Categories
Drug Rehab

The Ultimate Detox Guide: Everything You Need to Know Drugs and Its Detox Process

Is there a quick and easy way to detox from drugs? How do you detox your body from prescription drugs, meth, or heroin? Are these processes all the same? On the contrary, so many drugs create different sets of problems for users. There really is no quick fix to detox, it must be done correctly and efficiently to benefit you.

Detox can be done safely, with a team of addiction detox professionals and your commitment to sobriety. While there are many dangers to our mind and bodies from drug use, most of these effects can be reversed with rehab treatment and detox.

The Danger of Drugs

Drugs and alcohol affect us mentally, emotionally, developmentally, physically, and psychologically. While different drugs come with different dangers; all substances can lead to dependence, addiction, injury, accidents, health problems, sleep problems, and more.
Drug use affects not only the individual addicted, but all of those around that person. Cocaine use has been involved in nearly 1 in 5 overdose deaths and causes asthma, bowel decay, and HIV risk is increased with use.

 

Methamphetamine use can kill you on your first time using the drug. Meth speeds up our body’s systems to nearly dangerous levels and can cause anxiety, confusion, insomnia, paranoia, and aggression.

 

Prescription drugs such as Xanax, valium, Ritalin, or Ativan are the top overdose deaths in America and can cause immediate coma and brain damage. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration; SAMHSA, individuals between 15 and 25 are the heaviest users of these drugs while individuals ages 26 to 49 are on the rise of addiction due to COVID 19 pandemic stress.

What is Drug Detox Treatment?

You may have never heard of drug detox and are wondering what exactly drug detox treatment is. Drug and alcohol detox treatment is recommended as part of addiction recovery. Detox occurs before you enter rehab and works by eliminating drugs or alcohol from your system. It also works to pull out other harsh toxins from the body. Detox is defined as the process of ridding your body of all addictive drugs so your brain and body can slowly heal.

Medical detox is always recommended for treatment and depending on the individual you may detox from home under care or go into a detox center for 24-hour supervision for drug withdrawal. This provides a safe and comfortable setting for you to detox and reduce withdrawal symptoms under professional care.

What Type of Substances Require Detox Treatment?

Substances Require Detox Treatment

There are a variety of substances that can lead to addiction such as opioids, prescription medications, hallucinogens, benzodiazepines, heroin, methamphetamines, and more. Meth, cocaine, and heroin are some of the most addictive drugs in the United States.

Opioids such as oxytocin, Percocet, fentanyl, morphine, and codeine are all highly addictive and can lead to coma and death. There are also different addictive benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan and Librium. 44 Americans die from a prescription overdose every day.

About 85 million prescriptions of these types of drugs were written in 2007 and the numbers are much higher today. 16.6 million individuals aged 18 and older suffer from an alcohol abuse disorder. There are other addictions that can occur as well that don’t involve psychoactive drugs like gambling, shopping, etc.

How Long is the Drug Detox Process?

The length of stay at drug and alcohol detox programs varies on the individual and what substance they are using, how heavy the use and how dependent they are to the substance. Detox starts as soon as you stop using substances and this process may last a few days up to several weeks.

Post-acute withdrawal symptoms may occur with heavy drug or alcohol use and typically show signs a few weeks to a few months after using drugs. If you are considering drug detox services and want to know how to detox your body from drugs and how long that may take you should call a detox treatment center today.

How Long is a Detox Treatment Program?

There is no predetermined length of stay when you enter a drug rehab detox program. Treatment will vary based on:

 

  • What substance you use
  • How much of the substance you use
  • How often you use the substance
  • Withdrawal
  • Dependence
  • Tolerance
  • Co-occurring disorders
  • Mental health issues

 

You will be evaluated by a medical professional before starting detox to determine about how long detox will take but it is always subject to change. After detox, the next step is coming up with a treatment plan that best fits your needs, and this may include entering inpatient rehab or outpatient programs.

How Your Body Processes Drugs

Since different drugs have different uses, they will affect your body in different ways. All substances have short term and long term affects on the mind and body that can lead to more problems in life.

