What can someone expect going "cold turkey" after drinking for 30 years?
Question:
He is now scheduled to go into a 30 day residential program but believes that he can "party" right up to the admission. Despite what I tell him to the contrary, he is planning on doing this. I am concerned he has "underreported" his condition due to his anger at being rehabilitated.
What are the physical and emotional reactions that he can expect on 8/1/07? Serious replies only, as I'm sure he will have to go to the hospital.
Answers:
I am a recovering alcoholic. If he is using as much as you think, he should go to a hospital first for detox. They will keep him about 3 days and give him medications so he can come down without getting hurt.
Depending on the rehab, some have medical services there (a medical unit) and they can detox him before they transfer him into the residential section. Hazelden in MN is set up this way. They monitor your physical health very closely.
As for physical/emotional reactions, he could become suicidal, paranoid, violent, shakes, cold sweats, delusions . . . . It ought to be something he will remember.
All you can do is be there. Sorry.
You had better be prepared, because its gonna get rough.
Depends on what drugs he's been on? If he's been on tranquilizers, then he will need medical care--you can't stop those cold turkey. Depending on how much and how long he's been drinking, he could have a seizure from stopping that suddenly---hopefully, he will just sleep a lot for the first 3-4 days. They will find out very quickly if he has under-reported his using. And just about all residential programs have doctors who can prescribe and medically stabilize residents who need it. But if he's got a lot of anger about this and really doesn't want to stop, then as soon as he gets out, he'll start back up again. You have to WANT to stop.
If he goes on his own to this rehab, I would say he won't last an entire three days. His behavior shows that he is not serious. He will have nausea and extreme sweating. Plus he will be so uncomfortable he will be hardly able to sleep.
If he has to go there due to being sentenced, then I guess he has to stay. I don't know from your question which way it is. But I doubt he will not last there unless he has to be there. I hope he gets help.
It's entirely possible that he won't have obvious physical symptoms. He will certainly be moody and short tempered. The combonation of the new environment along with no booze will make it a long 30 days for him. BUT.
Don't underestimate the 'system'. They know that people will be drinking up to the time they come in. He might just learn something about himself in there.
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