The sections below will go over the top benefits of quitting alcohol and how you can successfully complete alcohol detox. Keep reading to discover how your life will improve once you’ve given up alcohol for good.

• Top 10 Alcohol Detox Benefits
• How to Get the Benefits of Detoxing From Alcohol
• Detox From Alcohol With Gateway Foundation

Top 10 Alcohol Detox Benefits

If you’re wondering whether quitting drinking is worth it, consider the following 10 benefits of alcohol detox:

1. Decreased Health Risks

Heavy drinking can disrupt your body’s normal functioning and wear down your health. In particular, consuming copious amounts of alcohol can harm your liver. Because your liver’s job is to filter toxins out of the body and alcohol is toxic to your cells, heavy drinking can cause distress to this organ. When your liver cannot function at its full capacity, you may experience serious health problems like fatty liver disease or cirrhosis.

In the long run, alcohol addiction can increase the risk of numerous health conditions, including:

• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Pancreatitis
• High blood pressure
• Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)
• Dementia
• Fibrosis
• Digestive issues
• Hearing loss
• Digestive issues
• Depression
• Anxiety

However, quitting alcohol can help repair some of the damage that heavy drinking may have caused to the liver, brain, cardiovascular system and gut. These organs will begin to slowly heal once you stop consuming alcohol regularly. In fact, your liver can even regenerate. As the alcohol exits your system and you establish healthier patterns, you will begin to feel better overall and notice improvements in your physical health.

2. Improved Immunity

Routine alcohol consumption can weaken your immune system because the alcohol prevents it from producing enough white blood cells to fight off bacteria and germs. Even just one night of heavy drinking can decrease your body’s ability to fend off illness for up to a full day.

Over time, a high alcohol intake can blunt your immune system’s responses and detract from your body’s ability to repair itself. Because drinking can take such a toll on the immune system, it is not uncommon for those who struggle with alcohol use disorder to sustain frequent bouts of pneumonia or tuberculosis. However, giving up alcohol can reduce the number of colds, flu strains and other illnesses you are at risk of contracting.

3. Mental Health Benefits

Alcohol addiction is often linked with other mental disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and schizophrenia. In fact, 9.2 million American adults experience both a substance use disorder and an additional mental illness. However, almost 60% of those adults receive no treatment at all.

Although scientists haven’t determined the exact connection between substance use disorder and other mental health conditions, it is well known that many people turn to alcohol and other substances as a way of self-medicating for symptoms of other mental illnesses. Unfortunately, alcohol exacerbates mental illness as opposed to treating it.

However, quitting alcohol can help reduce mental illness symptoms. As you continue working toward your short and long-term sobriety goals, you will notice a gradual improvement in your mental health. Specifically, you may see increased self-confidence, greater self-respect and fewer feelings of anxiety or depression, especially if you have a co-occurring mental health diagnosis.

4. Improved Sleep

Excessive alcohol consumption often leads to poor sleep or even insomnia. Despite making you drowsy at first, drinking alcohol makes it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep for the whole night because it interferes with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycles. Having alcohol in your system can wake you up repeatedly throughout the night by disrupting the important REM stage of sleep.

In addition to cutting down the number of REM cycles that your body goes through per night, drinking alcohol can disturb your breathing. In fact, the way that alcohol relaxes the throat can result in snoring or sleep apnea. Along with these sleep issues, drinking alcohol before bed can make you get up more often throughout the night to pee.

If you want more restful shut-eye, try skipping alcohol, especially at night or in the late afternoon. While your sleep might not improve immediately after you give up alcohol, you will see greater improvements in your sleep quality the longer you abstain from consuming alcohol.

After about a week away from alcohol, you will most likely start to notice you’ve been sleeping better. These improved sleeping habits at night can also boost your mood during the day. The benefits of better sleep extend to your ability to keep your emotions under control and regulate your reactions to high-stress situations.

In addition to enhancing your mood, getting quality sleep each night will enable you to concentrate better and be more productive throughout the day. Because you’ll have more energy and feel less fatigued, you will be able to get more done at work or at home while maintaining a positive attitude.

5. Improved Relationships

Consuming alcohol alone or multiple times each day can turn drinking into an unhealthy pattern that starts to hinder your relationships. Just like any other addiction, alcohol use disorder can make it challenging to maintain relationships because alcohol becomes the most important thing in your life. Sadly, if you can’t control your cravings for alcohol, they begin to control you.

Giving up alcohol allows you to focus more on your relationships at home, work and elsewhere. Instead of having to skip social events or familial commitments because you’re under the influence, you will be able to attend more social gatherings. Thanks to the mood boost and mental health benefits that come with quitting alcohol, you will also find it easier to engage with people and invest in healthy relationships.

6. Enhanced Nutrition and Weight Management

Drinking alcohol can have double the harmful effects of filling your body with sugar and empty calories while depleting the nutrients it truly needs. Without enough essential nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals, your metabolism cannot function properly. Alcohol can also derail the nutrition process by disrupting the digestion, storage, utilization and excretion of nutrients. Due to these negative nutritional effects, many people with an alcohol use disorder become malnourished.

Binge drinking, in particular, can involve consuming easily more than 500 extra calories in just one night. Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption that raises blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels up to 0.08 g/dLi within a short period of time — about 2 hours. Typically, this level is reached after four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men.

In addition to filling you up with hundreds of empty calories, alcohol can also ramp up your appetite and make you more impulsive. You’re less likely to resist fried foods and other tempting menu items when you’re under the influence. Heavy drinking and consuming rich foods can make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight.

However, once you stop drinking and start forming healthier patterns, your body will start absorbing nutrients better. As a result, you may find it easier to reach a healthy weight and stick with a regular exercise routine. Although everyone is different, regaining a healthy weight is a realistic goal for most people who commit to staying sober for the long term.

7. Fewer Safety Risks

At least half of all serious trauma injuries, drownings, deaths from burns and homicides involve alcohol in some way. Alcohol also plays a role in 4 out of 10 suicides, traffic crashes and fatal falls. These statistics show that heavy drinking can put both you and those around you at a higher risk of injury or even death.

However, there is hope. Cutting back your alcohol intake, even by a third, can significantly lower the number of injuries and sick days you sustain. Because no amount of alcohol is completely safe to drink, cutting it out of your life entirely will guard you even further from injury and other health risks.

8. Better Heart Health

Quitting alcohol is one of the best things you can do for your heart. Research has found that those who drink heavily on a regular basis are about twice as likely to experience a cardiovascular event on any given day than those who don’t drink alcohol. In addition, heavy drinkers are up to six times more likely to have a cardiovascular event within a week.

Alcohol misuse has also been linked with an increased risk for these heart problems:

• Heart failure
• Atrial fibrillation
• Ischemic stroke
• Hemorrhagic stroke
• Myocardial infarction

Giving up alcohol can reduce your risk of a cardiovascular health scare and protect your heart. Specifically, when you stop drinking alcohol, your blood pressure and triglyceride levels may go down.

9. Better Hydration

Although alcohol is a liquid, drinking alcohol actually makes you less hydrated. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes your body remove fluids from your blood through the kidneys and bladder at a far faster rate than other beverages. For this reason, drinking alcohol without enough water can quickly lead to dehydration.

Dehydration often results in headaches, as your organs start to take water from the brain to make up for their own water loss. Your potassium and salt levels will also reduce, which can negatively impact nerve and muscle function. Low levels of potassium and salt levels can also cause headaches, nausea and fatigue.

On the other hand, giving up alcohol will help keep you well hydrated and benefit your brain. Once you stop drinking, you will most likely experience headaches less frequently. Without the effects of dehydration slowing you down, you’ll also feel more focused, stable, energized and motivated throughout the day.

