without anyone around who can help them. In the case of symptoms like delirium tremens, a lack of medical care could even prove fatal.
A medical alcohol detox eliminates the vast majority of risk associated with withdrawal. Even if someone exhibits signs of severe side effects like seizures, they will have a team of medical professionals monitoring their status who can take immediate, preventative action.
Most dangerous symptoms only reach a threatening point if left untreated. Therefore, the care provided by a staff of physicians and addiction specialists ensures that medical detox patients’ symptoms will not develop to that extent. Instead, patients will remain well-protected throughout the five-to-seven-day process.
After completing a medical alcohol detox at a Florida rehab facility, patients can explore further treatment services with minimal risk of complications.
What Happens After Alcohol Detox?
For many individuals, substance abuse treatment doesn’t end immediately after alcohol detox. A Florida treatment center like The Willough at Naples is more than a detox facility; we also provide additional support to continue treatment afterward. What that looks like depends on each individual’s unique situation and needs.
For example, those in need of the highest level of care may enroll in an inpatient treatment program. Inpatient move into a comfortable room at our facility for the duration of treatment. Their days are structured to give them the most exposure to our therapeutic activities, where they learn vital coping skills to help them overcome addiction.
Alternatively, someone with a less severe addiction may benefit more from an outpatient treatment program. We offer a program called partial hospitalization, in which a patient visits the treatment center for several hours a week. They are able to return home at night and during weekends, which is time they can spend reconnecting with their communities and putting their new skills into practice.
If you are not sure which treatment program would be the best option for you, try not to worry. After an alcohol detox, Florida rehab centers like The Willough at Naples will help assess your situation and develop an individualized treatment plan for your needs. Here, you are seen not as a number, but an individual. You have your own, unique story, and we want to help you write a new chapter.
Dual Diagnosis
The Willough at Naples recognizes that over half of individuals with substance use disorders also struggle with mental health issues. Some of the most common mental illnesses that coincide with substance abuse include depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Paired with addiction, they are known as co-occurring disorders (or dual diagnosis).
To pursue long-term recovery after alcohol detox, individuals with co-occurring disorders must address each of their issues. Otherwise, their symptoms will continue to cycle into each other and cause both conditions to re-emerge or worsen. For example, if someone started drinking alcohol to take their mind off their anxiety, they need to resolve their anxiety to eliminate their reason for drinking in the first place.
In other words, when someone has alcohol use disorder and a co-occurring disorder like depression, they will likely need more support than that offered by an alcohol detox. Florida rehab centers like The Willough at Naples provide for these needs through specialized dual diagnosis programs.
Our dual diagnosis program helps individuals overcome their addictions while providing support for their other mental illnesses at the same time. We utilize evidence-based treatment options such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), recreational therapy, and relapse prevention planning to give our patients a full continuum of effective care.
Best Alcohol Detox in Florida
The Willough at Naples is a mental health and substance abuse treatment center that provides state-of-the-art care for struggling adults. If you are looking for a calm, safe environment in which you can undergo alcohol detox in Florida, we can offer the atmosphere you need.
No matter where you are in your healing journey, know that you can overcome addiction and achieve long-term sobriety. Accepting aid from The Willough at Naples means accepting a compassionate, respectful, and encouraging support system into your life. Together, we can get you on the road to recovery.
To learn more about the best alcohol detox in Florida, call our admissions team at (239) 688-3063 . If you need additional time to gather your thoughts, you may also submit a confidential contact form online. We look forward to speaking with you soon.