  • Depressants: These types of drugs slow the central nervous system and can make you feel relaxed although large doses can lead to vomiting, unconsciousness, and death
  • Hallucinogens: These will distort reality and can cause euphoria but may also cause jaw clenching, panic, or paranoia
  • Stimulants: While depressants slow the nervous system, stimulants speed it up making you feel more alert and confident. In large doses stimulants cause increased heart rate, agitation, and sleepiness.

Using these drugs can affect your mood, behaviors, and even your thoughts and how you make decisions.

How Long Will Drugs Stay in Your System?

The amount of time drugs or alcohol will stay in your system varies by:

  • Your age
  • Your weight
  • Your sex
  • Your physical health
  • Presence of other drugs in the body

According to the American Addiction Centers, these are averages from urine tests:

  • Heroin: 1-3 days in your system
  • Cocaine: 2-3 days in your system
  • Marijuana: 1-7 days in your system
  • Meth: 2-3 days in your system
  • MDMA: 2-4 days in your system

Many factors will lead to how long a drug will stay in your system because drugs are so very different from each other, and people are also different. Two people using the same drug may have completely different reactions.

The Dangers of Drug Detox

Have you wanted to detox from a drug, but want to know the dangers of detox? Maybe you have wondered how to detox your body from drugs in one day, or if that’s a safe or possible option.

Drug detox can be very dangerous especially if done alone at home. Detoxing at home without the monitoring from medical addiction professionals can lead to a life-threatening situation. Drug withdrawal can bring severe pain and discomfort and you may need pain medications and medical help during your detox.

How do medical professionals reduce harm during detox?

  • Provides medical and psychological strategies to ease pain from drug withdrawal
  • Manages your needs during withdrawal
  • Provides medications for pain
  • 24-hour monitoring for your safety and comfort

It is never a good idea to try to detox your body from drugs and alcohol at home without medical help. Outpatient detox may be possible, but it will still involve medical providers assisting you.

What’s the Best Drug Detox for Me?

If you are a heavy chronic drug user, you will want to search for a detox center that provides medications for the pain that will come from withdrawing. If you have a milder drug addiction, you may not need to use the same type of detox program and may only need outpatient detox.

The best drug detox treatment program for you is one that will cater to all your needs based on your personal addiction and background. Some detox treatment centers specialize in one specific drug while others may cater to several types or may even provide detox for all substances and individuals with co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis.

Finding a Professional Drug and Alcohol Detox Center

Lion Recovery in Los Angeles provides a safe and reliable medical detox program. You can visit their website here: Best Recovery Center In California – Lion Recovery. Lion recovery creates a welcoming space for those who have suffered from the many negative effects of drug addiction and are ready to help you overcome and start your recovery.

Lion Recovery can be contacted via there website or by phone right now at (888) 616-3179. A positive aspect about Lion Recovery is that they not only provide detox services, but also will help with providing interventions for loved ones with substance addiction.

Citations

Recovery.org. 2021. Alcohol and Drug Detox Process | Recovery.com. [online] Available at: https://www.recovery.org/addiction/detox-process/.
2021. [online] Available at: https://www.samhsa.gov/adult-drug-use.
DrugAbuse.com. 2021. Dangers of Alcohol and Drug Detox at Home | Drugabuse.com. [online] Available at: https://drugabuse.com/treatment/detox/dangers-at-home/.
The Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol Rehab. 2021. Drugs That Require Medicaly-Assisted Detox | The Recovery Village. [online] Available at: https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/treatment-program/medical-detox/related/drugs-requiring-medically-assisted-detox/.
Betterhealth.vic.gov.au. 2021. How drugs affect your body – Better Health Channel. [online] Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/How-drugs-affect-your-body.
American Addiction Centers. 2021. How Long Do Drugs Stay In Your System? (Drug Half-Life & Drug Tests). [online] Available at: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/how-long-drugs-system.
Recovery, C. and Addiction, E., 2021. Addiction Statistics. [online] Addiction Center. Available at: https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-statistics/.