Improving your hydration will also do wonders for your skin. While heavy drinking has been linked with inflammatory skin diseases, cutting alcohol out of your diet can improve your skin’s health, making it more radiant. Quitting alcohol can gradually restore your skin’s elasticity, decrease redness or yellowing of the skin and lessen dark circles around the eyes.

10. Clearer Thinking and Memory

Over time, routine heavy drinking can make it more difficult to think clearly or remember things. Alcohol misuse can even cloud your perception of volumes and distances or slow and impair your motor skills. In addition, you may find it more challenging to read other people’s emotions. These negative side effects occur because heavy drinking causes the brain’s hippocampus, which is crucial for memory and learning, to shrink.

Quitting alcohol is the only way to give your brain the chance to partially correct any structural changes that heavy drinking may have caused. Giving up alcohol may also help reverse any adverse effects on your thinking skills, such as your ability to remember things, problem-solving skills and attention span.

How to Get the Benefits of Detoxing From Alcohol

Giving up drinking and reaping the benefits of sobriety is not always easy. Alcohol withdrawal is a real challenge that may make it more difficult to resist drinking once you’ve decided to quit. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may include sweating, rapid heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, tremors or seizures and range from mild to severe.

Trying to go through alcohol withdrawal on your own can be daunting or even dangerous. Prioritize your safety and sobriety by joining an alcohol detox program instead of trying to quit alcohol alone. You will receive high-quality care and effective sobriety strategies from medical professionals when you register for alcohol addiction treatment.

Enrolling in an alcohol addiction treatment program will ensure that you have access to qualified medical staff members with the expertise to help manage the discomfort and risks of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These treatment methods may include medications, behavioral therapy, mindfulness training and more.

Once you complete your treatment program, you’ll be equipped with the confidence, skills and support system you need to attain long-term sobriety. The 10 benefits listed above are just the beginning — the longer you go without alcohol, the more health improvements you will see. Be prepared to experience positive changes in your health, relationships, work, finances and more.

Detox From Alcohol With Gateway Foundation

If you’re ready to experience all of the benefits of detoxing from alcohol, explore your options for alcohol addiction treatment from Gateway Foundation. At Gateway Foundation, we provide personalized recovery programs that will give you the tools to stay motivated and on track to sobriety. Our team of caring professionals will guide and assist you through every stage of recovery, helping you achieve greater, permanent success.

When you join Gateway Foundation, we are with you for life. With over 50 years of experience and evidence-based treatments, you can be sure you will receive the best care and positive outcomes. Contact us today for more information about how Gateway Foundation can help you or a loved one overcome alcohol use disorder.

Reviewed by:

Gateway Foundation

Gateway Foundation is a recognized leader in evidence-based addiction treatment proven to get results. Our experts in Addiction Medicine—including highly educated clinical and medical professionals and expert psychiatrists and nurses—deliver care that never stops. For over 50 years, Gateway Foundation has been helping individuals and their families recover from addictions and behavioral health issues and is the only provider that covers the entire state of Illinois with 16 facilities from the Wisconsin Border to the Kentucky Border. Gateway has specific programs focusing on substance use disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring issues. We’re licensed by the state of Illinois and accredited by the Joint Commission. We are in-network with all the major commercial insurance plans. Gateway Foundation: Addiction medicine, saving lives.

The post Benefits of Detoxing From Alcohol appeared first on Gateway Foundation.

Withdrawal can be a difficult process, but it can be done safely with medical supervision. Medically supervised facilities can help people manage the unpleasant symptoms that come at the beginning of addiction treatment with the help of medications. Learn why medication can play an important role in detox and what options medical professionals may opt to include in your treatment plan.

• Why Medications Are Used During Detox
• Medications Used in Detox
• Getting Help at Gateway Foundation

Why Medications Are Used During Detox

People may need to go through detox for a number of reasons, including drug abuse, alcohol addiction and addiction to prescription medications. Removing addictive substances from the body is the purpose of detox. While this does not mean the end of addiction treatment, it is an important first step. How can medication play a role in detox and the addiction treatment that follows?

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has been demonstrated as an effective treatment approach for addiction. MAT uses a combination of detox medications, cognitive behavioral therapy and counseling to help people address their addiction. Medication is an important part of this process because it can:

Reduce Cravings

Cravings are a significant part of what makes the cycle of addiction so difficult to break. You may want to stop drinking or drug use, but every time you do, you can be hit with intense physical and psychological cravings. While willpower is important, it is often not enough to overcome these cravings alone.

Certain medications may be used in your treatment plan to dampen these cravings. For example, there are specific medications, known as opioid agonists, which reduce the cravings associated with opioid withdrawal. There are other medications that specifically target the cravings associated with alcohol withdrawal. These medications are prescribed in an inpatient or outpatient treatment setting by medical professionals who oversee the dosage and usage.

While these medications may not entirely erase cravings, they can be a useful tool in making them more manageable, allowing you to focus more on recovery.

>Decrease the Other Effects of Withdrawal

Cravings are just one of the symptoms associated with detox. People also frequently experience anxiety, depression, sweating, stomach upset and muscle aches. Medication can help to make these symptoms more bearable. And in some cases, medication makes the process of detox much safer. The abrupt cessation of some addictive substances, like Xanax, can be dangerous. If you try to quit suddenly and without proper medical supervision, you could be at risk of side effects like seizures or even death.

The professional teams at addiction treatment centers can help you to gradually remove toxic substances from your body, using medication to slowly taper the amount of the substance in your system. The symptoms of withdrawal will not be as severe and the risk of dangerous side effects is much lower.

Lower the Risk of Relapse

Relapse is a common part of recovering from addiction. Your addiction can be triggered while you are trying your best to work your way toward sobriety. While relapse is frustrating, it is completely normal. Medication can reduce the risk of relapsing by helping people to better cope with the stressors that may trigger a relapse.

When combined with cognitive behavioral therapy, people can become more equipped to handle their triggers and move forward without relapsing. Therapy can also help patients to better adhere to their treatment regimen.

Medications Used in Detox

Healthcare professionals may prescribe several medications to help with detoxification. Some of these include:

Methadone

Methadone is an opioid agonist commonly used in the treatment of heroin and opioid addiction. Methadone is also prescribed as a pain medication. It can be habit-forming, like other opioids, but it is a long-acting opioid. This medication helps to blunt cravings in people addicted to opioids and minimize the symptoms of withdrawal. But, methadone does not produce the same pleasurable feelings or “high” as fast-acting opioids. Methadone is prescribed under a number of branded names, including Dolophine and Methadose.

Initially, methadone may make some people sleepy. It can take a few days for people to feel the full effects of treatment with methadone. Methadone can be taken as a tablet, dissolved in water or administered as a liquid. Your doctor will work with you to determine the optimal dosage and how often you will take the medication.

Breaking your addiction to fast-acting opioids, like heroin, oxycodone and fentanyl, is the ultimate goal of using methadone during treatment. How long you will use methadone will depend on your particular situation. Typically, you will be prescribed methadone to help you manage the immediate cravings and symptoms of withdrawal.

Over time, you will undergo other treatment, such as therapy and counseling, to help you move forward. A year of treatment with methadone is typical, but some people may require more time. Stopping treatment with an opioid agonist too soon can increase the risk of relapsing and overdose.

Note that, at Gateway Foundation, we don’t use methadone or prescribe it. Instead, we use medications such as Suboxone or Vivitrol.

Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is often prescribed as part of a MAT treatment program for opioid addiction. This medication is an opioid partial agonist. It still activates the opioid receptors in the brain, but that reaction is much less powerful than the one caused by heroin or other addictive opioids. This medication can be prescribed in an outpatient or inpatient treatment setting. Buprenorphine has multiple branded names, including Probuphine and Subutex. Buprenorphine can also be administered as an extended-release injection, prescribed under the name Sublocade.

