Answer Addiction

Tag: alcohol detox

  • How long does a hangover last?

    How long does a hangover last?

    It’s the morning after. You feel horrible. When will your hangover end?

    Hangover causes

    Hangovers are simply caused by drinking too much alcohol. It might make you feel better to know that some people report hangovers after drinking one to three drinks. But on the other hand, there are heavy drinkers out there that don’t get hung over at all. Although experts still don’t know officially what causes alcohol hangovers exactly, ten possible explanations for why you feel the hair of the dog include:

    1. acetaldehyde
    2. alcohol withdrawal
    3. dehydration and imbalance of electrolytes
    4. drug use
    5. gastrointestinal problems
    6. genetics
    7. low blood sugar
    8. methanol
    9. psychological traits
    10. sleep disturbance

    When will this hangover end?

    OK. Now a little wake up call. Hangovers exist for a reason: the hangover experience may deter us from future episodes of heavy drinking or intoxication. They are our body’s way of asking that we avoid binge drinking and a call for homeostasis, or balance. But when will they end?

    Typically, a hangover will end within 24 hours.  Hangovers begin within several hours after you stop drinking, when blood alcohol concentration (BAC) falls. Symptoms of a hangover usually peak about the time BAC is zero and may continue for up to 24 hours thereafter. Most cases of hangover end several hours after 0 level BAC, though. This is for somewhat “normal” cases of over drinking, and a typical average. But hangovers can continue for a couple of days in more severe cases or in times when alcohol withdrawal occurs.

    More severe cases of hangovers

    Generally, the greater the quantity and length of time drinking, the more prevalent is the hangover. Some hangovers go on and on and can last for 72 hours, especially if you are mixing drinks, drinking low quality and less refined alcohol or drinking certain types of alcohol (brandy, red wine or whiskey all contain methanol).

    How bad is your hangover?

    Hangovers suck. But time will ease the symptoms of illness and discomfort. There are also a few hangover remedies that you might want to try to help reduce the severity of symptoms or shorten its duration. But keep in mind that most folk remedies for hangovers have not undergone clinical tests, and experts believe that conservative management of symptoms combined with time are your best bet for feeling better.

    Hangover questions

    Please leave your hangover story below, or questions about hangovers. We are happy to answer and respond to all of your comments personally.

    Reference source: Mechanisms and Mediators of Alcohol Hangover

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • 3 Substances You Should Never Detox from Alone

    3 Substances You Should Never Detox from Alone

    By Amy Sedgwick, LADC, AADC, CCDP, SCPG
    Director of Clinical Operations

    ARTICLE OVERVIEW: You should never try to detox from alcohol, benzos, or opioids on your own. This article reviews the dangerous side effects of withdrawal from these substances. Then, we invite your questions at the end.

    ESTIMATED READING TIME: 7 minutes.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS:

    The Definition of Detox

    Detoxification is the process of removing any hazardous chemicals from the body. It is an essential first step if you are looking to rid yourself of addiction and begin a healthy, substance-free life. During this stage, you may feel extremely sick and uneasy as toxins leave your body. Often, medical detox can help address symptoms to help minimize discomfort. But in other cases, detox may be necessary.

    If you are trying to overcome alcohol, opioid, or benzodiazepine addiction, detox can dangerous – sometimes even fatal – without medical assistance.

    In particular, if you are dependent on alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines, you should aim to address your addiction in the safest way possible. When you detox from these substances, withdrawal symptoms can be severe and difficult to manage at home. Likewise, detoxing alone is risky because it increases the likelihood of an overdose.

    Plus, detoxing alone is not a suitable replacement for valuable forms of treatment such as medication assisted treatment (MAT), which can reduce your risk of relapse. In sum, clinical detox is the safest option for addressing addiction, and for many, it is a step that serves as the foundation for a lasting recovery.

    Let’s look at each type of detox, its risks, and common side effects here.

    Alcohol Detox

    With its legal status and wide availability, alcohol is the most frequently used addictive substance in the United States. Because quitting alcohol when dependent can induce severe side effects like seizures and heart failure, you should not attempt to overcome alcohol dependence alone, especially during the detox phase.

    Why?