Categories
Alcohol Problems

Everything You Need to Know About Alcohol Sweats and Withdrawal

While sweat is an important and essential component to our body’s cooling system, sweating a lot during the night or persistent sweating may be a sign of something else.

Have you ever woken up during the night after drinking alcohol and have found yourself in a pool of sweat? If this has occurred or is occurring, you may be suffering from alcohol night sweats. Alcohol sweats can happen if you are addicted to alcohol, moderately drink, or have had only one drink.

Alcohol night sweats happen after drinking and occur during alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol Withdrawal can also occur at any point after drinking and may make you feel agitated, irritable, and will cause other symptoms that may be life threatening.

How Does Alcohol Cause Night Sweats?

When you consume alcohol, your central nervous system becomes affected as well as your circulatory system and many other parts of the body. Alcohol consumption causes your heart rate to go up and will widen your blood vessels thus increasing perspiration.

So, by drinking alcohol your body changes mentally and physically and will cause you to sweat more. Another way alcohol sweats occur is when you are withdrawing from drinking.

What else can cause night sweats(Alcohol Sweats)?

  • Menopause
  • Low blood pressure
  • Fever
  • Some antidepressants or steroids

If you have any predetermining symptoms and you are drinking alcohol, you put yourself at an increased risk for alcohol sweats.

Are Night Sweats a Symptom of Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal can bring on severe symptoms if you binge drink or drink heavily. Symptoms start within a few hours after your last drink or even days within your last drink. Some of these symptoms can cause sweating during the night after drinking alcohol. When you are going through alcohol withdrawal you may develop a fever which can make you sweat.

Excessive sweating after drinking alcohol is typically a sign of alcohol withdrawal with heavier users. While these symptoms can be dangerous and painful, medical detox is available to go through alcohol withdrawal safely and with less discomfort.

What are the common symptoms of sweating out alcohol during alcohol withdrawal?

  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Shakiness
  • Body aches/ muscle pains
  • Nightmares
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Restlessness
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Fever

While these symptoms are generally mild, more severe symptoms may occur and can be lethal. Medical Detox is a great way to treat alcohol withdrawal and reduce sweating and other symptoms. Night sweats with alcohol withdrawal or detox can last many days or even weeks and should be monitored.

Severe Symptoms

If mild symptoms persist and become more severe, you should get medical help immediately. Withdrawing from alcohol can be life threatening especially with individuals who are chronic heavy users. More severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include vomiting, rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, changes o respiratory rate, tremors, and confusion.

Is sweating a sign of alcoholism?

If you drink heavily and chronically you may already know you have a substance abuse problem. Sweating heavily can be a sign of alcoholism especially if you are struggling with other symptoms above.

Symptoms of Delirium Tremens

Delirium tremens often occur when an individual is going through severe alcohol withdrawal. They may cause you to feel very confused off an on and can bring on a severe fever, making you sweat profusely.
Individuals with delirium tremens show signs of:

  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures
  • Body Tremors
  • Changes in mental function
  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Deep sleep for days at a time

Delirium tremens typically occur 48 to 96 hours after your last drink and may occur after ten days from your last drink. Other signs to look out for are decreased attention span, severe night sweats, excitement, fear, increased activity, sensibility to light/touch/sound, sleepiness, fatigue, and irritability.

Also Read: The Ultimate Risks of Mixing Seroquel and Alcohol and Why You Should Not Do That

Effects of Alcohol Sweats on the Body

Naturally your body sweats as its way to keep your body temperature regulated whether you are exercising, outside on a hot day, or even when you consume alcohol. You may have asked yourself before why do I sweat when I drink alcohol? The more alcohol you consume, the more your blood vessels begin to widen thus causing the reaction of sweating.
As you drink alcohol, your body starts to digest while your liver creates heat while metabolizing the alcohol, causing you to feel warm. While it may create this sense of warming, it is your body working to lower your body temperature.
It is also possible for you to develop hot flashes after a heavy night of drinking. Hot flashes are generally a sign that your body need to cool down and they may appear suddenly. When it comes to alcohol, hot flashes may be a result to abnormal changes in your body’s core temperature.

