First off, when attempting to get off alcohol or drugs, be advised that medical personnel should always monitor any kind of detoxification in order to provide prompt and educated aid to those striving to rid their bodies of the effects of chronic alcohol and drug abuse. An alcohol detox program is only the first of many steps that alcoholics will take on the long road to recovery.

Withdrawal is the first process that an alcoholic must take to begin the cleansing process that will ultimately remove all traces of alcohol from their body systems. With alcoholism or drug abuse, the body becomes dependent on those drugs or alcohol, and during an alcohol detox, withdrawal is the process by which drug or alcohol induced toxins are exorcised from the body. It isn't easy, and many people aren't mentally or physically prepared for the process. But with an alcohol detox program, that's only the first step. The next step, therapeutic and emotional counseling, are only begun after the person has completed the alcohol withdrawal process. Some well meaning people try to skip to the second step first, but such an endeavor is useless, as any remnant of alcohol in the body will continue to induce cravings for it, thereby defeating any and all arguments to the contrary.

The term, alcohol detox, is officially defined as the period of time it takes someone to overcome his or her physical dependence and need for alcohol. In an alcohol detox rehab center, this process is carefully and closely monitored by trained medical personnel experienced in dealing with the moods and temperaments of alcoholics on the road to recovery. The end goal of an alcohol detox program is to free the alcoholic of the addictive effect of alcohol on their body, in addition to helping them get through that most difficult process as pain free as possible. An alcohol detox center will offer expert guidance and advice to those wishing to enroll in their program and to help people get a good start on the road to a long-term recovery. For the most part, an alcohol detox program is completed within an in-patient, medical type setting so that patients can be closely monitored and helped.

Experiencing alcohol detox isn't pleasant and can produce symptoms that express both physically and emotionally. Many who have completed an alcohol detox program claim the experience, though necessary, was traumatic and withdrawal from alcohol or drugs can produce both physical and mental manifestations that range from mild to alarmingly severe. That's why it's so important for people to go through an alcohol detox process in a licensed facility with fully trained medical staff on hand to oversee the process. Some people experience headaches, the 'shakes', vomiting, insomnia and even delirium tremors, more commonly known as the 'DTs' and even seizures. Supervised alcohol detox is recommended, especially since one in four patients may experience severe withdrawal symptoms like seizures and convulsions.

An alcohol detox program can take within three to seven days in most cases, and then the rehabilitation process begins. It's not an easy battle, but with the help of an alcohol detox program, a person has a high chance of not only a healthy recovery, but also a less stressful one.