The definition of the alcohol detoxification, more popular detox, is the abrupt cessation of alcohol intake by individuals with alcohol dependence, coupled with the substitution of alcohol with cross-tolerant drugs that have similar effects in order to prevent alcohol withdrawal. This is usually the first step in the process of rehabilitation for alcohol addicts.
Detoxification may or may not be necessary depending upon an individual’s age, medical status, and history of alcohol intake. For example, a young man who binge drinks and seeks treatment one week after his last use of alcohol may not require detoxification before beginning treatment for alcoholism.
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome is the set of symptoms seen when an individual reduces or stops alcohol consumption after prolonged periods of excessive alcohol intake. Excessive abuse of alcohol leads to tolerance, physical dependence, and an alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The withdrawal syndrome is largely due to the central nervous system being in a hyper-excitable state. Unlike most withdrawals from other drugs, alcohol withdrawal can be fatal. The withdrawal syndrome can include seizures and delirium tremens and may lead to excito-neurotoxicity.
Sedative-hypnotics such as alcohol are well known for their propensity to induce physiological dependence. Alcohol withdrawal occurs as a result of neuro-adaptation resulting from chronic exposure to alcohol. A withdrawal syndrome occurs upon declining blood levels of alcohol which can be alleviated by reintroduction of alcohol or a cross-tolerant agent. Dependence on other sedative-hypnotics increases the severity of the withdrawal syndrome.
Chronic use of alcohol leads to changes in brain chemistry especially in the GABAergic system. Various adaptions occur such as changes in gene expression and down regulation of GABAa receptors. During acute alcohol withdrawal changes also occur such as upregulation of alpha4 containing GABAa receptors and down regulation of alpha1 and alpha3 containing GABAa receptors. Neurochemical changes occurring during alcohol withdrawal can be minimized with drugs which are used for acute detoxification. With abstinence from alcohol and cross tolerant drugs these changes in neurochemistry gradually return towards normal.
We strongly recommend to everyone reading this article to stay out of alcohol abuse, however, if you or someone close to you have problems with alcohol addiction, we suggest you to visit Drug Rehabilitation
January 15th, 2010
Hey nice article on withdrawal symptoms!!
January 21st, 2010
Interesting article. Some more info on detox
Detox\" is the vernacular for detoxification. And much like “rehab” which has entered the lexicon as a word synonymous with becoming straight – people equate detox with getting clean and sober. But detox is only a first step, and experts in addiction recovery agree that even the best alcohol detox programs, are worthless, if they are not then combined with therapy to get at the root causes of a drug or alcohol problem.
Actual Detoxification, which literally means cleaning the body of toxins, is normally accomplished by the Liver. In terms of drug detox programs, it specifically refers to removing the addictive substances from the body.