Alcohol Intolerance and Night Sweats

Do you often find yourself sweating when drinking alcohol, even if you rarely drink? You may be suffering from alcohol intolerance. Alcohol intolerance is a genetic mutation that causes your body to not produce the correct enzymes to metabolize and break down toxins in alcohol.
Alcohol induced night sweats have been shown to be caused by alcohol intolerance. Symptoms of alcohol intolerance include:

  • Facial Redness
  • Hives
  • Worsening Preexisting Asthma
  • Runny or stuff nose
  • Low blood pressure
  • nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

How can you reduce or eliminate alcohol sweats? The best way to stop alcohol sweats when you have alcohol intolerance is to severely limit your drinking or to not drink at all.

Does Alcohol Raise Body Temperature?

When you drink alcohol, you may start to become flush or red in the face and start to feel warm. Alcohol consumption causes your liver to warm and will make you feel warm, but it is actually working to lower your body temperature.
Alcohol does not raise your body temperature although it may feel this way. Alcohol will in fact raise your blood pressure and heart rate.

Why Does Alcohol Make You Sweat?

Alcohol makes you sweat so it can cool your body down while it breaks down the alcohol in your system. Many individuals who drink often or heavily will complain of night sweats. Can you sweat out alcohol? Not really, in fact night sweats do not eliminate alcohol for your system quicker.
Alcohol withdrawal is usually a big reason for night sweats and night sweats should not be looked at as a way of detoxing from home. Detoxing from alcohol without medical supervision can be life threatening and very discomforting and painful.

Why Do I Sweat A lot After Drinking Alcohol?

The reason for sweating after drinking alcohol has to do with your body’s digestion process after consuming alcohol. If you have asked yourself does alcohol cause night sweats? You may have already been dealing with other occurring symptoms from drinking heavily.
Other factors for alcohol night sweats include:

• Individuals’ genetics
• Weight
• Preexisting conditions
• Cancer
• Menopause
• Chronis illnesses
• Flus or colds
• Antidepressants or steroids

So now that we know alcohol does in fact make you sweat depending on the individual and their level of drinking, genetics, and other factors, it may be time to ask how long do alcohol sweats last?
Alcohol sweats can persist for up to a few days or even weeks. When detoxing from alcohol, you may also suffer from daytime sweating, hot flashes, goosebumps, chills, insomnia, high blood pressure, and anxiety.

Also Read: How Alcohol Abuse Treatment Plans Can Help Your Loved One

Can Drinking Alcohol Cause Hot Flashes?

Drinking alcohol does not only cause night sweats but can also bring on episodes of hot flashes, especially in women who are going through menopause and drinking heavily. Heavy chronic alcohol consumption brings on sweating, skin irritations, cancer, depression, and more.
How can you lessen hot flashes and night sweats?

The best way to decrease sweating induced by alcohol is to stop drinking or to limit your drinking. Maintaining a healthy diet, drinking enough water and getting enough exercise are also essential in keeping your core body temperature regulated and can also reduce heavy perspiration from drinking.

How Are Night Sweats Different from Hot Flashes?

Hot flashes and night sweats are quite different but may be co-occurring. Hot flashes may happen at any time of the day or night, you may even be able to feel a hot flash coming. Many individuals have described hot flashes as something that happens like a wave, it immediately comes over you out of no where and you feel hot and sweaty and may even feel nauseas or like you may pass out.

Hot flashes don’t last very long but can come and go and may feel overwhelming. Night sweats happen while you sleep and can be so uncomfortable that you wake up during the night to a pool of wetness in your bed. The unfortunate thing abut night sweats is that they last longer than hot flashes and may last up to ten minutes at a time.

While both differ, they cause the same sweating reaction to the body and can cause pain and discomfort and can also disrupt sleep or daily life.

How Can Lion Recovery Help You to Deal with Alcohol Sweats?