    Individuals who become addicted to alcohol and drugs encounter neurological changes, making their brains trick them into thinking that they need their substance of choice to survive. If you have a history of alcoholism and decide to drastically cut back or stop altogether, your body will react accordingly to the change. While detoxing from alcohol, you are likely to experience particularly uncomfortable physical withdrawal symptoms such as:

    • Fever
    • High blood pressure
    • Nausea
    • Seizures
    • Heart failure

    In addition to physical symptoms, you may undergo noticeable behavioral changes because of alcohol withdrawal. These psychological symptoms can include:

    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Mood swings
    • Fatigue
    • Hallucinations

    These many potential side effects can make the detox process excruciating for some. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can begin eight hours after you stop drinking. Discomfort is especially prominent within the first few days of detoxing from alcohol, and mental health symptoms can take weeks to subside.

    If you drink heavily and suddenly stop, you may contend with a more intense form of withdrawal known as acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). High blood pressure, tremors, and seizures are some of the major indicators of AWS.

    This condition is often accompanied by a complication known as delirium tremens (DT), which significantly alters your mind and nervous system. Both AWS and DT can cause more severe health problems, such as difficulty breathing, heart attack, and coma. These risks can be minimized with the help of a medical professional, who can alleviate painful withdrawal symptoms and examine your vital signs to ensure your well-being. A professional may also administer addiction medications designed to lessen alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as Vivitrol.

    Detox from Opioids

    Opioids are a class of extremely addictive legal and illegal drugs that provide pain relief. Well-known opioids include:

    Though prescription opioids can help manage moderate to severe physical discomfort, they can be dangerous when taken for longer periods or in higher doses than medically recommended. Fentanyl — which is up to one hundred times more potent than morphine — often factors into deadly overdoses, as users frequently do not realize that the opioids they have been taking, such as heroin, have been laced with fentanyl. In 2016, opioid misuse caused over 42,000 fatal overdoses across the country.

    Because you can easily build a tolerance to opioids, you will likely experience severe cravings during the detox process that can tempt you to use again. When you detox alone, you have access to drugs, making it even easier for you to relapse. Relapsing after attempting to detox from opioids at home can be life-threatening because your body’s tolerance for the drug may not be the same, potentially leading to a fatal overdose.

    Detoxing in a medical setting, however, offers you the safety of a drug-free environment, removed from temptations. It gives you the opportunity to focus entirely on your recovery because you will encounter fewer triggers that could jeopardize sobriety. You will also have a support system to monitor your well-being, putting your mind more at ease. Undergoing medically monitored detox can relieve physical withdrawal symptoms you may incur during opioid withdrawal, such as:

    • Nausea
    • Abdominal cramps
    • Fever
    • High blood pressure
    • Intense cravings

    While detoxing from opioids, you may also experience psychological symptoms such as:

    • Irritation
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Mood swings
    • Insomnia

    Though not all of these symptoms are deadly, they can cause immense discomfort and may last for weeks. Opioid withdrawal symptoms also impact the mind and the body quickly, depending on the type of opioid used. Heroin withdrawal symptoms, for example, may appear within only 12 hours of your last use.

    Detoxing at a treatment center can make all the difference in your recovery from opioid addiction. In addition to counseling and support, a professional can also address painful withdrawal symptoms through the use of addiction medications, if appropriate. Options for addressing opioid addiction through medication-assisted treatment in a rehab facility can include prescription medications such as Suboxone, Sublocade, and Vivitrol.

    Benzos

    Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are a class of depressants that are typically prescribed to treat anxiety and are only intended for short-term use. They include drugs such as:
    • Ativan
    • Klonopin
    • Valium
    • Xanax

    Because they are prescription drugs, benzos are often considered harmless. Lulled into this false sense of security, some users abuse benzos and develop a tolerance after using them for more than two to four weeks. In an attempt to experience the same sedative effects, many end up overdosing on benzos, which contribute to about 30 percent of fatal opioid overdoses. When combined with alcohol or opioids, benzo use can be life-threatening because each of these substances can limit breathing and inhibit brain function.

    If you suffer from benzodiazepine addiction, detoxing within a clinical setting is highly recommended to avoid health complications. Just like with alcohol and opioid addiction, those looking to detox from benzos may face a range of physical and psychological symptoms, including:

    • Anxiety
    • Panic attacks
    • Restlessness
    • Distorted perception
    • Itching
    • Difficulty walking

    Detoxing from benzos without medical supervision presents many dangers, including an increased risk of seizures. The detox process for benzodiazepine addiction can be complex to navigate because some of the withdrawal symptoms that may appear, like panic attacks and anxiety, may have been the reason users started self-medicating in the first place. As a result, if you are accustomed to taking benzodiazepines for medical reasons, you may find discontinuing use particularly daunting.

