Alcohol Detox in Oklahoma City

The first step to overcoming alcoholism involves quitting drinking and undergoing alcohol detoxification. Although alcohol detox is often extremely uncomfortable and dangerous, Landmark Recovery of Oklahoma City can help you get through the entire alcohol detox program as safely and comfortably as possible.

Alcohol Addiction in Oklahoma

Alcohol is by far the most used drug in Oklahoma. According to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly half of all state residents (aged 12 and over) are current drinkers who have consumed alcohol within the past month. ¹ Unfortunately, alcohol is also the most commonly abused drug in Oklahoma. Nearly 1 in 4 residents report past-month binge drinking, an abusive pattern of excessive alcohol consumption defined as drinking five or more drinks (for males) or four or more drinks (for females) on the same occasion. Binge drinking is most common among young Oklahomans, with more than 1 in 3 young adults (aged 18 to 25) and nearly 1 in 5 high school seniors reporting recent binge drinking. ²

The prevalent abuse of alcohol is a major health crisis for the residents of Oklahoma. In 2017, 119 people died from unintentional alcohol poisoning. ³ In the same year, more than 170 people were killed in car crashes caused by alcohol-impaired driving. ⁴ For many individuals alcohol abuse can lead to alcoholism, a debilitating disease of alcohol addiction now afflicting nearly 200,000 state residents. ¹ About 1 in 17 residents currently meet the criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder, including a staggering 1 in 10 young adults aged 18-25 years.

Alcohol is one of the most frequently used drugs in Oklahoma’s treatment population and accounts for more than 1 out of every 4 admissions to substance abuse treatment centers. ⁵ Although there were 3,737 alcohol-related admissions to addiction treatment facilities in the state last year, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services estimates that less than 6% of those in need of alcohol treatment actually receive any treatment for alcohol addiction. ¹

What is Alcohol Detox?

Alcohol detoxification, or alcohol detox, is the process of abstaining from drinking in order to give your body time to adjust to functioning without alcohol. Alcohol addiction detox is the first and often hardest step in recovery as it requires you to experience alcohol withdrawal, the painful and extremely uncomfortable changes that your body goes through when you suddenly stop drinking. ⁶ The negative effects of withdrawal are commonly seen in people who quit drinking; a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reports that around 50 percent of people who suffer from alcohol addiction will experience withdrawal symptoms when they reduce or discontinue their alcohol consumption. ⁷

Alcohol withdrawal typically starts 6 to 24 hours after your last drink, and the most painful symptoms will often subside within the first week. Common symptoms and signs of alcohol withdrawal include: ⁸

• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Decreased appetite
• Trembling of hands and arms
• Sweating
• Elevated heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hypersensitivity to noises and lights

More severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include auditory and visual hallucinations, high fever (greater than 101° F), seizures, and delirium tremens, a very dangerous condition characterized by confusion, disorientation, loss of consciousness, nervous or angry behavior, irrational beliefs, soaking sweats, sleep disturbances, and hallucinations. ⁶ According to Harvard Medical School, as many as 1 out of every 20 people who develop delirium tremens will die as a result of their symptoms. ⁶ Due to the very real threat of medical complications that may arise during alcohol withdrawal, you should only undergo alcohol addiction detox under proper medical supervision at a professional rehab facility.

Landmark Recovery of Oklahoma City is proud to offer a medically supervised alcohol addiction detox program at our facility, where you will have the opportunity to safely detox under the care of specially trained and licensed clinicians. We provide around-the-clock monitoring and support to ensure that you are safe and comfortable throughout the entire alcohol detox program.
During your alcohol detox at our Oklahoma City facility, we may administer certain medications that can help lessen the negative symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal. These drugs include benzodiazepines for the treatment of panic and anxiety, acamprosate for the treatment of withdrawal cravings, anticonvulsants for the treatment of seizures, and antiemetics for the treatment of nausea and diarrhea. ^8-9 We may also give you nutritional supplements to treat low blood sugar and vitamin and mineral deficiencies, including folate, thiamine, magnesium, zinc, and phosphate shortages that are often seen in people suffering from alcoholism. ¹⁰

After the completion of alcohol detox in Oklahoma City, you will be ready to immediately enter our evidence-based alcohol treatment program. Your treatment plan will be personalized to meet your specific needs and will include a combination of science-backed therapies such as medication-assisted treatment, individual and group counseling, and behavioral therapies.

How Can I Get More Information About Landmark Recovery’s Oklahoma City Alcohol Detox?

Please call Landmark Recovery of OKC at  405-896-8426  to learn more about our proven medically supervised alcohol detox and alcohol treatment programs.