The Death of Amy Winehouse Shows the Dangers of Alcohol Detox Without a Doctor’s Guidance

The death of singer Amy Winehouse brought the subject to light in a recent health article. Could alcohol withdrawal really kill you? The British pop star passed away last summer from what her family, as well as medical experts, believes to be alcohol withdrawal. While the first autopsy was inconclusive, the second round of toxicology reports might shed more light on the real cause.

It was no secret that Winehouse had a serious addiction to drugs and alcohol. In the case of Winehouse, even her doctor had advised she cut back on her alcohol. According to family and friends, the singer simply quit cold turkey. In her efforts to get sober, the singer might have actually put herself in even more jeopardy.

There are nearly two million Americans that experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal every year, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. They experience a whole gamut of symptoms from depression and hallucinations to seizures, nausea and heart palpitations. Some medical experts like Dr. Robert Schwartz with the University of Miami, speculates that Winehouse may have asphyxiated on food and choked because of seizure symptoms related to alcohol withdrawal. Another theory is that the seizures could have caused her to fall and strike her head.

There are a number of possibilities to how the process of detoxing can cause dangers. Without a doctor properly watching a patient’s health, those withdrawing from alcohol could also suffer from heart arthymias, as well as kidney or liver dysfunction. Over an extended period of time, an alcoholic’s body forms a functioning relationship with alcohol. Schwartz says when the alcohol is removed during detox the body’s balance is upset.

Alcoholics need to understand that detox is not a process that happens in one day and should be regulated by a physician. It takes about 90 days of professional treatment to kick the addiction and additional years of support with groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.