Buprenorphine is often prescribed as a sublingual tablet, meaning you will take it by allowing it to dissolve under your tongue. The medication might be prescribed on its own, or it might be prescribed with naloxone. The combination of the two medications goes by the branded names Suboxone and Zubsolv. Buprenorphine, alone or with naloxone, helps to manage the symptoms of withdrawal and lessen the cravings.

Before taking buprenorphine, it is important that you have not used opioids for 12 to 24 hours. If taken while opioids are still in the bloodstream, this medication may cause you to experience acute withdrawal symptoms. The timeline of treatment with buprenorphine will depend on the individual. As you move through treatment and make progress, your doctor may talk to you about adjusting the dosage of this medication.

Naltrexone

Naltrexone can be prescribed as a part of a MAT treatment program for alcohol use disorder or opioid use disorder. This medication is available in pill form or via injection. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, rather than an opioid agonist. Opioid antagonists actually block the effects of opioids. The medication attaches to the brain’s opioids receptors but does not activate these receptors like drugs such as heroin and oxycodone will. Brand names for naltrexone include ReVia, Vivitrol and Depade.

Naltrexone is prescribed to people who are further along in treatment. Taking naltrexone while taking opioids can result in the sudden onset of withdrawal symptoms. Naltrexone does not mitigate withdrawal symptoms. Rather, it helps to prevent people from taking opioids again. This medication decreases the desire to take the addictive drug and blocks the effect of the drug if you do take it.

Your doctor will likely prescribe you naltrexone in pill form. The drug can be taken daily, or it may be prescribed in higher doses every few days. Naltrexone is designed to help prevent relapse in people who are recovering from addiction. It is important that this medication not be taken with opioids. Your doctor may ask for a urine sample before prescribing this medication to confirm that there has been no recent opioid use.

Vivitrol

Vivitrol is a branded, injectable form of naltrexone. While naltrexone taken in pill form may require daily usage, Vivitrol can be injected once a month. This medication can be prescribed for people struggling with opioid addiction or alcohol addiction. It can help to reduce the cravings for opioids or alcohol. Like many other medications for opioid treatment, it is important that Vivitrol be taken several days after your last opioid use. Taking Vivitrol with opioids still in your system can trigger acute withdrawal symptoms.

Some people may prefer Vivitrol over the other forms of naltrexone because of its convenience. Vivitrol is taken as a single monthly shot, while naltrexone is taken in pill form daily. The Vivitrol injection must be administered by a healthcare professional, while pills may be prescribed as part of a regimen that can be done on your own.

Vivitrol, like other medications used to help people overcome opioid addiction, is typically prescribed along with other forms of treatment, like therapy and counseling. Your healthcare provider will talk to you about the risk of overdose if you take opioids while on Vivitrol. Vivitrol blocks the pleasurable effects of opioids, which means it will take more of the drugs to feel the same effects you did before. Trying to overcome the blocking effects of Vivitrol can be dangerous and lead to accidental overdose.

Campral

Campral (also known by the generic name acamprosate) is one of the detox medications for alcohol. This medication can be prescribed for someone who has recently quit drinking alcohol. Campral helps to adjust the brain’s chemical balance. The medication can also reduce the pleasurable feelings generated by drinking alcohol, thus decreasing the desire to drink. Typically, this medication is prescribed post-detox. It can be taken, in conjunction with therapy, to help prevent the desire to drink and to help lower the risk of relapse.

Campral is prescribed in pill form. The pills are delayed release, and your doctor will likely instruct you to take them at certain times throughout the day. It can take up to a week for the medication to build up in your system and take full effect. Campral also has an intravenous form.

Campral does not come with many side effects, and if it does, the side effects tend to be mild. The medication is not addictive, and it is often prescribed for a period of 12 months after you stop drinking.

Campral does not mitigate or treat the symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal. Instead, this medication is prescribed to help people maintain sobriety. If you are struggling with addiction to other substances beyond alcohol, Campral is likely not the right fit.

Librium

Librium is among the outpatient alcohol detox medications your care provider may consider prescribing during your recovery from alcohol addiction. Librium is a benzodiazepine, which is a term for a group of medications typically prescribed to manage anxiety disorders. Librium (generic name chlordiazepoxide) can also be prescribed to help people manage the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. The medication acts as a sedative to calm you.

After a long period of alcohol dependence, the brain begins to behave differently. It becomes used to the depressive effects of alcohol. The sudden cessation of drinking results in a change in brain chemistry. Your central nervous system struggles to function normally without alcohol. This event causes the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, including tremors, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, sweating and insomnia. In severe cases, alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures and hallucinations.

Librium helps to manage the symptoms of withdrawal by regulating how the neurotransmitters in your brain communicate during withdrawal. This medication is typically prescribed in pill form. Your doctor will determine what dosage makes the most sense for you. As a benzodiazepine, Librium is potentially habit-forming.

When used for alcohol withdrawal, this benzodiazepine detox medication is typically only prescribed for a few days or up to a week while someone is experiencing acute symptoms. As you move through the initial detox process, your doctor may taper your dose down. It is important to carefully follow your doctor’s instructions while taking this medication to reduce the risk of addiction to Librium.

Once you go through detox, your doctor will likely discuss the next phase of your treatment, which may include different medications as well as therapy and counseling.

Getting Help at Gateway Foundation

Detox is a major obstacle for many people struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol. The effects of withdrawal are scary, especially if you have experienced withdrawal and relapse. It takes time and dedication to detox medications from the body. But, you do not have to go through alcohol or drug detoxification alone.

At Gateway Foundation, we offer MAT to our patients. We understand that everyone is different, and that means treatment should be designed to fit your needs. We will make a plan together for how to approach detox, what medications make sense and how you will move forward with the treatment you need to find long-lasting sobriety.

Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help and how you can start to move forward with your life.

Reviewed by:

Gateway Foundation

Gateway Foundation is a recognized leader in evidence-based addiction treatment proven to get results. Our experts in Addiction Medicine—including highly educated clinical and medical professionals and expert psychiatrists and nurses—deliver care that never stops. For over 50 years, Gateway Foundation has been helping individuals and their families recover from addictions and behavioral health issues and is the only provider that covers the entire state of Illinois with 16 facilities from the Wisconsin Border to the Kentucky Border. Gateway has specific programs focusing on substance use disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring issues. We’re licensed by the state of Illinois and accredited by the Joint Commission. We are in-network with all the major commercial insurance plans. Gateway Foundation: Addiction medicine, saving lives.

The post What Medications Are Used During Detox? appeared first on Gateway Foundation.

Reviewed by:

Gateway Foundation

Gateway Foundation is a recognized leader in evidence-based addiction treatment proven to get results. Our experts in Addiction Medicine—including highly educated clinical and medical professionals and expert psychiatrists and nurses—deliver care that never stops. For over 50 years, Gateway Foundation has been helping individuals and their families recover from addictions and behavioral health issues and is the only provider that covers the entire state of Illinois with 16 facilities from the Wisconsin Border to the Kentucky Border. Gateway has specific programs focusing on substance use disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring issues. We’re licensed by the state of Illinois and accredited by the Joint Commission. We are in-network with all the major commercial insurance plans. Gateway Foundation: Addiction medicine, saving lives.

The post What’s the Difference Between Detox and Withdrawal? appeared first on Gateway Foundation.

Gateway Foundation

Gateway Foundation is a recognized leader in evidence-based addiction treatment proven to get results. Our experts in Addiction Medicine—including highly educated clinical and medical professionals and expert psychiatrists and nurses—deliver care that never stops. For over 50 years, Gateway Foundation has been helping individuals and their families recover from addictions and behavioral health issues and is the only provider that covers the entire state of Illinois with 16 facilities from the Wisconsin Border to the Kentucky Border. Gateway has specific programs focusing on substance use disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring issues. We’re licensed by the state of Illinois and accredited by the Joint Commission. We are in-network with all the major commercial insurance plans. Gateway Foundation: Addiction medicine, saving lives.

