How Often Can I Go to Alcohol Detox?

More than fifty percent of the population of the U.S. abuse alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Each year millions of individuals enter detox for the first time to quit alcohol and many millions of others enter detox for the second, third or more time.

It is not uncommon for individuals to get out of detox and start drinking again the same day or within a few days. Most others may not begin drinking for a few weeks, but almost all of the ones who return to alcohol sooner than later, return to detox. Research shows that individuals who can stay away from returning to alcohol are more likely to continue a successful sobriety.

Is there a limit on how many times I can go to detox?

The amount of times you can return to a particular detox facility depends on the facility itself and while most will not take repeat alcohol abusers more than a few times and then they will cut them off; many government funded detox centers such as ones that take Medicaid, will keep taking the individual regardless of how many times they return. Detox facilities with multiple beds are more interested in keeping their beds full and so they may overlook the fact that an individual is a habitual detox patient.

The purpose of detox is to cleanse your system of the chemical toxins that your alcohol abuse has deposited in it. The amount of time spent in detox will depend on how long you have been abusing alcohol, how often you have been abusing alcohol and how much alcohol you have been consuming each time; but can take from a few days to slightly more than a week.

It is important to know that detox is not rehab. A detox center can help you get clean and sober, but the decision to stay off alcohol is up to the individual. If you are serious about quitting your alcohol abuse, a good rehab program for after detox can help you achieve your goal, but even then it is your decision as to whether or not you return to alcohol.

Will I always have withdrawal symptoms?

Withdrawal symptoms occur because you body wants something that up to a point you had been giving it regularly. The severity of withdrawal symptoms will depend on how much you have been drinking, the frequency and the amount you have been drinking. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms may include physical and psychological symptoms such as:
• Sweats
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Seizures

In extreme cases some individuals experience the DTs which are periods of confusion and hallucinations. The DTs can be fatal, so it is important that you seek assistance with alcohol detox.

Getting Help for Alcohol Abuse/Addiction

If you have decided to quit alcohol and you are detoxing the first time, or one last time, you should know that IV therapy medical detox is the preferred method for detox by physicians across the country and intravenous therapy makes it possible to adjust your medication to meet the withdrawal symptoms to keep you comfortable.