The issue of alcohol withdrawal symptoms or the potential dangers of suddenly withdrawing from active alcoholism are very real and should be treated seriously by any individual connected with an entry into rehab, and most definitely by the rehab itself.
Alcohol withdrawal is sometimes treated slightly flippantly, normally because most people who have too much to drink and suffer a hangover as a result tend to muddle through and rebuild their lives quickly.
When we are talking about alcohol withdrawal in the context of an entry into a rehab it is a very different process altogether. Someone entering a rehab will almost likely have had a considerable period of time when they have been drinking alcoholiccally a and quite possibly using a number of drugs as well.
At some level on a daily basis they will probably have been able to cope with the reality of what they have been doing, although the prolonged and progressive nature of their alcoholism will mean that their ability to cope gets more and more worn down as time goes on. This means their ability to recognise what is going on around them will be seriously impaired.
Alcohol Withdrawal
The dangers of alcohol withdrawal, especially when mixed with any withdrawal from any narcotic drug substance need to be assessed and monitored extremely carefully.
Anyone entering a residential rehab should make sure that the treatment center or facility has both adequate staff and facilities to assess and implement any detox program that may be needed on admission to the facility.
Most residential rehabs acknowledge the need for this, but it is nevertheless one of the main areas concerning the safekeeping of protocols of a treatment center that should be checked prior to admission.
Quite often a rehab will have an arrangement with a local hospital or other clinical facility who will assess and undertake any detox or management of alcohol withdrawal symptoms that may be needed.
This type of arrangement is often quite normal and perfectly acceptable, so long as the clinical input is verifiable and conforms with all local and state legislation and healthcare monitoring.