Alcohol detoxification is a process by which a heavy drinker's system is brought back to normal after being used to having alcohol in the body continually. Serious alcohol addiction results in a down regulation of GABA neurotransmitter receptors. Precipitous withdrawal from long-term alcohol addiction without medical management can cause severe health problems and can be fatal. Alcohol detox is not a treatment for alcoholism. After detoxification, other treatments must be undergone to deal with the underlying addiction that caused the alcohol use.