The post Dangers of Quitting Alcohol Cold Turkey appeared first on Gateway Foundation.

Gateway Foundation

Gateway Foundation is a recognized leader in evidence-based addiction treatment proven to get results. Our experts in Addiction Medicine—including highly educated clinical and medical professionals and expert psychiatrists and nurses—deliver care that never stops. For over 50 years, Gateway Foundation has been helping individuals and their families recover from addictions and behavioral health issues and is the only provider that covers the entire state of Illinois with 16 facilities from the Wisconsin Border to the Kentucky Border. Gateway has specific programs focusing on substance use disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring issues. We’re licensed by the state of Illinois and accredited by the Joint Commission. We are in-network with all the major commercial insurance plans. Gateway Foundation: Addiction medicine, saving lives.

The post Dangers of Quitting Smoking Cold Turkey appeared first on Gateway Foundation.

What Does Quitting Cold Turkey Mean and Why Is It So Hard?

Quitting cold turkey simply means to stop using drugs abruptly and without help. Most cold turkey methods are attempted at home without outside intervention or medical assistance. Quitting cold turkey should not be confused with the addiction treatment known as detoxification. Detox allows you to slowly purge drugs from your system, usually in a safe, controlled environment.

The cold turkey method is so difficult for two main reasons — cravings and withdrawal symptoms. If you’re addicted to drugs, your body has developed an unhealthy physical and mental dependence on a particular substance. In fact, your body and brain begin to need those chemicals to maintain their equilibrium. If you abruptly quit, your body starts purging itself of those substances, attempting to return to its non-addicted state. This process produces intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms that can impact you physically, mentally and emotionally.

Is Quitting Drugs Cold Turkey Bad for You?

Cold turkey detox may seem like a quick, easy option if you’re trying to quit drugs. You get to go through the process in the privacy of your own home without the scrutiny or judgment of others. However, the cold turkey method comes with many risks that can jeopardize your health and ability to achieve and maintain sobriety.

Drug addiction as a chronic disease has a high relapse rate. Self-detox without guidance, assistance or support intensifies that risk. The cravings make it difficult to refrain from using drugs. Also, withdrawal symptoms can be so intense that it seems better to return to drug use to make them go away. Relapse can be extremely dangerous — even deadly.

What Factors Impact Your Success With the Cold Turkey Method?

An abundance of factors influence whether or not the cold turkey method will work for you:

• The drug you’re addicted to: The drug your body is dependent on makes a difference in the severity and type of withdrawal symptoms you experience. Drugs like heroin, opioids and benzos are highly addictive and can lead to potentially serious withdrawal.
• The severity of your addiction: The more of a drug you use and the length of time you use it determines how heavily dependent your body and brain will be on that substance. The more severe your addiction, the more intense withdrawal will be.
• Co-occuring mental health or medical conditions: Psychological issues and medical conditions can complicate drug withdrawal. These factors make cold turkey detox more unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

What Happens to Your Body When You Suddenly Stop Using Drugs?

If you struggle with active drug addiction, your body is likely dependent on that drug. When you stop using, withdrawal symptoms and cravings will undoubtedly arise. Withdrawal side effects can range from mild to potentially lethal. Some of the most common psychological and physical symptoms of drug withdrawal include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Agitation and irritability
• Mood swings
• Mental fogginess
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach cramping or pain
• Muscle aches
• Pain sensitivity
• Sleep difficulties
• Irregular heart rate

Cold turkey withdrawal from drugs can also include dangerous side effects like:

• Changes in blood pressure
• Tachycardia
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Coma

Get Help From the Medical Professionals at Gateway Foundation

The detoxification process can be unpredictable, and you may not be able to successfully manage the severe side effects of withdrawal on your own. A medically supervised drug addiction treatment program can keep you safe while also minimizing your risk of relapse.

At Gateway Foundation, we want to ensure your safe, successful recovery through medication-assisted treatment and other evidence-based methods. We offer a number of therapies and services to help you build healthy habits and make positive life changes. Instead of quitting drugs cold turkey, contact us today to learn about our personalized treatment programs.

Gateway Foundation

Gateway Foundation is a recognized leader in evidence-based addiction treatment proven to get results. Our experts in Addiction Medicine—including highly educated clinical and medical professionals and expert psychiatrists and nurses—deliver care that never stops. For over 50 years, Gateway Foundation has been helping individuals and their families recover from addictions and behavioral health issues and is the only provider that covers the entire state of Illinois with 16 facilities from the Wisconsin Border to the Kentucky Border. Gateway has specific programs focusing on substance use disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring issues. We’re licensed by the state of Illinois and accredited by the Joint Commission. We are in-network with all the major commercial insurance plans. Gateway Foundation: Addiction medicine, saving lives.

The post Dangers of Quitting Drugs Cold Turkey appeared first on Gateway Foundation.

In the United States, one out of every seven people faces addiction in their lifetime. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. And there is help.

If you are addicted to alcohol, opioids, heroin or specific other drugs, a medically supervised withdrawal program — commonly referred to as “detox” — is a critical first step toward recovery. Ridding the body of the chemical grip drugs and alcohol have on it significantly impacts a person’s ability to complete a rehab program and regain control of their life.

This process isn’t easy. There are severe physical and mental side effects to going through withdrawal, even with the appropriate medical supervision. But if you are serious about breaking free from the cycle of abuse, it’s a crucial first step toward the rest of your life.

• What Is Medical Detox?
• Types of Detox
• Detox Symptoms
• Detoxification Process
• Dangers of Detoxing Alone
• How to Know If You Need Detox Treatment
• Setting Yourself up for Success After Detox

What Is Medical Detox?

Detoxification is the process that frees the body and mind of the addictive chemicals it has stored up during drug use. Drugs like opioids, heroin or alcohol actually do more than temporarily alter your mental state — if used long enough and in high quantities, they can also interfere with your cognitive abilities and your body’s day-to-day ability to function.

When a person quits using these drugs, the body responds fully and quickly.

Why?

The body has become accustomed to operating with the help of these substances. Without them, it doesn’t remember quite how it’s supposed to work. It reacts to the missing chemical with a strong, and sometimes severe, response. In some cases, the reaction may be mental, such as insomnia, anxiety or mood swings. In other cases, symptoms may be physical, such as vomiting, fever and even seizure. Often, the mental and physical side effects overlap, resulting in discomfort and pain for the person who is addicted.

Because of the potential dangers associated with drug and alcohol detox, it’s vital to undergo medically-supervised withdrawal, which is the process of detoxifying under the trained eye of medical professionals through a detox treatment center. This type of supervised program provides protection, support and comfort for the person trying to work through addiction. Indeed, it is an essential first step toward a successful journey through drug rehab.

Types of Detox

Drug addiction is scary. Seeking help for yourself or a loved one is a brave decision. If you have decided to get help, you might be trying to determine which type of medical detoxification program is right for you. Every treatment facility is a little bit different, and you should always consult your doctor and the facility before making any treatment decisions.

In general, there are three types of drug detox programs.

1. Outpatient Detox

Outpatient detox allows the patient to detox at home while under the regular supervision of a medical professional and drug treatment facility. The benefit of this is that they can remain with their families and in the comfort of their home. However, the downside is that they aren’t under 24/7 medical supervision, meaning there is a higher risk of relapse or medical complications that may arise when help isn’t available.

2. Medical Detox

In the previous section, we defined medical detox as a medically supervised withdrawal program. However, the term “medical detox” can also refer to a program that uses other medications to ease some of the mental and physical symptoms associated with drug withdrawal. You will typically take these medications for a short period, and their primary goal is to ease the impact of the withdrawal period. Once your doctor determines you have completed the withdrawal period, they will instruct you to reduce or eliminate the medications. You can choose to complete medical detox in an inpatient or outpatient setting.

