What is alcohol detox?

Alcohol detoxification is generally understood as the process of removing drug toxins from the body, while withdrawal symptoms are controlled.

However, for TAVAD, detoxification essentially implies the recovery of brain damages caused by alcohol, because detoxification cannot be limited to theelimination of withdrawal symptoms.

Traditional methods of detoxification do not help to restore those brain areas in which alcohol has caused neurochemical changes. These other methods only act over the symptoms, and not directly over the root of the addiction, with the risk of disguising in that way the symptoms of brain damage.

TAVAD, unlike other treatments, pharmacologically enables the recovery of disrupted brain functions. Therefore, it eliminates withdrawal symptoms and diminishes or eliminates uncontrollable craving for alcohol, which means that advanced cognitive and emotional processes, such as attention, reading abilities, consciousness and serenity, are restored as well.   

Neuronal recovery, achieved by medical and psychological professionals through advanced pharmacological intervention acts upon neurotransmitters and brain structures harmed by alcohol: NMDA, serotonergic and GABA receptors systems, which are also associated with withdrawal symptoms.

Only under these conditions can TAVAD alcohol detoxification achieve immediate results: providing the best form of addiction recovery; overcoming the patient’s changed cognitive and emotional processes; allowing abstinence without symptoms, therefore, without suffering; and, as a result of not suffering through abstinence, the patient can take control of their life again, free of alcohol.

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Alcohol Rehab Treatment

Following the aforementioned principles, alcohol detoxification at TAVAD involves:

░ Diagnosis, which implies an evaluation of the psychological, social, and biological factors that are independently related to each patient’s illness. This diagnosis includes a complete medical examination and diagnostic analysis (laboratory tests, blood analysis such of hemograms, leucograms, blood biochemistry, lipids, transaminases and other hepatic and renal profiles, as well as urine analysis, electrocardiogram and X-rays).

░ Detoxification and neuronal restoration through pharmacological intervention, without withdrawal symptoms and without suffering.

░ Brain nutrition, enriching patient’s diet with salts, oligoelements and amino acids that are essential for neural recovery, and the correction of nutritional deficiencies which frequently accompany this illness.

░ Psychotherapy attention program, personalized for each patient, and designed to re-establish social, family, and personal harmony in the patient’s life, clarify misconceptions regarding the illness, promote favorable attitudes towards lifestyle changes, and incorporate the patient as an active participant in their rehabilitation process.

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Alcohol Rehab and Detoxification Procedure at TAVAD

░ Hospitalization: the patient arrives at the clinic in the morning (9:00 a.m.). First, blood and urine samples are collected, followed by a physical evaluation and psycho-diagnostic examinations. Then, the patient is settled into their room (a single room with a private bath), which will be their home for the 3 day stay, and where they will be able to enjoy television, outdoor garden areas and full board.

░ During hospitalization, patients may receive visits from 11:00 to 14:00 hours and from 16:30 to 19:30 hours.

░ After being admitted, the patient receives oral and intravenous medication which suppresses possible abstinence symptoms and is the basis of the detoxification/neuroadaptation treatment.

░ Under continuous medical supervision, detoxification is completed within 3 days of hospitalization, although positive changes are evident 8 hours after detoxification begins.

░ Before being discharged, the patient receives a medical report describing the follow-up treatment and the medication to be subsequently administered.

░ After being discharged, the outpatient follow-up phase begins, conducted by a skilled psychotherapist at the TAVAD center closest to the patient’s residence. Psychotherapy has a cognitive-behavioral focus (and includes pharmacological supervision); sessions are structured individually or in family groups if required. The frequency of these sessions is weekly for the first 3 months, biweekly for the following 6 months and monthly for the last 3 months.

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Special conditions for foreign patients

For patients arriving at TAVAD from abroad, admissions take place on Monday morning, followed by the discharge on Thursday. We also recommend that patients stay in town for two or three days after hospitalization, in order to receive intensive psychotherapy sessions (aside from the weekend). Before beginning treatment, we recommend that patients arrange a psychotherapeutic follow-up program in their country of origin, what can allow them to meet the objectives of the TAVAD program.

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