http://collegekidsincrisis.com The Dangers of Binge Drinking, Alcohol Poisoning, and Drug Abuse Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:00:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en http://collegekidsincrisis.com/addiction/is-it-medically-possible-to-taper-off-severe-alcohol-addiction/ http://collegekidsincrisis.com/addiction/is-it-medically-possible-to-taper-off-severe-alcohol-addiction/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:00:59 +0000 CollegeCrisis http://collegekidsincrisis.com/addiction/is-it-medically-possible-to-taper-off-severe-alcohol-addiction/ If someone is severely physically addicted to alcohol, and is at risk of getting DT's or having siezures if they quit cold turkey, is it possible to slowly reduce the amount of alcohol consumed in order to taper off of the physical addiction over time? This person can't afford to go to a medical detox facility, but they want to quit drinking.
I guess I touched a nerve with this question, seeing as there has only been a few responses. That or alcoholism is still a mystery in society. Don't know.

First of all the answer to your question is no. It can't be done. Either the person drinks or they don't. As far as not being able to afford medical detox you need to really check into it. There are programs out there that can help. If you email me I will personally look for a place for him to go.

]]> http://collegekidsincrisis.com/addiction/is-it-medically-possible-to-taper-off-severe-alcohol-addiction/feed/ http://collegekidsincrisis.com/addiction/is-it-possible-to-taper-off-sever-alcohol-addiction/ http://collegekidsincrisis.com/addiction/is-it-possible-to-taper-off-sever-alcohol-addiction/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:00:59 +0000 CollegeCrisis http://collegekidsincrisis.com/addiction/is-it-possible-to-taper-off-sever-alcohol-addiction/ If someone is severely physically addicted to alcohol, and is at risk of getting DT's or having siezures if they quit cold turkey, is it possible to slowly reduce the amount of alcohol consumed in order to taper off of the physical addiction over time? This person can't afford to go to a medical detox facility, but they want to quit drinking.
I need real medical advice here. I know all about detox and Librium and all the possible severe reactions to detox, including the possibility of death. I just need to know if it is even possible medically to slowly reduce consumption to stave off side effects of detox. Forget the psychology, forget the odds, is it physically possible?

I know they withdraw some people off certain drugs like sedatives by gradually reducing the dosage but I haven't heard this done with alcohol. I think it would be very difficult for a person who is severely dependent on alcohol to taper off on their own. Even reducing normal alcohol intake can cause withdrawal symptoms. The standard treatment for alcohol withdrawal is to eliminate alcohol and give benzodiazepines to ease the withdrawal symptoms and help prevent more serious complications such as seizures, withdrawal delirium and severe autonomic hyperactivity. Many times doctors will treat people as outpatients with benzos and have them go to follow-up counseling or support groups. However, people who have been drinking heavily, daily for long periods of time may need to withdraw until medical supervision for four or five days until they're out of the danger zone.

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