3. Inpatient Detox

The idea of leaving your home and your family, even for a brief time, can be intimidating. A lot of people are frightened by the idea of going through a grueling withdrawal without the people they love nearby. Leaving your loved ones and entering treatment is hard, but it is often the best way to overcome addiction.

Even the most caring, supportive family may not be able to withstand the rigorous detoxification period. They may not have the medical knowledge or training to address some of the physical side effects that arise, and they might not be emotionally able to stand up to the monster of addiction as it rears its head.

The safest way to navigate the detox process is at an inpatient facility under the constant supervision of medical professionals. Even though this means leaving the comfort of your home, it’s often easier — and safer — to experience withdrawal symptoms in a safe place where help is always close at hand. Entering an inpatient facility alone is hard, but it’s also a beautiful way to show your loved ones that you care enough about them to fully commit to this process.

Detox Symptoms

There’s no way to sugarcoat it — medical detoxification can be grueling. The mental and physical side effects of withdrawal can be painful and overwhelming. The symptoms you experience will depend on body chemistry, the type of drug and the length of time the addiction has been going on.

The duration and severity of withdrawal side effects aren’t always predictable. However, some of the most common effects include:

• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Insomnia
• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Rapid heartbeat
• Fever
• Sweating
• Muscle pain
• Irritability
• Fatigue

The Detoxification Process

Besides understanding how to detox your body from drugs safely and knowing what you may experience during the withdrawal process, it’s also essential to realize that medically supervised withdrawal, just like addiction recovery, is a process. It won’t happen in a day, and it will look different for everyone.

Although the length and severity of symptoms can vary from person to person, the detoxification process tends to follow a pattern when it comes to what people experience and how long it lasts. During medically supervised withdrawal, patients cycle through four stages.

1. The Beginning

Risk of relapse: Low to moderate

The earliest stages of detox can begin as soon as a couple of hours after the last use of a drug. In some cases, it may take longer. The symptoms of this initial phase may seem mild and controllable. That is because the body is just starting to crave the substance it relies on, and often, there may still be some working its way through. This stage is a prime time to seek help because, in many cases, the person struggling with an addiction is coherent enough to recognize their need for help and willing to agree to treatment. Once they have entered a treatment facility, their clinicians can develop and implement a plan to address and manage the next phase of withdrawal. A physician may also prescribe medication to ease specific side effects.

2. The Peak

Risk of relapse: High

The peak stage of medically supervised withdrawal typically occurs between days two and five after drug use has stopped. Withdrawal symptoms will be the most severe at this time. For the first few days after the drugs are finally out of the body, it may struggle to function. These challenges represent the body’s way of recovering and relearning how to operate without the chemicals it has become accustomed to. It can be mentally exhausting and physically painful. The chance of relapse becomes so high because the body craves what it is used to, even though it’s unhealthy.

During this time, treatment facilities will work closely with the patient to mitigate the impact of symptoms — when possible — and ease the severity of their discomfort. This monitoring also includes keeping a close eye on their physical condition, since withdrawal from some drugs can result in seizures and heart problems.

3. The New Normal

Risk of relapse: Moderate and decreasing

After a few days, many people notice gradual relief from the most severe symptoms. Others, such as those addicted to alcohol, may find the most severe symptoms are just beginning. However, after a couple of weeks, most find their minds start to clear and they are better able to understand and receive the treatment offered to them. This stage is often when the use of medicines — if applicable — can decrease, and the treatment team can begin incorporating counseling into the recovery program.

4. Conclusion

Risk of relapse: Moderate

Approximately two weeks after entering a detox program, the worst side effects of withdrawal should subside, but the true work of overcoming addiction is just getting started. As the medically supervised withdrawal period comes to a close, patients transfer to a drug rehab program where they can begin the process of healing both physically and emotionally. Moving into an inpatient drug rehab program provides a safe, supportive environment to address the addiction itself while providing a support team that can continue to monitor and mitigate any lingering withdrawal symptoms.

Although most symptoms will have eased by this time, some patients do find themselves dealing with post-acute withdrawal syndrome. This phenomenon entails a continued display of specific withdrawal symptoms, typically anxiety, insomnia and mood swings. When this occurs, a doctor can prescribe medications to manage symptoms.

Dangers of Detoxing Alone

One of the most significant risks associated with drug detoxification comes in trying to go it alone. Home detoxification kits — or the determination to quit “cold turkey” — can have severe and potentially fatal consequences.

1. Health Risks

The side effects of withdrawal include things like severe mood swings, seizures and heart problems. If you are detoxing alone, there are no trained medical professionals nearby to detect these problems and treat them promptly. In some cases, it’s even possible to treat side effects before they happen with prescription medications specifically designed to ease the effects of withdrawal. But if you aren’t under the care and supervision of a medical team with experience in addiction, these medications won’t be available.

2. Lack of Support

One of the benefits of undergoing detox in a medical facility is that you are never far from an experienced, caring team of professionals who can help and support you through the worst of your withdrawal symptoms. Depending on your needs, they can administer medications to help ease cravings or withdrawal symptoms. They can also monitor you and provide emotional support through the tough days.

We understand that it can be hard to think about leaving your family, especially if you have children at home. But choosing to seek professional help in overcoming your addiction shows your family how much you care about getting better and resuming your life together. Family members can and should provide support to you during detoxification. The facility where you choose to undergo detox can guide your loved ones on the best way to remain supportive during this challenging time.

3. Risk of Relapse

Even if you’ve decided you need to stop doing drugs, your body may not be able to keep up with your brain’s decision. When your body is addicted to a chemical, it craves that substance. You may know it’s unhealthy, but your body has become wired to need that substance to function. When you don’t have help and support during detox, it becomes easier to give in to the cravings to continue using drugs, rather than let your body heal.

Treatment for drug addiction is more likely to have long-term success when it takes place at a long-term reputable inpatient facility. Research has shown that the odds of making a long-term recovery from drug addiction are significantly higher with medically assisted interventions and therapies. Those who try to overcome addiction on their own don’t have access to the treatments and support that can guide them through the ups and downs of the withdrawal process.

How to Know If You Need Detox Treatment

Detox treatment can be a crucial part of a drug addiction recovery program. However, it’s most effective for individuals with addictions to:

• Heroin
• Opioids
• Alcohol
• Benzodiazepines

Detox is necessary for those who are addicted to these drugs because of the severe physical effects they have on the human body. They alter chemical activity in the brain to the point where the body has to relearn how to function without them once they are no longer present in the bloodstream. It takes time to remove them, as well as ease your body back into working on its own again.

Setting Yourself up for Success After Detox

Detox is a critical first step toward a drug-free life, but it’s not the only step. Once you have completed detox, it’s time to move on to the next step in the recovery journey.

1. Enter a Reputable Drug Rehab Program

The goal of detox is to help you regain the physical strength and mental clarity needed to complete drug rehab. Once the side effects of withdrawal subside, it’s time to begin the work of rehabilitation.

Although some people choose to go straight from detox to outpatient rehabilitation programs, starting in an inpatient rehab program often provides the round-the-clock support and care needed to begin working through the psychological aspects of addiction. Rehab will include continued treatment and monitoring for withdrawal side effects, as well as an intensive therapy program designed to address the underlying issues behind addiction.

Your doctor or treatment team can recommend the best rehab option based on your specific circumstances.

2. Find a Support Group

It’s essential to realize that the work of recovery doesn’t end when someone completes a formal drug rehab program. One of the most significant advantages of rehab is the constant help and support from the medical staff, the counseling team and your peers going through the rehab program alongside you. Once you have completed your formal rehab program, you should immediately establish yourself in a healthy, drug-free social network that will continue to encourage you and provide a helping hand when you need one. The best way to do this is through participation in support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, 12-step programs designed to provide therapy and support in an accepting community setting.

