Alcohol Detox FAQ

Below are common questions about our Alcohol Detox therapy. Please contact us if you can’t find an answer to your question.

Our Facility
Rejuvenation™ alcohol detox is performed in a licensed surgical facility providing patients effective results, superior care, safety, privacy and quality.
What is Rejuventation™?
The Rejuvenation™ is at the core of our anesthesia-assisted rapid alcohol detoxification. The Rejuvenation™ method of rapid alcohol detox was developed over a period of years with ongoing refinement and enhancement to our existing process. In an accredited surgery center over a period of two hours, a board-certified anesthesiologist tailors a pharmaceutical regimen containing a sequence of medications, custom designed to each patient’s specific needs and underlying state of health to initiate the withdrawal process.

Rejuvenation™ is an anesthesia-assisted​ alcohol detox method. This approach to treating alcohol, narcotic, or heroin addiction is based on a fundamental method designed to stabilize a patient who presents in an emergency department acutely intoxicated or unresponsive due to a drug overdose. Acknowledging the severe suffering and pain associated with withdrawal, some innovative physicians began to find ways to help alleviate this suffering and no better way to achieve this objective than to place addicted patients under anesthesia in order to accelerate the withdrawal and removal of harmful drugs from the body in a matter of couple of hours versus weeks or even months.

We insert an intravenous line and start an infusion of fluids and a combination of vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and other essential elements and medications. Alcoholic patients can be profoundly malnourished and typically depleted of crucial components of thiamine, folic acid, and other fundamental nutrients. These vital items MUST be amply replaced before any treatment or run a real risk of developing brain damage and other neurological and cardiovascular complications. This of course is a certain predicament if alcoholism is left untreated.

Outpatient detoxification procedure is a safe and effective alternative to an inpatient detoxification. We screen the patient to make sure they are appropriate for this outpatient detoxification. This process begins with completion of our online medical questionnaire followed by a thorough medical evaluation to determine one’s eligibility for rapid alcohol outpatient detox. The evaluation includes a medical interview, physical examination, laboratory panel, toxicology, EKG, blood alcohol level with a breath analyzer, and other assessments that may be deemed crucial.

Typically, patients can resume their daily routines within the first few days after starting the detox process. Completion of the detox is defined as being medically stable and no longer experiencing significant withdrawal symptoms after the detox medications are discontinued. Upon completion of the detox, patients are returned to the care of their community physician, behavioral specialist, and/or enroll into an ongoing outpatient treatment program. We strongly ensure some form of aftercare support program e.g. AA, NA

I have been treating patients with narcotic and heroin addiction for over a decade and with the advent of new drugs the more challenging alcohol addiction detox has become simpler and rather streamlined while our patients remain asleep during a brief period of anesthesia. During this period, the effects of alcohol are removed and a combination of anti-craving drugs given before and during the detox procedure are concluded before the patient regains awareness in a precisely orchestrated fashion.

Is Rapid Alcohol Detox Safe?
A number of factors contribute to the overall safety of anesthesia-assisted​ rapid alcohol and narcotic detoxification procedure. These include: admittance to an accredited surgical facility, experienced and knowledgeable “Board Certified” physician present during the vital portions of your treatment, the shortest amount of time possible while under anesthesia, access to proper medications and equipment, and the most dedicated nursing support team available.
Are there any risks or side effects to Rapid Alcohol Detox?
As with any procedure, there are always some risks involved. It is possible patients can have severe withdrawal symptoms and possibly even a seizure. This can also happen in a hospital setting or in the best of hands. Recognizing this fact, a board-certified physician well versed in the complications of alcohol addiction is always physically present and directly involved during the most critical periods of one’s treatment.

Medications are given to ensure that severe withdrawal reactions do not occur and if they do, immediate intervention is only seconds away. In this event, once the situation is stabilized, it is still possible our patient will still need to be hospitalized if their withdrawal experience was shown to be severe.

Will I be awake during the detox procedure?
No. Your board-certified anesthesiologist will keep you comfortably asleep as you thoroughly detox. You will NEVER be left unattended as your entire medical team, including your anesthesiologist, remains at your side until you’re safely returned to the recovery room.

In contrast to our proprietary alcohol detox program, at traditional rehab facilities, patients experience the entire withdrawal process for an extended period of time sometimes for weeks with agonizing discomfort as alcohol and its ill effects purge from their bodies. Once again, with Rejuvenation™, our anesthesia-assisted​ rapid detox, your body goes through the majority of withdrawal – including the cruelest parts – in just a few hours.

