Can Withdrawal From Alcohol be Deadly?
Alcohol affects a person physically, mentally, and emotionally and with excessive consumption, can cause early death. The brain controls the way a person thinks, feels, moves, and walks. When a person drinks alcohol, the brain’s neurotransmitters release dopamine, which gives him or her euphoric and pleasurable feelings. An individual with an alcohol addiction loses control of their body. The brain becomes dependant on alcohol to function, resulting in a physical substance dependency.
When a person uses alcohol, he or she continues to build a tolerance level and needs to increase the amount of alcohol consumed to achieve the initial pleasurable effects. This is known as building a tolerance. As the person drinks more, his or her tolerance level increases. Heavy alcohol consumption can lead to liver damage, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, brain damage, or death.
Recovery from alcohol addiction is possible but takes time, patience, and a lot of hard work. The first step to sobriety is going through detox treatment where all the toxins are eliminated from the body. The length of time for this process depends on the level and duration of the alcohol use. Never abruptly cease alcohol intake or detox alone.
Withdrawals from alcohol can be severe and include heart palpitations, sweats, and hallucinations. Some withdrawals from alcohol can be deadly, such as seizures and DTs (delirium tremens). People who struggle with an alcohol addiction should withdraw safely through a medical detox program. This way, they reduce the risk of life-threatening symptoms and discomfort from withdrawals is minimized with professional supervision and medication if necessary.
As with any substance, withdrawal from alcohol can be deadly. A person who is addicted to alcohol is at risk of memory loss, blackouts, and poor judgment. Alcohol impairs an individual’s ability to problem solve and use critical thinking skills. Alcohol causes impulsive behavior that can result in accidents or death.
Withdrawal from alcohol needs to be done in a medically supervised detox treatment. Professionals can monitor the level of comfort and provide medication, if needed, to alleviate some of the severe symptoms. By easing some of the uncomfortable withdrawals, the risk of relapse lessens.
The Center for Professional Recovery offers the Professional Treatment Program, designed specifically to address the unique needs of professionals, like first-responders. Our programs are designed to treat co-occurring disorders which might arise and restore first-responders in a way which allows them to return to work and continue taking care of their mental health. For information on our full continuum of care for professionals, call us today: (855) 422-4129
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