3. Establish a Structured Living Environment

During rehab, everything is incredibly structured. Use this structure as a template for post-rehab life. Eat meals at the same time, sleep at the same time and schedule free time to pursue hobbies. Block off hours on your schedule for physical activity and, if you wish, spiritual pursuits. Also, make sure to incorporate time for engagement with a social circle who can be a positive influence on you.

In the earliest phases of recovery, you will need your family members to be especially supportive of your process. Although it may mean a change in routine or habits for others in the home, it can also be an excellent chance for families to come together to provide the love and compassion that are so essential to continued recovery.

This stage is also an ideal time to change your diet to support the recovery process. A balanced diet is good for anyone, but those recovering from addiction should be especially careful to consume whole foods that are high in nutrients and low in sugars and additives.

4. Keep Things Simple

Don’t expect to jump right back into a hectic lifestyle once rehab is over. Take it easy on yourself. Plan healthy, simple meals you can put together quickly — or in advance. Incorporate time to rest. Engage in light exercises such as walking or yoga. Meditate or add religious practices into your daily life. If you do resume working, maintain strict boundaries about working hours and look for ways to minimize stress.

5. Avoid Temptation

As anyone with a history of addiction knows, detox and rehab aren’t going to “cure” your addiction. The goal of these programs is to improve overall mental and physical health, so you have the tools to resist giving in to your addiction when it rears its ugly head. Part of this means learning to recognize what triggers cravings or entices you to engage in drug use. For some people, it may be a particular group of friends or a former significant other. For others, it may be a stressful job situation or an unresolved health issue. Identify those triggers and remove them from your life.

The Gateway Foundation

Drug addiction is scary, but there is hope. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, it’s crucial to act quickly and get the help needed to regain control.

The Gateway Foundation has committed to providing specialized and innovative treatments for addiction. We recognize and apply the science behind addiction, but we also know that there’s no one-size-fits-all program when it comes to addiction recovery. So, we tailor our programs to account for individuals who have a dual diagnosis or have experienced trauma.

Fifty years and 1 million patients later, we continue doing this because we firmly believe every individual deserves to find their way out of the clutches of addiction. We offer low-cost, highly effective programs for all ages. If addiction is tearing you or your family apart, don’t wait. Contact Gateway for help today.

Gateway Foundation

Gateway Foundation is a recognized leader in evidence-based addiction treatment proven to get results. Our experts in Addiction Medicine—including highly educated clinical and medical professionals and expert psychiatrists and nurses—deliver care that never stops. For over 50 years, Gateway Foundation has been helping individuals and their families recover from addictions and behavioral health issues and is the only provider that covers the entire state of Illinois with 16 facilities from the Wisconsin Border to the Kentucky Border. Gateway has specific programs focusing on substance use disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring issues. We’re licensed by the state of Illinois and accredited by the Joint Commission. We are in-network with all the major commercial insurance plans. Gateway Foundation: Addiction medicine, saving lives.

The post Substance Abuse Detox Process appeared first on Gateway Foundation.

Signs You May Be Developing an Addiction to Alcohol

From big-budget TV ads to sitcoms and billboards, there is no shortage of sources telling us that drinking is fun and glamorous. While many people can have a drink or two with little to no ill effects, others have trouble knowing when to stop. Most people do not recognize when acceptable amounts of drinking slide into patterns that may indicate addiction. These are some of the signs your drinking is problematic:

• Missing work or school in the aftermath of drinking
• Deterioration in friendships and family relationships
• Financial trouble due to alcohol consumption
• Feeling guilty or depressed after drinking
• Drinking to alleviate social anxiety
• Drinking to feel more confident
• Drinking alone
• Drinking more than you intend to
• Drinking to the point of blackout and memory loss

Three or more of these symptoms point to drinking that is becoming a severe issue. If you are questioning whether you have a problem with alcohol, your gut feeling is likely correct and it’s time to get help.

One of the most glaring signs of burgeoning alcohol addiction is the development of tolerance. Tolerance is a state in which a person builds up a resistance to the effects of a substance, and therefore must consume increasingly higher amounts to produce the same results.

Tolerance tends to sneak up on people when they’re developing an alcohol addiction. When two beers don’t produce a good buzz anymore, a person may start drinking an entire six-pack in one sitting. It’s common for people with an alcohol use disorder to switch from beer to wine to hard liquor because it is a more cost-effective way to get drunk. If you find yourself continually needing to consume more alcohol to achieve the buzz you’re looking for, you should consider getting help.

The Four Stages of Alcohol Use

You have likely heard the idea that addiction is a disease. This concept comes from Elvin Morton Jellinek’s 1960 book “The Disease Concept of Alcoholism.” The book was the first to propose the disease model of addiction to alcohol that is now widely accepted as a means of definition. Under this model, alcoholism is a chronic condition that requires professional treatment, much like diabetes. The model also delineates four stages of alcohol use that progress over time.

1. Pre-Alcoholic Stage

Also known as the symptomatic drinking stage, this point in the development of addiction involves a person drinking as a means to cope with one or more problems in their life. One of the most seemingly innocuous ways this presents is in social drinking. When someone feels uncomfortable in a social situation, they may use alcohol as a way to “cut loose” or become more relaxed around a given group.

Social drinking to curb anxiety may seem harmless, and many people can do it without moving further through the stages of alcohol use. However, it indicates a mindset in which someone is viewing alcohol as the solution to a problem, and that attitude can be incredibly dangerous.

The development of a tolerance also defines the pre-alcoholic stage. There is no set length of time any person will remain in this or any other stage of alcoholism. Some people linger in the pre-alcoholic stage for years and build their tolerance very slowly, and others may develop a noticeable jump in their tolerance within just a few months of taking up symptomatic drinking. Unsurprisingly, pre-alcoholism is the easiest stage to treat.

2. Early Stage

The early stage of alcoholism is also called the “prodromal” stage. “Prodrome” is a medical term for a symptom that indicates the onset of a disease before other signs appear. The establishment of a pattern in alcohol abuse marks this transitional stage, which introduces cyclical abuse. The cycle begins when the individual’s drinking starts to cause problems in everyday life.

Relationships with family and friends begin to deteriorate as the person’s focus shifts more toward drinking. The person then deals with the stress of these alcohol-induced problems by drinking more. Alcohol has a remarkable ability to allow drinkers to forget or stop caring about their issues, which is why it’s so tempting to escalate when someone is feeling stressed.

The early stage is where blackouts start to occur. A blackout is when someone drinks so much their brain becomes incapable of forming memories, leading to hours of lost time. Blackouts are an especially potent source of guilt, which tends to prevent people from getting the help they need.

3. Middle Stage

The characteristics of the middle or “crucial” stage include extreme shame and profound guilt surrounding drinking. At this point, the person finally realizes they have a problem and may attempt to mitigate it by changing their patterns. However, the most common attempts to alter drinking patterns involve things like switching brands or trying to scale back from liquor to beer or wine.

The person struggling with alcoholism may try to generate periods of abstinence. In some cases, a person might succeed in not drinking for a few days at a time, or manage to lower their level of consumption. Unfortunately, the majority of individuals in this stage are unable to sustain these changes on their own and go back to a pattern of escalating alcohol misuse.

Failed attempts to rein in drinking deepen the shame spiral, and cause people to begin interacting with alcohol in ways anyone could recognize as unhealthy. They may attempt to rationalize their drinking and almost always begin hiding it from friends and family, leading to even greater damage to interpersonal relationships.

4. Late Stage

Late-stage alcoholism is also known as the “chronic” stage. According to Jellinek, up until this point, the individual has had agency over their choice to pick up the bottle or glass. Once a person reaches the chronic stage, they have little to no ability to limit their consumption. The individual is under a compulsion to drink, and will avoid any activities that stop them from doing so.

