| Addiction to chemical substances is one of the most | | | | withdrawal symptoms, which include mild headaches, |
| difficult diseases to treat because of their chronic and | | | | tremors, cold sweat, and severe seizures. To relieve |
| progressive nature. One example of such an addiction | | | | these symptoms, various medications and medical |
| is alcoholism, which is a potentially fatal disease | | | | procedures are administered to the patient. Some of |
| characterized by chronic consumption of alcohol. | | | | the most common medications used are |
| People who are alcoholics cannot stop drinking even if | | | | benzodiazepines and anticonvulsant medication. |
| they experience a decline in their health, performance | | | | Next step: Rehabilitation |
| at work and their personal relationships. This is | | | | Once the patient no longer exhibits any withdrawal |
| because for alcoholics, the most important | | | | symptoms, he will now be ready to receive |
| pre-occupation is finding the their next drink. Since | | | | rehabilitation treatment. This treatment may consist of |
| alcoholism is a medical condition, treating it involves | | | | group or individual therapy, nutrition counseling, relapse |
| employing medical interventions that are usually done in | | | | prevention, medication management, and family |
| a rehabilitation center. | | | | therapy, which are all aimed at helping the patent |
| Detoxification | | | | achieve long-term sobriety. |
| Once an alcoholic has gone to a rehabilitation center, | | | | The first step in treating alcoholism is alcohol detox, |
| the first step in the treatment of his alcoholism would | | | | which is a period in which all the chemicals and |
| be alcohol detoxification or alcohol detox. Alcohol | | | | substances that caused the addiction are purged from |
| detox is a period of medically monitored treatment in | | | | the body of the patient. During this period, patients |
| which an alcoholic is helped and made to overcome | | | | often experience withdrawal symptoms, which makes |
| his physical dependence on alcohol and is designed to | | | | the whole process very uncomfortable. However, |
| prepare the patient for treatment and rehabilitation. It | | | | there are now medications that help the patient |
| usually lasts for a period of between three to 14 days | | | | overcome these symptoms. Alcohol detox is not |
| depending on the severity of the disease. During this | | | | pleasurable, but it is a needed "cleansing" process, |
| period, patients do a "cold turkey" and totally stop | | | | which help prepare patients receive the rehabilitation |
| drinking, which often leads them to experience | | | | that they need. |