Is it possible that you are alcohol dependent? Alcohol dependence may look like:

• Continuing to use despite harmful effects
• Drinking more now than you used to
• Making more and more time to drink
• Tolerance for alcohol
• Withdrawing from alcohol
• Spending less time doing important things like work or school
• Withdrawing from family and friends to drink

If you have suffered from alcohol induced night sweats and any symptoms above, it may be time to consider getting help for your alcohol addiction. Lion Recovery is your one stop shop to starting recovery because they offer interventions, medical detox, and aftercare plans! Lion Recovery understands that there are so many critical steps to recovery and provide safe and comforting resources to help you get started.

Visit Best Recovery Center In California – Lion Recovery by following this link or call them right now to find out more information on their varying programs for alcohol addiction at (888) 616-3179.

Categories
Alcohol Problems

The Ultimate Risks of Mixing Seroquel and Alcohol and Why You Should Not Do That

Are there risks to mixing alcohol with other sedative substances? Is it possible to overdose on Seroquel and alcohol? The answer to these questions is, yes! Seroquel is prescribed to treat significant mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. When alcohol is consumed while taking Seroquel, you become much more drowsy and very confused.

It is also possible to feel the Effects of Alcohol in a shorter period of time when taking Seroquel. Mild to severe alcohol use comes with its own varying side effects and these in conjunction with the side effects of taking Seroquel can lead to sudden death from low and irregular heartbeat.

Due to the severity of the side effects of Seroquel and alcohol, it’s crucial to avoid alcohol at all costs while taking Seroquel.

What Will be the Side Effect of Mixing Seroquel and Alcohol?

When taking an antipsychotic medication like Seroquel, it’s important to know what side effects come with taking this drug as well as the side effects involved when taking other drugs in combination with Seroquel.
Seroquel medication is prescribed to schizophrenia patients. When an individual has schizophrenia, symptoms may include:

  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Disorganized Thinking
  • Decreased want to be around other people
  • Problems speaking clearly
  • Lack of motivation

Consuming alcohol when you have a mental illness and are on medication can make the illness much worse, especially for schizophrenia patients. The interaction between Seroquel and alcohol can be extremely dangerous and lead to severe cognition problems, suicide, and death.

What is Seroquel?

Seroquel is the generic brand name for Quetiapine and is prescribed for patients with schizophrenia. Quetiapine acts as an antipsychotic and works by rebalancing dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters in the brain to improve thinking, mood, and behavior.
What else does Seroquel treat?

• Manic Episodes from Bipolar Disorder
• Depressive Episodes from Bipolar Disorder
• Long Term Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Delusional Parasitosis
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Anxiety Disorders

It’s best to avoid alcohol and other drugs when taking Seroquel because the use of other drugs may interact with the Seroquel increasing your sedation and causing more mental confusion.

Also Read: How Alcohol Abuse Treatment Plans Can Help Your Loved One

What Are the Side Effects of Seroquel?

Seroquel is for people who need long term treatment for schizophrenia. It is very possible to overdose on this medication and it can create mild to severe adverse effects.
Some of the most common side effects of using Seroquel include:

  • Increased Blood Pressure
  • Increased Heart Rate
  • Extrapyramidal Symptoms
  • Drowsiness
  • Headache
  • Agitation
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Weight Gain
  • Dry Mouth
  • Constipation
  • Increased Glucose
  • Increased Appetite
  • Cholesterol Abnormalities

It’s important to talk to your doctor about what to avoid when taking this medication especially in conjunction with other medications, even herbal or natural ones.

Are There Any Serious Side Effects?

Seroquel comes with some rare but serious side effects with long term usage. Seroquel can increase the blood levels of prolactin and when this happens its possible that females will lose their period as well as milk production while males lose their sex drive and may develop erectile problems.
With long term use and prolonged increased levels of prolactin, osteoporosis can occur as well as an increased risk for bone fractures. Furthermore, this drug can also affect your muscles causing restlessness, uncontrolled jerk movements, tremors, and stiffness.
Other serious symptoms include:

• Impaired core body temperature regulation
• Dehydration
• Weight gain
• High blood sugar
• High cholesterol

It’s also important to note that antipsychotic medications carry the risk for sudden cardiac death caused by an irregular heartbeat.

How Does Alcohol Interact with Seroquel?