The late stage also links to the progression of alcohol-related diseases and damage. In time, the person will become visibly afflicted, even when they are not drunk. They may slur their words, have difficulty with coordination and experience cognitive declines.

The chronic stage of alcoholism sees a person’s life completely consumed with obtaining alcohol and drinking. If the person refuses to get treatment at this point, they have a very real risk of dying from alcohol abuse.

Stages of Addiction Recovery

Recovery from alcohol addiction is a decision that requires deep commitment. The model of change developed by psychologists James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente breaks it down into six stages.

1. Pre-Contemplation

This initial stage of change occurs when the affected individual realizes the range of negative impacts drinking is having on their life. This realization may be something they actively avoid thinking about, as they have not developed any intention of taking action and finding treatment. The pre-contemplation stage is about growing awareness of the problem.

2. Contemplation

A person in the contemplation stage wants to get help, but has not made a concrete decision to do so. They are likely on the fence and procrastinating. This stage involves the formation of vague plans that may or may not pan out, such as thoughts like “I’ll get help sometime in the next year.” This stage tends to hold onto people and keep them in a cycle of knowing change is necessary, but not feeling capable of acting on that knowledge.

3. Preparation

The preparation stage takes a person from “I should” to “I will.” Loose timelines tighten up, and the prospect of entering treatment becomes real. People in this stage benefit from opening up to friends and family about their decision to seek treatment, as it fosters accountability and helps with follow-through. People in the preparation stage are usually still drinking, but actively planning to stop with treatment. They should prepare a detailed plan of action to improve the chances of successfully entering treatment.

4. Action

After making a thorough plan in the preparation stage, the person is finally ready to take action and follow the steps they’ve outlined. For many people, this means first going through a medically assisted detoxification process at an alcohol addiction treatment center. After their system is free of alcohol and they have achieved physical stability, they will participate in the psychological side of treatment, including different types of therapy and counseling.

5. Maintenance

During the maintenance phase, a recovering alcoholic applies the tools they learned in treatment and enjoys the benefits of being sober. This stage is about integrating new skills and coping mechanisms into everyday life until they become a matter of course. The continuing actions necessary include finding ways to have fun without alcohol and avoiding triggers, for example.

6. Termination

Addiction experts hotly debate this stage. In theory, it’s the point at which the person can confidently say they have conquered their addiction. They are fully sober, have no cravings for alcohol and do not have a significant risk of relapse.

The fact is that alcoholism is a chronic condition that requires lifelong management. While someone in the termination phase may be stable, vigilance against relapse is always necessary. Someone in the termination phase will still benefit from ongoing treatment, even if it’s not intensive. Visiting a therapist at least once a month, for example, will help keep a person stable in sobriety.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Quitting alcohol is a challenging goal, and the physiological barriers to doing so make it even more difficult. When someone stops drinking alcohol after a prolonged period of frequent use, the brain goes into overdrive and responds with a series of symptoms collectively known as withdrawal.

Withdrawal is a deeply unpleasant and sometimes life-threatening condition that can stop recovery in its tracks if a person goes through it without medical supervision. Alcohol detox involves managing withdrawal symptoms, with the milder effects including:

• Anxiety or depression
• Fatigue
• Irritability or agitation
• Jumpiness
• Shakiness
• Mood swings
• Nightmares
• Clouded cognition

Someone who has been drinking consistently for a long time will likely experience some or all of these more severe symptoms:

• Sweating and clammy skin
• Dilated pupils
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rapid heartbeat
• Tremors

In the worst of cases, alcohol detox can prevent the onset of the most severe type of withdrawal: delirium tremens. Delirium tremens, or DT, is incredibly dangerous because it strikes two to three days after the last drink of alcohol and, in some cases, takes up to seven days to set in.

DT is a life-threatening form of withdrawal that changes breathing, circulation and the body’s ability to control temperature. It can also cause dangerously elevated blood pressure and severe dehydration. It comes with confusion and disorientation, and can even cause loss of consciousness. Extreme sweating, disturbed sleep, irrational beliefs and hallucinations can occur. In severe cases, seizures may be a symptom of DT.

Alcohol withdrawal should only take place under medical supervision to ensure the most dangerous symptoms do not get out of hand. In some cases, a doctor can prescribe medications that ease the symptoms to make the process more comfortable. Detox or medication-assisted treatment are the best ways to get started on the road to recovery.

Tips for Maintaining Sobriety During Recovery

Sustained sobriety is the ultimate goal of any addiction treatment program. Achieving this takes hard work, and it’s not always clear how to do it. These five tips will help you or someone you care about stay sober during each of the stages of recovery.

1. Establish New Patterns

Recovery from alcoholism is all about codifying your new skills into habits. That can only happen if you identify and replace the old patterns that led to the addiction in the first place. Establishing new habits helps keep you away from triggers, which is an essential part of staying sober.

For example, if you used to come home from work, get yourself a drink and flop down on the couch, even the straightforward act of sitting down can trigger cravings based on muscle memory. You don’t have to drastically change your routine by standing up all night instead. Even a minor change like taking a shower as soon as you get home can help stop cravings. Establishing new patterns, both big and small, helps build a new life for a new you.

2. Focus on Health

Alcoholism ravages the body. The longer you drank uncontrollably, the more damage alcohol did to vital systems and organs. However, you can reverse some of the damage through a combination of healthy habits. For example, multiple studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between aerobic exercise and substance abuse. With exercise, a nutritionally complete diet and enough sleep, you’ll feel far better than you did when you were drinking and want to keep it that way.

3. Pick up a Hobby

Alcohol addiction is incredibly time-consuming. All those hours you used to spend drinking and recovering from getting drunk are going to feel empty, and idle time makes cravings harder to ignore. Recovery is the perfect time to try out new hobbies and learn new skills. Many people find volunteering gives them a sense of drive and purpose, while also being an effective way to create a healthy pattern. Whatever you choose to do, don’t overlook the benefits of staying moderately busy.

4. Build Healthy Relationships

Alcoholism robs people of the most important relationships in their lives. While many people can repair relationships with those closest to them, others may not have that option. Regardless, it’s crucial to develop healthy relationships in recovery. These relationships provide support and motivation to continue staying sober. A healthy relationship is one where boundaries are clear and the friend in question respects your commitment to sobriety.

This aspect of recovery also involves some pruning of old friendships with people who enabled or encouraged your alcohol abuse. It’s not always easy to change the parameters of a relationship or cut it off altogether, but it may be necessary to allow healthy relationships to flourish.

5. Practice Mindfulness

People have practiced various forms of mindfulness for centuries, and research is beginning to affirm its potential for helping people achieve and maintain recovery from addiction. Experts believe activities like meditation may help restructure the brain’s reward system so natural rewards are once more appealing — a condition alcoholism takes away. Mindfulness is also a powerful tool in rejecting cravings. If you can identify a craving before it becomes overwhelming, you have a better ability to resist it.

Addiction Treatment: The Gateway to Recovery

Alcoholism is a condition that can rip your life away from you faster than you may realize. Choosing to seek treatment is the only way to safely and effectively begin your journey to recovery. At Gateway, we understand the toll addiction takes and the immense courage it takes to admit you have a problem. Our personalized addiction treatment programs apply evidence-based treatment with compassion for you and your specific needs.

Our wide variety of services ranges from outpatient to residential and everything in between, providing the appropriate level of medical supervision and support for alcohol addictions of any severity. Should you need medication-assisted treatment or withdrawal management, Gateway has you covered. Our addiction therapy services include treatment for those with a dual diagnosis of addiction and another mental illness. Multiple forms of proven therapy like motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy give you more options for creating a treatment plan that works for you.

Addiction is a disease, and you should treat it like one. Gateway is one of the few providers that effectively integrates the medical and psychological aspects of treatment for a whole-person approach. We have more than 50 years of treatment expertise, and have treated more than a million patients in that time. We know what works and strive to formulate the most effective plan for each individual.