How long should I be on a relapse prevention medication?
We strongly believe that patients should be on a relapse-prevention medication program for at least six months and possibly more. This provides a long enough period for the brain to heal and for patients to start making the necessary changes in their lives to adapt to a life of sobriety and clarity and effectively integrate back into society.
How to prevent alcohol addiction relapse?
A variety of safe and effective medications have become available making Rejuvenation™ possible. These drugs help ease withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and prevent relapse to alcohol, opioids, and heroin.

Alcohol recovery is a process with both a physical and a psychological component. Our treatment program offers our patients continual therapy with FDA-approved medications that deter addiction relapse. Each day is a new opportunity to learn and recommit to sobriety, so that you’ll be less likely to relapse in the future.

Simply stated, as long as you stick to the plan by taking our prescribed, non-habit forming medications, your body will resist the urge to drink, and if you continue to take your medicine as directed, you can expect to be alcohol and drug-free for the rest of your life. Let us show you how!

What is the cost of addiction?
Although it is impossible to put a dollar amount on the total cost of addiction one thing is certain: Addiction is expensive. Most people don’t realize the true cost of addiction because it is a slow insidious drain on finances, friendships, careers and eventually…life itself. Take time to inform yourself about the economics of addiction to understand how substance abuse will impact your financial health for years to come.

  1. Money Spent: The actual cost of buying drugs, alcohol or even cigarettes adds up fast. The following information is based on the purchase of an inexpensive domestic six-pack of beer (pre-tax). Other forms of alcohol, such as wine, whiskeys, rum, and liqueurs cost significantly more.
  2. Loss of Productivity: The economics of addiction don’t stop with the purchase price alone; substance abuse is associated with increased absenteeism from work, fewer promotions and increased risk of unemployment.
  3. Lifestyle: The time spent searching for drugs, using drugs, recuperating from the use of drugs and then repeating the cycle could be better spent learning new skills to increase job opportunities, exercising to take better care of one’s health or simply spending quality time with friends and family.
  4. Illness: Drug and alcohol abuse eventually result in higher medical bills, increased risk of injury or illness directly – or indirectly – related to addiction, and long term loss of earning capacity due to illness, disability and medical costs.
  5. Insurance: Plan to pay more for almost every type of insurance ranging from car insurance to health insurance due to substance abuse. The average person dealing with an addiction is charged with 1.4 DUI’s that result in increased car insurance rates of up to 300 percent – if not outright cancellation. Co-morbidity, illness and injury caused by intoxication further increase the cost of all types of insurance leaving the entire family more susceptible to all kinds of accidents, injuries or other financial downturns.
  6. Legal Bills: In addition to increased insurance rates, DUI’s, arrest warrants and other legal problems are common among those that abuse drugs or alcohol.
  7. Loss of Earned Income: Substance abuse is strongly correlated with dropping out of school – whether high school or college – creating a lifelong loss of earned income. Worse, Social Security and retirement benefits are correlated to earned income so the loss of annual earnings will even impact retirement.
  8. General Money Problems: Late bills, higher interest rates and bad credit scores are common problems. It only makes sense; money that should go toward paying down debt goes toward buying drugs instead, accidents and higher insurance rates result in increased charges for buying everything from a new car to qualifying for a mortgage. Not only does it hurt the person suffering from the addiction but impacts the lives of spouse, parents and children for years to come.
  9. Add it Up: Take time to tally the results from each of the above areas to understand the real threat to your financial future. The sooner treatment begins the better the chance for success. Early intervention reduces the risk of illness, injury, increased legal and insurance rate and completion of educational or professional goals.
  10. Compare: The cost of treatment amounts to very little in the big picture; the difference in annual income for one single year between finishing school and failing to complete a degree more than compensates. Even using the most conservative estimates, the economics of addiction create a devastating financial impact for years to come. The cost of treatment often amounts to only a few weeks or months of use when the total impact is calculated. Finally, add to that the cost of lost jobs, broken homes, alimony and child support, increased healthcare costs as the addiction erodes your health, and the numbers really start to add up. Addiction is hugely expensive, in monetary terms, and in the price you pay in your lifespan, your family, your career and your personal satisfaction with your life.
What does our program cost?
Paying For Treatment – all inclusive
$10,000 USD *

Rejuvenation™ accepts these forms of payment:

  • Cashier’s Check
  • Certified Check
  • Money Order
  • Wire Transfer
  • Cash
  • Personal Check **

Because of the high demand and limited weekend spots we are required to charge a cancellation fee. Our specialists and medical staff have been hand-selected to provide you with the best service possible. Their support and commitment requires a premium in order to retain their services on a regular basis.