Alcohol interacts with Seroquel by increasing the symptoms of Seroquel causing extreme drowsiness, confusion, low blood pressure, as well as cognitive problems and motor skill problems.
You become much more sedated and feel the effects of alcohol much quicker, this can be very dangerous to your body and can make it extremely difficult to interact with others, get work done, take care of yourself, and may increase harm on to others if you took this combination and attempted to operate heavy machinery.
The interaction between Seroquel and alcohol is lethal and extremely dangerous. Medical professionals suggest avoiding all forms of alcohol when taking antipsychotics.

Is it Safe to Drink Alcohol While Taking Seroquel?

It is never a good idea to drink alcohol while taking Seroquel Combining Seroquel and alcohol can lead to coma and death. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 95,000 people die each year from alcohol abuse alone.
Doctors consider it to be extremely unsafe to combine alcohol with antipsychotics like Seroquel and will typically advise against it. The high from mixing Seroquel and alcohol can be extremely deadly.
It’s also important to be aware that some medications contain alcohol such as certain nasal sprays and cold medicines. Always talk to your doctor before taking any other medications while on Seroquel.

Alcohol and Seroquel Serious Side Effects

Serious side effects will develop if you decide to consume alcohol while taking Seroquel. If taking more than prescribed, you can reach toxic levels that can force you to stop breathing.
Some of the more serious effects of Seroquel and alcohol include:

• Extreme psychosis in elderly patients
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• Extrapyramidal symptoms
• Increased suicidal thoughts
• Heart disease
• Hypotension
• Stroke

It is also possible to experience withdrawal symptoms when using Seroquel and alcohol together. Withdrawal symptoms look and feel like:

  • Stress and anxiety
  • Social withdrawal
  • Headaches
  • Pain
  • Sinusitis
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Agitation
  • Nausea
  • Drug Dependence
  • Joint Pain

Mixing alcohol with antipsychotics can also put you at risk for internal bleeding and breathing problems that can become very dangerous if not treated.

Also Read: Top Qualities of the Best Alcohol Drug Rehab Centers in California

Dangers of Alcohol

Drinking in excess whether it be over a long period of time or in a short period, has lasting adverse effects and reactions to the brain, heart, liver, and pancreas and increases your risk for several cancers. Alcohol also weakens your immune system making it easier for you to become sick or develop diseases.

Short Term Effects of Alcohol:

• Injuries including falls, car accidents, and burns
• Violence including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and domestic abuse
• Alcohol poisoning
• Risky sexual behaviors that can result in HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases
• Miscarriages and stillbirth as well as fetal alcohol syndrome

Long Term Risks of Alcohol:

• High blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, liver disease
• Caner of the breast, mouth, throat, liver, colon, rectum, and voice box
• Weakening of the immune system
• Depression and anxiety
• Memory problems such as dementia
• Social problems such as family, school, work, etc.
• Alcohol dependence

There are certain individuals who should avoid alcohol including those who are under the age of 21, those who are pregnant, driving, taking certain medications such as antipsychotics or antidepressants, those who suffer from medical conditions and individuals recovering from alcoholism.

How Long After Taking Seroquel is it Safe to Drink?

Seroquel has a half life of six hours so after about 12 hours of taking the drug it will be almost completely out of your system. It’s recommended to wait at least a day and a half before consuming alcohol to make sure the Seroquel is completely out of your body.
Remember that Seroquel is used for long term treatment of schizophrenia and a great way to help treat your schizophrenia symptoms would be to completely eliminate the consumption of alcohol and focus on taking care of yourself mentally and physically.

How to Choose the Best Way to Recover from Seroquel and Alcohol Abuse

Have you or someone you loved been struggling with dual diagnosis? Substance abuse and mental illness can develop and create more problems in the long term. Co -occurring disorders can be treated with several types of therapies, detox from substances, rehab, and support group programs.

Is it time for you to enter treatment or find treatment for someone else? Lion Recovery provides services not only for detox but also puts together interventions for people needing treatment as well as relapse prevention.
Visit Lion Recovery at their website Best Recovery Center In California – Lion Recovery or call them now for more information on treatment and rehab services at (888) 616-3179.