If you are ready to stop alcohol from controlling your life, Gateway is here to help. We will guide you on your first steps to recovery, and the tools you learn will be with you for life. To learn more about our extensive addiction treatment options, we urge you to call us at 877-505-4673. You can also live chat with us in real time or use our contact form to get in touch. Find your way forward with Gateway.

Gateway Foundation

Gateway Foundation is a recognized leader in evidence-based addiction treatment proven to get results. Our experts in Addiction Medicine—including highly educated clinical and medical professionals and expert psychiatrists and nurses—deliver care that never stops. For over 50 years, Gateway Foundation has been helping individuals and their families recover from addictions and behavioral health issues and is the only provider that covers the entire state of Illinois with 16 facilities from the Wisconsin Border to the Kentucky Border. Gateway has specific programs focusing on substance use disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring issues. We’re licensed by the state of Illinois and accredited by the Joint Commission. We are in-network with all the major commercial insurance plans. Gateway Foundation: Addiction medicine, saving lives.

The post The Stages of Alcoholism and Recovery appeared first on Gateway Foundation.

Expert Insight on Binge Drinking

Substance abuse treatment expert Craig Lamb, clinical director of Gateway’s Chicago programs, explains binge drinking and the degrees of alcohol use disorder.

Any level of alcohol abuse presents serious dangers. Data shows 60 percent of fatal burns, drownings, and homicides; 50 percent of sexual assaults and 40 percent of fatal car crashes involve alcohol.

A prevalent and very deceptive form of alcohol abuse disorder is the “functioning alcoholic.” A functioning alcoholic can hold a job, take care of a family and otherwise fulfill their roles in life. This ability to manage responsibilities establishes a false sense of security.

In this case, the first question to ask about someone’s alcohol use should be “How well are they really doing these things?” and, second, “How long can they keep it up?” It’s safe to say any form of alcoholism eventually takes a toll on a person’s body, including sometimes-irreparable damage to the brain.

Binge Drinking and Alcoholism

Binge drinking presents another serious aspect of alcohol abuse. Common among young adults and college students, it’s defined as drinking five or more drinks in a row within two hours for men or four drinks for women. The consequences of binge drinking can include alcohol poisoning, blackouts, alcoholic coma, injuries and even death.

Binge drinking and functioning alcoholism are just two examples on the spectrum of alcohol abuse. There are many levels of care and customized addiction treatment programs available to meet every person’s degree of alcohol abuse.

Those who are early in the disease process may do well in an Intensive Outpatient Program. People who are unsuccessful in controlling their alcohol use disorder despite major consequences might do well in a Residential Treatment Program. A long-term drinker will probably first require detox followed by Residential and then Outpatient programs.

If you’re concerned about someone’s drinking, chances are your intuition is correct. Gateway has resources available to help you initiate the conversation you need to have with this person. For your loved one, for yourself or for your family, don’t put off asking for help. Call Gateway today at 877.505.4673.

Gateway Foundation

Gateway Foundation is a recognized leader in evidence-based addiction treatment proven to get results. Our experts in Addiction Medicine—including highly educated clinical and medical professionals and expert psychiatrists and nurses—deliver care that never stops. For over 50 years, Gateway Foundation has been helping individuals and their families recover from addictions and behavioral health issues and is the only provider that covers the entire state of Illinois with 16 facilities from the Wisconsin Border to the Kentucky Border. Gateway has specific programs focusing on substance use disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring issues. We’re licensed by the state of Illinois and accredited by the Joint Commission. We are in-network with all the major commercial insurance plans. Gateway Foundation: Addiction medicine, saving lives.

The post Binge Drinking and Alcoholism appeared first on Gateway Foundation.

During the 2016 presidential election, then Republican nominee Donald Trump took a tough stance on the opioid crisis, declaring he would help solve the crisis if he were elected with is Trump Administration Opioid Action Plan. President Trump often cited his personal connection to addiction as a major motivator, as his oldest brother passed away after a battle with alcohol use disorder.

The first step the Trump administration took was to declare the opioid crisis a national public health emergency last October. In 2017, Trump also donated his third quarter salary to the Department of Health and Human Services in an effort to combat the opioid crisis.

During a speech on Monday in New Hampshire, President Trump released his Trump Administration Opioid Action Plan, which he called “The Crisis Next Door.” The plan is broken into the following three sections: enforcement and interdiction, education and prevention through a federal advertising campaign, and employment assistance for those battling addiction:

Enforcement & Interdiction

President Trump has mentioned numerous times a desire to implement the death penalty for drug traffickers when the Department of Justice (DOJ) deems it appropriate, which has stirred controversy. During today’s speech, Trump officially called for the use of the death penalty for high-level drug traffickers.

The DOJ is now leading a task force on major litigation against drug companies at the federal level. Trump called for these companies to be held responsible for their actions. The administration plans to cut the nationwide opioid prescriptions by one-third. Trump also stated federal funding will be invested in the development of non-addictive painkillers. In addition, within two years at least half of all federally employed healthcare providers will adopt best practices for opioid prescribing, and within five years all federally employed healthcare providers will do so in order to prevent over prescribing.

Trump also emphasized supplying emergency responders and law enforcement with the overdose-reversing medication Narcan. Some cities, including Chicago, have already put forth this policy.

Education & Prevention

A major initiative will be a federal advertising campaign targeting young adults and children. The administration plans to spend money on commercials that depict the devastating effects of drugs to scare children away from ever using them.

During his speech, Trump highlighted Adapt Pharma and its work with colleges and high schools. Adapt provided colleges and universities across the country with four boxes and high schools with two boxes of Narcan in an effort to reduce student overdose deaths. Adapt has also provided education on Narcan to school staff.

Employment

Another focal point is helping inmates with substance use disorders get the treatment they need and, further, helping them secure employment after they are released. Trump referenced the country’s low unemployment rate and strong economy as being beneficial to helping inmates get hired.

Additional Takeaways:

Although no financial plans were discussed during the speech, in his latest budget proposal released in February, Trump called for an allocation of nearly $17 billion in 2019 to fight the opioid epidemic. The money from the budget will mainly go to expanding coverage of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and helping states monitor and track clinics that prescribe a large amount of opioids, which many public health officials deem necessary to resolving the crisis. Trump reiterated in his speech that the administration will dedicate resources to ensure the accessibility and affordability of medication-assisted treatments.

Shortly after the president’s speech, Congress released plans to introduce multiple bills to help end the opioid crisis. One of the bills is the Preventing Overdoses While in Emergency Rooms (POWER) act. This bipartisan bill aims to set up protocols for emergency rooms across the United States on best practices for discharging overdose patients, to ensure patients have the resources they need to succeed post-hospitalization. Measures of this act would ensure patients’ access to overdose-reversal medication and other medication-assisted treatments, as well as peer-support specialists and other types of treatment programs.

To learn more about the Trump Administration Opioid Action Plan or to get help with addiction, give Gateway a call at 877.505.4673.

Gateway Foundation

Gateway Foundation is a recognized leader in evidence-based addiction treatment proven to get results. Our experts in Addiction Medicine—including highly educated clinical and medical professionals and expert psychiatrists and nurses—deliver care that never stops. For over 50 years, Gateway Foundation has been helping individuals and their families recover from addictions and behavioral health issues and is the only provider that covers the entire state of Illinois with 16 facilities from the Wisconsin Border to the Kentucky Border. Gateway has specific programs focusing on substance use disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring issues. We’re licensed by the state of Illinois and accredited by the Joint Commission. We are in-network with all the major commercial insurance plans. Gateway Foundation: Addiction medicine, saving lives.

The post The Trump Administration Opioid Action Plan appeared first on Gateway Foundation.