Chronic alcoholism can be a disability. I've seen people who were given disability because they will literally die if they don't drink throughout the day (alcohol is the only drug that can result in death from withdrawal).
It is the worst of all the drugs.
Cmon Allie---they can be given drugs to take the place of alcohol but DT's can certainly cause seizures and death
DTs are caused by alcohol withdrawal.
Not by heroin withdrawal.
This is heroin withdrawal:
"Withdrawal symptoms include:
Restlessness
Insomnia
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Cold flashes with goose bumps
Kicking movements
Muscle and bone pain."
Heroin - Basic Facts About Heroin
This is alcohol withdrawal:
"Excessive abuse of alcohol leads to tolerance, physical dependence, and an alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The withdrawal syndrome is largely due to the central nervous system being in a hyper-excitable state. Unlike most withdrawals from other drugs, alcohol withdrawal can be fatal. The withdrawal syndrome can include seizures and delirium tremens and may lead to excito-neurotoxicity.[1]..
"Withdrawal symptoms
Agitation[8]
Alcoholic hallucinosis[5]
Anorexia[8]
Anxiety and panic attacks[5][9]
Catatonia[10]
Confusion[5]
Delirium tremens[5]
Depression[11][12]
Derealization
Diaphoresis[8]
Diarrhea[8]
Euphoria[5]
Fear[5]
Gastrointestinal upset[8]
Hallucinations[8]
Headache[8]
Hypertension[8]
Insomnia[8]
Irritability[5]
Nausea and vomiting[13]
Palpitations[8]
Psychosis[5][14]
Rebound REM sleep[15]
Restlessness[5]
Seizures and death[8]
Sweating[8]
Tachycardia[8]
Tremors[8]
Weakness[8]
Hyperthermia(fever)...
"Kindling is the phenomenon where repeated alcohol detoxifications lead to an increased severity of the withdrawal syndrome. For example binge drinkers may initially experience no withdrawal symptoms but with each period of resumption of drinking followed by abstinence their withdrawal symptoms intensify in severity and may eventually result in full blown delirium tremens with convulsive seizures. Alcoholics who experience seizures during hospital detoxification have been found to be much more likely to have had experienced more previous detoxifications from alcohol than alcoholics who did not have seizures and are more likely to have a more medically complicated alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Kindling can cause complications and may increase the risk of relapse, alcohol related brain damage and cognitive deficits. Chronic alcohol misuse and kindling via multiple alcohol withdrawals may lead to permanent alterations in the GABAA receptors.[21]
The mechanism behind kindling is sensitisation of some neuronal systems and desensitisation of other neuronal systems which leads to increasingly gross neurochemical imbalances. This in turn leads to more profound withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, convulsions and neurotoxicity.[7]."
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I worked in treatment and my mom still works in treatment. Alcohol withdrawal is the the only serious killer.