Lion Recovery is a great option for individuals struggling with alcohol and Seroquel addiction. Recovery is possible and Lion Recovery is ready to help you get started.

Citations

(Quetiapine), S., 2021. Seroquel and Alcohol (Quetiapine) – Safety Medical. [online] Safetymedical.net. Available at: http://www.safetymedical.net/seroquel-and-alcohol.
Niaaa.nih.gov. 2021. Alcohol Facts and Statistics | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). [online] Available at: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics.
Niaaa.nih.gov. 2021. Alcohol’s Effects on the Body | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). [online] Available at: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body.
2021. [online] Available at: https://www.ehealthme.com/ds/seroquel/alcohol-withdrawal-syndrome/.
Alcohol Rehab Help. 2021. Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Seroquel (Quetiapine)?. [online] Available at: https://alcoholrehabhelp.org/interactions/seroquel/.
Cdc.gov. 2021. Drinking too much alcohol can harm your health. Learn the facts | CDC. [online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.html.
Niaaa.nih.gov. 2021. Harmful Interactions | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). [online] Available at: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/harmful-interactions-mixing-alcohol-with-medicines.
Maan, J., Ershadi, M., Khan, I. and Saadabadi, A., 2021. Quetiapine. [online] Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459145/.
Parker, C., 2021. Seroquel and Alcohol (Quetiapine) – Drugsdb.com. [online] Drugsdb.com. Available at: http://www.drugsdb.com/rx/seroquel/seroquel-and-alcohol/.
Nami.org. 2021. Quetiapine (Seroquel) | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. [online] Available at: https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Mental-Health-Medications/Types-of-Medication/Quetiapine-(Seroquel).

Categories
Drug Rehab

How Alcohol Abuse Treatment Plans Can Help Your Loved One

When a person decides it is time to seek help for an alcohol use disorder, one of the most helpful steps will be creating an Alcohol Abuse Treatment Plan with either a medical provider or a mental health professional. These treatment plans are made specifically for the individual and can include expectations, goals, possible triggers and coping skills and allows for you to track your own progress throughout recovery. Following are the key benefits of an Alcohol Abuse Treatment Plan:

  1. Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms are treated under the supervision of rehab experts
  2. All kinds of physical and medical needs of the patients are taken care of in the best way possible
  3. 24/7 care is provided to the patients
  4. Social and family needs of the patients are taken care of in an alcohol abuse treatment plan

We all know seeking help for an addiction can be a scary and vulnerable thing to do, but with the help and support of intervention programs and with an Alcohol Abuse Treatment Plan, recovery can be on the horizon. Lions Recovery is a Drug and Alcohol Intervention Treatment Center and provides the best care to those brave enough to seek help.

Understanding Alcohol Detox

Alcohol withdrawal is certainly not a fun experience, and it is no surprise that the symptoms that come with it are often the reason many people chose to continue to drink. But you must detox the alcohol from your system before the symptoms go away. People often ask, “how do you help someone detox from alcohol at home?” The truth is, depending on the severity of the addiction, successful at home detox is not very common. The symptoms can be painful and extremely uncomfortable, which oftentimes leads a person to drink just to feel normal again. 

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal that occur during the detox phase can range from mild to severe, to sometimes even fatal. 

Some of the mild symptoms may include:

  • Increased anxiety 
  • Sweating
  • Insomnia
  • Nausea 
  • Headaches 
  • Mood swings
  • Irritability 

More severe and dangerous symptoms include: 

  • Tremors
  • Seizures 
  • Disorientation 
  • Hallucinations 

Delirium tremens is the most serious and life threatening symptoms of Alcohol Detox withdrawal syndrome and can include compulsions, confusion, high blood pressure and fever and can be fatal. If a person experiences any types of severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, call 911 immediately to seek medical attention.

Goals of These Drug and Alcohol Intervention Programs

With any addiction (Drug Addiction, Alcohol Addiction), the goal is to maintain sobriety and learn how to live a healthy life without drugs or alcohol in the mix. The first step to providing help to a loved one in need, is holding an intervention. Lion’s Recovery ensures that only the most appropriate members are involved in the intervention. The purpose of the intervention is to express your concern for the addiction while showing you want the individual to seek the help they deserve and need. After this, and the person with the addiction agrees to get help, the road to recovery has officially begun.