    Withdrawal symptoms typically start within a day of discontinuing use and may persist for months. Even in a medical setting, detoxing from benzodiazepines can take 10 days, whereas detoxing from alcohol or opioid addiction under similar conditions may take 5 days. If you suffer from benzodiazepine addiction, attempting to detox alone could have devastating consequences.

    When to Seek Medically Monitored Detox

    As the first step on your road to recovery, detox is a crucial stage that lets the body heal from toxic substances. Medically monitored detox offers the best chance for your body to recover from any harm caused by substance abuse, but it can help you in other ways as well.

    1. It provides you with an environment that is more conducive to a sustainable recovery.

    Medical detox introduces you to a team of addiction treatment and mental health experts who can not only address your physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms but also help you determine the next steps in treatment. Attending clinical detox removes you from any triggers connected to your current environment, and distancing yourself from toxic elements in your life can eliminate stress that may have been driving your addiction. Detoxing in a medical setting, therefore, helps you to focus on your health and makes you less likely to relapse.

    2. It gives you the opportunity to test for other medical conditions.

    Through medical detox, individuals also have the option to undergo testing for HIV and hepatitis C, conditions that may have been spurred by their substance use. A medical team can help you uncover any underlying medical conditions that you may not have realized otherwise, giving you the option to seek treatment and live a longer, healthier life.

    3. It encourages healthy lifestyle choices.

    Because proper nourishment is essential for helping the body recover from addiction, nutrition is a central component of some clinical detox programs. During active addiction, many individuals experience changes in appetite or weight. Learning the basics about nutrition and how to practice mindful eating in early recovery can help restore physical well-being and build a strong foundation for your sobriety. Some clinical detox programs also offer sleep education classes that teach you healthy resting habits, which can help your body and mind feel even more rejuvenated in the long term.

    Your Questions

    We hope that have encouraged you to get medical help anytime you’re considering getting off these 3 types of drugs. You don’t need go through the process of recovery alone. There are people who can help you with the struggles you’re facing. Get in touch with one today.

    If you or a loved one suffers, contact us today. Or, if you have a question…reach out. You can feel free to leave a comment below. We try to respond to all comments personally and promptly.

    —–
    About the Author: Amy Sedgwick is the Director of Clinical Operations for Mountainside Treatment Center. She is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor as well as a Nationally and Internationally Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. At Mountainside, she oversees Residential, Outpatient Services and Family Wellness programs, ensuring each team provides best in class service and care to every client. Amy is also on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Certification Board (CCB) which provides nationwide training and addiction counseling certification.

    View the original article at

  • Does Football Promote and Encourage Binge Drinking?

    Does Football Promote and Encourage Binge Drinking?

    Football and Binge Drinking

    Whether in the stands or the media, the consumption of alcohol is ever-present and widely celebrated in the world of sport. And with the 2018 World Cup providing the most recent example, it raises the question, does football promote binge drinking?

    If this year’s World Cup has taught us anything, it’s that football and drinking still very much go hand-in-hand. Amid all the excitement and heartache throughout the tournament, alcohol maintained a very active presence in the media. Granted, much of it was due to the huge amounts of beer being thrown in the air to celebrate goals being
    scored, but it’s clear that binge drinking was being given the green light for such a special occasion.

    In this post, we’ll discuss the role of alcohol in football fandom and whether or not it encourages people to have “one too many”.

    Alcohol Sponsorship in Football

    For many years now, a wide range of beer and spirit brands have sponsored football teams and tournaments. Prime examples include Liverpool featuring the Carlsberg logo on their shirts, and the English League Cup spending several years under the mantle of “The Carling Cup”.

    And while alcohol sponsorship on team shirts is substantially less common these days — with gambling and apps seemingly taking its place — there’s still a great deal of it being featured on pitch-side banners, as well as in pre and post-match television ads.

    Although it would definitely be a reach to suggest that sponsorship in football alone is responsible for widespread binge-drinking, it’s safe to say that it’s established a link between the two. For many, this has been enough to promote the idea that:

    Football is more enjoyable while under the influence.

    Are We Ignoring the Obvious?

    Considering that we live in an era where the awareness and treatment of alcohol addiction is held in such high regard, it’s surprising that the dangers of excessive drinking are somewhat ignored when it comes to football. And while it’s fair to say companies aren’t forcing their customers to drink in excess, the encouragement from advertising is a massive influence.