* Subject to a 15% non-refundable charge if cancellation occurs within 72hrs of your scheduled appointment. 90-day pellet therapy, extra $400. Patients are responsible for the cost and arrangement of their flight. Transportation to and from the airport will be included, which also incorporates to and from the treating facility and hotel. If a family or friend is not available, a caregiver at the hotel will be provided for an additional charge ($500). Patients are never left alone, no exceptions!

** Checks must clear before an appointment is scheduled and before your first day of treatment.

What exactly is alcoholism?
Alcoholism is not an easily definable term, which is why it is now called Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), instead.

AUD defines a person with habitual and excessive drinking habits, many unsuccessful attempts to stop, and describes their continued drinking despite adverse consequences to health, responsibilities, and personal values.

Men are two to four times more likely than women to become alcoholics. The disease is divided into two categories: alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.

Alcohol abuse, people have tendency with binge drinking (consuming six or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting), as well as engaging in risk-taking behaviors such as drinking, driving, and unprotected sex.

Alcohol dependence is even more serious. People who are dependent on alcohol lack the ability to voluntarily cut down or stop drinking. They develop a physical tolerance, so that they require increasingly large amounts to become intoxicated. They also develop withdrawal symptoms, including rapid heartbeat, anxiety, and even seizures, when they try cutting down or stopping altogether.

How is alcoholism diagnosed?
There is no one test that can medically diagnose alcoholism. Doctors can identify the physiologic signs of long-term alcohol abuse through a physical examination and blood tests. They may also ask the patient questions about his or her drinking habits, using a standardized questionnaire, and explore for psychological signs. Since many alcoholics are in denial about their problem, doctors may ask the patient’s permission to speak with family and friends as well.
What are the causes of alcoholism?
Alcoholism reflects an inappropriate and harmful relationship with alcohol. Alcoholism can develop when repeated drinking alters the levels of brain chemicals that support a feeling of well-being, which can lead people to compulsively consume alcohol to restore positive or avoid negative emotions. There is no known single cause of alcoholism, but several risk factors appear to play a role, including:

  • Having An Alcoholic Parent
  • Ongoing Depression Or Anxiety (sometimes called “self-medicating” for depression)
  • Desire For Social Acceptance
  • Chronically High Levels Of Stress
What are some behavioral signs of an alcoholic?
The signs and symptoms of alcoholism are often individualized, but may include:

  • Drinking alone or in secret
  • Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol consumed in spite of desire or intentions to not drink, or to drink only a certain amount
  • Feeling of compulsion to drink
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety, depression, and/or irritability
  • Frequent falls and bruises
  • Blackouts (inability to remember what occurred while drinking)
Who is likely to become an alcoholic?
  • An estimated 5 to 10% of male drinkers and 3 – 5% of female drinkers are dependent on alcohol.
  • People who consume more than 15 drinks a week for men, or 12 drinks a week for women are more likely to become an alcoholic
  • Men are more likely than women to be alcoholic, as are people who start drinking before age 16.
What are some signs & symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome?
These symptoms occur due to CNS hyperactivity. Typical symptoms include:

  • Mental symptoms like confusion, irritability, mood swings, depression, nightmares and anxiety or agitation.
  • Physical symptoms like tremor and shakiness, headache, clammy skin, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, fast heart rate, sweating and pallor

More severe symptoms Include:

Hallucinations

Hallucinations can be visual, tactile or auditory. If present, these typically occur from 12 to 24 hours after your last drink.

Seizures

  • Seizures are usually generalized tonic-clonic and if present, typically occur within 24 – 48 hours of your last drink.
  • Roughly 2% to 3% of people in alcohol withdrawal will experience a seizure. You are most likely to have a withdrawal seizure if you’ve previously had a withdrawal seizure.
  • Other significant risk factors for seizure include having had 3 or more significant periods of alcohol withdrawal, having drunk for 2 decades or longer, having a history of head injuries, being in poor health, being malnourished and presenting with electrolyte imbalances.

Delirium Tremens

Severely altered mental functioning, extreme confusion, agitation characterize the DTs, hallucinations and delusions, and usually occur within 24-72 hours of the last drink.