Within these drug and alcohol intervention programs, the person seeking help will learn the skills needed to prevent possible relapse and build resilience to break free from their addiction. Then, with a medical or mental health professional, you will create an alcohol abuse treatment plan and be able to monitor and track any progress made. 

Phase 2 Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Occur in 3 stages. Stage 1 includes the more common symptoms of withdrawal, the ones you have probably experienced several times before. This includes increased anxiety, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, stomach pain or nausea. 

Phase 2 alcohol withdrawal symptoms are far more serious and uncomfortable. These symptoms include increased heart rate, confusion, mood swings, sweating, increased body temperature and blood pressure. These symptoms usually occur within the first several days of detox and can feel miserable. Therefore, seeking help from a medical professional or alcohol abuse facility can increase your chances of successful detox.

Nobody likes to feel irritable or shaky and alcohol is typically used to avoid the feelings of depression and anxiety. It is so important to remember though, that alcohol is a depressant, and although it can temporarily make you feel better mentally and act as an escape from reality, you will eventually have to face your problems. 

How Can Alcohol Withdrawal be Fatal?

Most chronic alcoholics can tell you that it is easier to slam a beer than it is to experience the symptoms that happen with alcohol withdrawal. Therefore, many alcoholics never seek help. If you are a long term, heavy drinker, then having a successful alcohol detox is nearly impossible without the help and support of a medical provider or an alcohol treatment program. Or what is worse, it can even be fatal to do on your own. 

When enough alcohol is being consumed on a daily basis, our bodies naturally become dependent on the drug for survival. Then, when the heavy drinker suddenly stops pouring alcohol into their body, the body begins to think it cannot survive without the booze, which results in some of the more serious and severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. 

If a person experiences symptoms of delirium tremens, they are at high risk of dying from alcohol detox. Delirium tremens can cause heart attacks, strokes, or withdrawal seizures, all of which can be deadly. If you or a loved one is at risk of experiencing any of the severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, seek medical help immediately as it can save a person’s life. 

How Long Does It Take for Alcohol Dependency to Develop?

If only there were a simple answer for how long it takes for alcohol dependency to develop. If there were, many people would probably try to actively stop before reaching dependency. However, there are many different factors that can contribute to how quickly a person becomes dependent and sometimes, a person can be very unaware of the dependency.

For instance, having a family history of alcoholism can play a massive role in how quickly a person becomes dependent. Also, how often and how much a person drinks will determine how fast the body starts to believe it needs the alcohol to survive. The age someone started drinking and if they are frequent binge drinkers also plays a role in this. A person might never have struggled with alcohol dependency, but after a tragic life event (losing a job, divorce, family loss, etc.), they may quickly develop a dependency. 

Every person is different, and with there being so many different factors, there is no simple answer to how long it takes to become alcohol dependent. The important thing to remember is that it can happen to anyone. Any person of any size, ethnicity, race, social class, etc. can develop alcohol dependence simply by choosing to drink heavily on a regular basis. If you feel you have become alcohol dependent, contact Lions Recovery to start your journey to a sober life. 

What To Do After Detox

Once you have made it through the detox phase, the hardest and most painful part is done. Now, it is time to focus on maintaining sobriety and building resilience. Programs such as AA or alcohol addiction treatment centers can help support you throughout your recovery journey. Group or individual therapy is highly advised to learn new coping strategies, learn to heal from past traumas or experiences, and find new hobbies and activities that you enjoy doing. 

Today’s society does not make it easy for those in recovery to live a sober life, considering most Americans drink in some way or another. So having a community of support is crucial for maintaining sobriety. Connection is, in fact, the opposite of addiction. Once you have formed strong connections with other like-minded people, (through AA or group therapy, workout groups, school, work, etc.) living a sober life will not be as hard as it seems. 

Lions Recovery (888-616-3179) is here for you to start your journey to recovery. Call Us Today to change your life and break free from your addiction.