The Facts

• If you have developed a physical addiction to alcohol over a long period of time, detoxification without supervision can lead to very serious withdrawal symptoms. Severe withdrawal symptoms include seizures, tremors and hallucinations. Withdrawal can be both physically and emotionally difficult. Many alcoholics are unable to quit on their own because they need a period of time when they can't obtain alcohol.
  
  

Function

• Residential or inpatient facilities provide medical detoxification, therapy and education to help rehabilitate individuals who are physically dependent on alcohol. Inpatient treatment is indicated for someone who has tried repeatedly to stop drinking on his own without success. It may be necessary for someone with severe emotional, physical and social problems in addition to alcoholism. Medically supervised detox is necessary for patients with a history of high blood pressure or seizure disorder.
  
  

Inside Inpatient Detox

• Treatment may last from a few days up to 30 days. The initial task of inpatient alcohol detox is to treat the patient with medication to ease the symptoms of withdrawal and end the physical dependence on alcohol. Once the worst of physical withdrawal is over, the patient receives healthy food, therapy, access to support groups and spiritual counseling.
  
  

Considerations

• Cost represents the biggest disadvantage to inpatient alcohol detox. Compared with outpatient treatment options, inpatient detox is considerably more expensive. In addition, many insurance companies limit the number of days covered. Another disadvantage is that a patient may become dependent on staff, and still not be ready to face life without alcohol outside the safety of an inpatient facility.
  
  

Do You Need Inpatient Detox?

• If you've tried to stop drinking but get the shakes, sweats or sleeplessness when you try, you may have developed a physical dependence on alcohol. Other signs that you may have a problem with alcohol include continuing to use alcohol even when it's causing you difficulty with work or family, waking up in the night craving alcohol or drinking more and more to get the same effect. The greater your physical dependence on alcohol, the likelier you are to need inpatient alcohol detox.