    It’s especially worrying when you consider how many young fans associate football with alcohol consumption, and develop a binge drinking habit early on, due to the established routine of getting drunk.

    The Impact of Binge Drinking

    The definition of binge drinking is consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. Your body can only process one unit of alcohol per hour, which is worrying, because the average pint of lager contains 2-3 units.

    A football match lasts for ninety minutes (plus 15 minutes for halftime), and, during this time, it’s safe to say the average fan will polish off several drinks.

    Binge drinking can severely impact your mood and mental health, and it’s often the catalyst that fuels violent or hostile situations during football matches. When alcohol is flooded into your system over such a short period of time, it can also harm your liver and kidneys, especially if you binge drink on a regular basis.

    Signs of a Problem

    The definition of binge drinking is to consume lots of alcohol (6 units or more) in a short space of time, or drinking with the intention of getting drunk. For some, this will occur once or twice a month and have no long-lasting problems, but for others, binge drinking can become a regular or even daily habit. Here are some of the signs that your binge drinking is developing into a more serious problem:

    1. You Can’t Consume Only a Small Amount of Drinks.

    One of the most common signs of problem drinking is an inability just to have one or two drinks. Drinking a lot of alcohol because you are unable to stop once you’ve started is not only a sign of a binge drinking problem, but it’s also a red flag for alcohol dependence.

    2. Drinking with the Intention of Getting Drunk.

    There’s a big difference between having a few drinks and ending up drunk and going out with the sole intention of getting drunk. Regularly drinking to the point of intoxication can be harmful for several reasons, so it’s not something that you should aim to achieve and definitely shouldn’t be your reason for drinking alcohol.

    3. Drinking Quick.

    While many people like to sit down and enjoy a cold beer, a glass of wine with some food, or a tasty cocktail at a bar, there are others who finish or ‘down’ their drinks as quickly as possible. This is a common tactic of a binge drinker as it allows them to get drunk as quickly as possible and alcohol is simply treated as a means to an end, rather than an ingredient of an enjoyable beverage.

    4. Drastic Personality Change.

    The overindulgence of alcohol can often bring out a different side of people, causing them to act in ways that can potentially put themselves or others in danger. For example, when someone is sober, the concept of drinking and driving would seem ludicrous. However, they might be able to justify getting behind the wheel after a period of heavy drinking.

    5. Aggression and Violence.

    Several studies have revealed a link between binge drinking and aggressive or violent behaviour. Alcohol can massively influence how you respond to certain situations. So when you’re drinking, things can get out of control due to aggressive behavior. Combine that with other drunk people and there’s a recipe for aggravation and altercations.

    What You Can Do About It

    When it comes to excessive binge drinking the first and most important step is recognising that there’s a problem. Then, depending on the severity of the issue, a decision needs to be made about how you can go about reducing your intake and attitude towards alcohol. Everyone is different and will respond positively to different solutions. If you or someone you know is having problems with binge drinking then one of the following is advisable:

    Remove Yourself from Toxic Environments.

    Regular binge drinking isn’t necessarily a sign of alcoholism or alcohol dependency, in many cases, it’s simply down to the fact that you’re spending too much time in environments that promote the consumption of alcohol. The best way to remedy the situation could simply be a case of not going out for a while or avoiding hangouts such as bars and clubs, but it may require more drastic action such as not socialising with friends who insist on binge drinking regularly.

    Try to Detox.

    Binge drinking often occurs when you get into the routine of going out every weekend. Detoxing is not only a great way to give your body a much-needed rest from boozing, but it also allows you to break the habit and reduce the likelihood of you slipping back into a binge drinking routine.

    Seek the Help of Professionals

    Drinking alcohol to excess on a regular basis can have a severe impact on your physical and mental health, and if you’re struggling to reduce or give up drinking then you should seek professional help. Your doctor will be able to provide advice and guidance regarding any health issues you may be experiencing due to alcohol. However, if you’re looking for detox treatments and sobriety guidance then your best bet is a specialist rehab or addiction clinic.

    In Conclusion

    Whether or not football promotes binge drinking will always be a matter of opinion, but the environment and atmosphere it creates for fans is an undeniable influence. An influence, of any nature, can be enough to turn “a few drinks” into a bout of binge drinking. For the average fan, this may only be once every so often, but, for those who
    watch every game at the pub, it could develop into a serious condition.

    View the original article at