Alcohol is a drink that is often taken socially, recreationally and at mealtimes. It is consumed for the pleasant feelings that it generates in the body. In fact, alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. It acts as a biochemical inhibitor of activity in the central nervous system, and thus induces sedation and lessening of anxiety.

However, alcohol dependence or alcoholism is a chronic pattern of alcohol abuse resulting in physiological, physical, behavioral and cognitive effects. Consuming alcohol for a long period of time results in alcohol dependence.

If you become alcohol dependent you have a strong craving for alcohol all the time. The body becomes used to plenty of alcohol and starts showing withdrawal symptoms 3 to 4 hours after the last drink. Hence, a person who wants to stop drinking finds it difficult because of the withdrawal symptoms.

The signs and symptoms of withdrawal are the opposite of that of alcohol. In the central nervous system, excitory processes are increased and inhibitory processes are slowed. The withdrawal symptoms are the main barriers in treatment for alcoholism. Normally, withdrawal symptoms appear within hours of the patients drink and generally peak 24 to 36 hours after stopping.

Some withdrawal symptoms are anxiety, headache, auditory disturbances, trembling, sweating, and craving for alcohol. Delirium and tremors are a more severe reaction to withdrawal, occurring in five percent of people who have withdrawal symptoms 2 to 3 days after their last drink. Alcohol dependency also causes inflammation of the pancreas, coronary heart disease, neuropathy, brain degeneration, cirrhosis of the liver, high blood pressure and other health problems in the long run.

In the de-addiction programs for alcoholics, the first step is detoxification. Detoxification in alcohol treatment refers to a short course of medication to free the body of withdrawal symptoms while trying to quit drinking. The most commonly used medication in detoxification is chlordiazepoxide, which is a benzodiazepine medicine.

Alcohol detoxification has basically four goals:

1) to provide the patient a safe withdrawal from alcohol dependence

2) to provide a treatment that is humane and protects the patients dignity

3) to provide for recovery of affective and cognitive faculties, and

4) to prepare patient for continued treatment in his new life.

Alcohol detoxification is a long, drawn-out and difficult process involving rehabilitatory medicine, in-patient treatment in a de-addiction facility, and support from doctors, nurses, family, and the community. Ultimately, it also depends on the determination of the patient.