Alcohol Detox in Colorado

Alcohol Detox in Colorado – Make it Safely Through Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol detox in Colorado is the first step for anyone in the state recovering from serious drinking problems.

A Colorado detox program will help you bring your alcohol use to an end. It will also help you make it safely through alcohol withdrawal.

Safe alcohol detox requires close medical supervision. One of the best ways to get this supervision is enrolling in an inpatient program.

Inpatient programs rely on doctors and other trained specialists.

They provide the constant oversight you need to protect your health.

How long does it take to detox from alcohol in Colorado?

This is just one of the questions you’ll want answered before you start your recovery journey.

Here are the most important things to know when choosing a detox program.

Basics of Alcohol Detox Centers in Colorado

During detox, you stop consuming all forms of alcohol. For anyone suffering from alcohol addiction, this action will trigger the onset of withdrawal.

Withdrawal is your brain’s way of reacting to the lack of alcohol in your system. Relatively common alcohol detox symptoms in Colorado and elsewhere include:

• A loss of your normal appetite
• Vomiting
• Muscle tremors
• Unexplained tiredness
• A depressed state of mind
• An irritable or jittery mood
• An anxious or nervous mood
• Cloudy thinking
• An abnormally high heart rate
• Disrupted sleep
• Abnormally clammy or pale skin
• Headaches
• Bad dreams
• An unstable or shifting mood

If you are heavily addicted, you may also develop more dangerous withdrawal complications.

Alcohol Withdrawal Complications

One potential complication is convulsions or seizures. You may also develop symptoms of the DTs (delirium tremens).

In addition to seizures, these symptoms can include extremely high body temperature. They can also include intense mental agitation and extreme loss of mental clarity.

Without rapid medical attention, you can die from convulsions or the DTs.
Supervised detox is designed to protect you while you go through alcohol withdrawal.

That’s true no matter what kind of symptoms you experience. Detox also has some additional goals. First, it aims to make withdrawal as tolerable as possible.

In addition, detox programs get you ready to take the next step in active alcohol treatment.

This is crucial, since you have limited odds of remaining sober without this kind of help.

What Happens in an Alcohol Detox Center in Colorado?

The typical alcohol detox program in Colorado will provide two forms of assistance. First is supportive care.

This type of treatment aims to protect and improve your general health. It can include such things as:

• Making sure you stay properly hydrated
• Providing healthy meals that meet your nutritional needs
• Providing electrolytes to correct imbalances in your system

You may also receive vitamins intended to protect you from alcoholism’s damaging effects.

The second form of assistance used in alcohol detox is medication. This usually takes the form of a benzodiazepine sedative. Specific sedatives your doctor may use include:

• Librium or chlordiazepoxide
• Ativan or lorazepam
• Serax or oxazepam

Additional medications may also play a role in detox. For instance, you may receive baclofen.

This medication can help undo some of the damage alcohol causes to your brain. If you experience seizures during withdrawal, you may also receive an antiseizure drug.

Who Needs Alcohol Detox in Colorado?

All people addicted to alcohol should go through detox. Today, alcoholism is diagnosed as a form of alcohol use disorder, or AUD.

The AUD diagnosis also covers damaging symptoms of alcohol abuse. That’s important to know, since alcoholism and alcohol abuse can affect you at the same time.

How do you know if you’re addicted to alcohol? Doctors look for several telltale symptoms, including:

• No longer having control over how often you consume alcohol
• No longer having control over how much alcohol you drink at a time
• Keeping up a pattern of drinking that you know causes you serious harm
• Having rising tolerance to alcohol’s intoxicating effects
• Organizing your life around drinking, getting more alcohol or recovering from alcohol use
• Being unable to stop drinking, even when you try more than once
• Going into withdrawal when you stop drinking even for short amounts of time

Some people experience all of these symptoms. On the other hand, many do not.

How Many Symptoms are Required for an AUD Diagnosis?

Just two. That includes symptoms of alcohol abuse, as well as alcoholism.

Heavy drinkers have the highest need for supervised detox. Why? Prolonged, heavy alcohol use can increase your number of AUD symptoms.

It can also make those symptoms worse. In addition, heavy drinking increases your risks for the DTs and other serious withdrawal symptoms.

Options for the Best Alcohol Detox in Colorado

It’s possible to detox from alcohol in a variety of settings. If you have mild AUD, your doctor may recommend an outpatient program.

However, even people with mild symptoms may seek care in an inpatient program. Inpatient programs are the norm for moderate or severe AUD.

These programs provide the daily treatment needed to address serious alcohol problems. They also maintain a safe environment for your recovery.

In addition, residential programs feature 24/7 access to medical care. This approach offers prompt care in cases of emergency.

What is the Duration of Alcohol Detox in Colorado?

How long does it take to detox from alcohol in Colorado? After you consume your last drink, it takes about six to 12 hours for withdrawal to begin.

On the low end, you can expect to detox for the next five days. But be aware that the process often takes more time. For some people, the process takes just a few days longer.

However, others may still experience symptoms for two weeks or longer. The alcohol detox timeline in Colorado can be different for those with severe symptoms.

For example, seizures don’t usually appear for 24 to 48 hours. The DTs can take as long as 72 hours to appear.

How Much Will You Pay for Alcohol Detox in Colorado?

Alcohol detox is affordable for the vast majority of people. You have three main options for covering your costs:

• Insurance through a private plan
• A payment agreement with your chosen detox facility

Private insurance may completely cover your detox expenses. However, in some cases, it may only provide partial coverage.

Payment plans can often be adjusted to meet your current financial situation.

Where do I get More Information on Alcohol Detox in Colorado?

Medically supervised alcohol detox provides a monitored environment for alcohol withdrawal.

This monitoring keeps you safe and stable, no matter the severity of your symptoms. That includes potentially life-threatening issues such as seizures or the DTs.

During detox, your doctor can help you with supportive care and medication. Supportive care addresses your general well-being during withdrawal.

Medication can be used to deal with specific withdrawal- and alcoholism-related issues.

Outpatient programs can work for people mildly affected by alcohol use disorder. However, anyone affected to a greater degree should seek out an inpatient program.

Even people with mild symptoms can benefit from inpatient detox.

How Long to Detox From Alcohol in Colorado?

How long to detox from alcohol in Colorado? Some people may only need a week or so to complete their program.

However, others can take far longer to complete the withdrawal process. That’s especially true for those severely affected by alcoholism.

Private insurance and payment agreements are options for alcohol detox funding.

The best option for you depends on your personal circumstances.

To get more information on alcohol detox options, contact our staff of experts today at Pathfinders.