The Timeline

  • You can start experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms from 6 to 8 hours after your last drink, or in serious cases, whenever your blood alcohol level falls below a certain point.
  • For most people, symptoms will intensify to a peak at between 24 and 48 hours and then dissipate at between 3 and 5-7 days.
  • Though acute withdrawal symptoms dissipate within a week, protracted or subacute withdrawal symptoms, such as insomnia, irritability and cravings can persist for many weeks.
Am I at risk of severe withdrawal?
In addition to an elevated CIWA-Ar score (see below to take the test), other signs that indicate a risk for complicated withdrawal include:

High-risk signs (at presentation)

  • Having a body temperature of 101 Fahrenheit or greater
  • Having a pulse rate of 115 or greater
  • Having a systolic blood-pressure measurement of 170 or higher
  • Experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms when blood alcohol levels drop to 0.15 or higher
What are the stages of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS)?
Stage 1 (Mild) – Anxiety, tremor, insomnia, headache, palpitations, gastrointestinal disturbances

Stage 2 (Moderate) – Mild symptoms and diaphoresis, hypertension, tachypnea, tachycardia, confusion, mild hyperthermia

Stage 3 (Delirium Tremens) – Moderate symptoms and disorientation, impaired attention, hallucinations, seizures

What are the additional risk factors for complicated withdrawal?
  • Stopping after a period of drinking 20 or more units per day (13 or more standard drinks per day, such as 13 or more cans of regular strength beer).
  • Having a history of needing to drink in the mornings to stave-off withdrawal symptoms
  • Abusing both alcohol and another substance – particularly benzodiazepines
  • Having a history of complicated alcohol withdrawal
  • Being older
Long-term alcoholism can result in what kinds of medical conditions?
  • Nerve damage
  • Pancreatitis
  • Cirrhosis
  • Heart disease
  • Seizures
  • Confusion and hallucinations
  • Malnutrition
  • Bleeding ulcers
  • Muscle Wasting
  • Ascites
What are the signs of alcoholism and its dangers?

Here’s a common attitude…”I’ll tough it out and detox at home and if things get too serious, then I’ll just head to the ER.”

Things can deteriorate quicker than you might realize, which exposes you to a lot of very avoidable risk. Here are four good reasons to get a physician involved right from the start:

  • Alcohol withdrawal can kill you, so it’s worth taking this matter seriously.
  • Though you may think you could just head to the ER if needed, withdrawal symptoms can go from moderate to life threatening quickly and without warning.
  • If you get medical management from the start, you can stop withdrawal symptoms from spiraling out of control – increasing the safety and comfort of the process.

Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Can Lead To Life Threatening Delirium Tremens:

  • Roughly 5% of people presenting with alcohol withdrawal symptoms will progress to a syndrome known as the delirium tremens, or DTs. Left untreated, the DTs have a 15%-20% fatality rate, but with appropriate treatment, that rate falls to between 1% and 5%.

And the DTs are only one of many life-threatening scenarios to worry about. Other life threatening complications can include:

  • Accident trauma (you fall over and bang your head)
  • Severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
  • Seizures
  • Alcohol withdrawal symptoms combining with other conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease or other acute infections

Problematically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can change quickly – going from mild to severe within a period of hours, not days.

Since symptoms can change quickly, and since you could go from moderate discomfort to life-threatening distress within a few hours, it’s important that anyone at risk of serious complications start out under medical observation, receiving medications that can stop serious symptoms before they get started.

What is the selection criteria for outpatient rapid alcohol detox?
Individuals that exhibit symptoms or signs or have certain medical conditions may not be eligible for Rejuvenation™ Rapid Alcohol Detox. Our online questionnaire will aid us in identifying who is at high risk and would benefit from inpatient detoxification program.

Absolute Contraindication

  • Coexisting acute or chronic illness requiring inpatient treatment
  • Current severe alcohol withdrawal, especially with delirium tremens
  • No possibility for follow-up
  • No reliable contact person to monitor the patient
  • Pregnancy
  • Seizure disorder or history of severe alcohol withdrawal seizures
  • Suicide risk

Relative Contraindications

  • Coexisting benzodiazepine dependence
  • History of unsuccessful outpatient detoxification
  • High risk for severe alcohol withdrawal or
  • Delirium Tremens
  • Age > 40 years
  • Heavy drinking > 8 years
  • Drinking > 100 g of ethanol daily (e.g., about one pint of liquor or eight 12-oz cans of beer)
  • Symptoms and signs of withdrawal when not drinking
  • Random blood alcohol concentration e.g. > 200 mg/dL
  • Elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
  • Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
  • Cirrhosis
Is my information kept confidential?
Our treatment program is completely private and confidential. All medical records are held in strict confidence. Because of the strict confidentiality setting that our private center offers, many professional people such as doctors, corporate executives, administrators, nurses, law enforcement officers, sports figures, and celebrities have traveled to us from all over the country and the world.

At the Rejuvenation™ Rapid Alcohol Detox Center, your confidentiality is our priority as you overcome your alcohol and drug addiction and dependency.

How can I reach your facility if I am from another country?