Alcohol Detox is the first step toward Recovery for alcohol addicted persons. For alcohol detox, a comprehensive evaluation of the person's alcohol abuse and mental health history is provided prior to admission. Based on this information, the medical director of the alcohol rehab or alcohol detox program can create a customized detox protocol to specifically manage any related Withdrawal symptoms the patient may experience. The physician will also use this information to determine if any prescription medication may be warranted to assist with Recovery as well as to manage any psychiatric symptoms a person may experience. As Addiction is the issue at hand, most alcohol detox or rehab programs will try to avoid use of psychiatric medications while the detox portion of treatment is completed because so many alcohol Withdrawal symptoms mimic those of psychiatric disorders.
Dual Diagnosis – The Next Step Once a person has completed alcohol detox, and their alcohol Withdrawal symptoms have subsided, mental health issues can better be assessed by the medical director. Should a psychiatric disorder be present, Dual Diagnosis allows both the alcohol Addiction and psychiatric disorder to be treated at the same time. If it is determined to be the best course of action, psychiatric medication can be dispensed and the patient can transition into the Dual Diagnosis treatment program. Most people stay in an alcohol rehab program with dual diagnosis for so many weeks, attempting to resolve many of the feelings which caused them to drink alcohol. There is some difference between Detox Programs and Detox centers.
