Individuals can quickly develop an alcohol addiction when they’re heavily drinking, at which point they require outside help. Alcohol addiction is a prevalent issue that requires detoxification, but it isn’t wise to attempt alcohol detox at home. Most people relapse back into drinking when they don’t have professional help because withdrawal symptoms can be strong. Let’s discuss what detox is like and how you can have a safe alcohol detox.
What Is Alcohol Detox?
Detoxification is the process of removing toxins from the body to stop them from causing damage. As such, detox is the first step towards allowing the body to reset to its natural, healthy state without being slowed down by toxins. In the case of alcohol use disorders (AUD), individuals undergo an alcohol detox as the first stage of recovery treatment. That is, rehab begins with detox for anyone who enters our detox center with alcohol currently in their body. If you’re wondering how to detox from alcohol, the answer is important. Detoxing from alcohol in a medical detoxification facility is the only safe way to reach base sobriety.
Why Is Alcohol Detox Important?
Detoxing from alcohol is a necessary first step in the alcohol addiction recovery process. As long as you have alcohol in your system, it will continue to control your behaviors. This is because alcohol has an extremely strong addictive effect on the brain and body. To elaborate, individuals originally become dependent on alcohol because of the way it acts on the brain’s reward system. Essentially, alcohol addiction happens the same way drug addiction does. When intoxicated, your brain experiences pleasurable effects like euphoria. Through repeated activating of the reward system, you become dependent on the positive feelings. Notably, your brain actually adapts over time to need alcohol to function properly.
Thus, removing alcohol from your system is the first step towards undoing the damage alcohol repetition causes in your brain.
When Does Someone Need Alcohol Detox?
When you can’t stop drinking on your own, it’s time to remove the negative hold alcohol has on you. This is one of the main signs someone has developed an addiction and needs outside help. There are some typical behaviors that signal someone needs to receive medical treatment for their alcohol dependency. If you see these in yourself or someone you love, it’s time to seek help.
- Unable to stop drinking alcohol, even though it’s harming you
- Always thinking about your next drink
- Skipping social plans in order to drink
- Drinking alone
- Losing interest in former interests and hobbies
- Having a high tolerance for alcohol
- Needing more drinks to get the pleasurable effect
- Missing important events, obligations, or deadlines
- Mental fogginess
Alcohol Abuse Statistics
Alcohol addiction is no small matter. It is an issue across the world, especially in the United States. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 29 million people over 12 have an AUD. Around the world, roughly 400 million people have an alcohol use disorder. And yearly, an estimated 2.6 million people die from alcohol abuse, according to statistics. Looking at these facts, it is undeniable that there’s a need for comprehensive alcohol abuse treatment to prevent alcohol-related harm.
What Happens When Someone Undergoes Alcohol Detox?
Alcohol detoxification is a straightforward process that typically lasts between 4-8 days. With the target to remove toxins from their body, individuals live in our detoxification facilities for the duration of their detox. Here, they receive around-the-clock medical care to monitor their vitals, ensure their comfort, and administer nutrients and fluids as needed. Additionally, in our medical detox centers, we can provide comfort medications to alleviate discomfort from withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
The hardest part of alcohol detoxification is the withdrawal symptoms. You will experience them regardless of whether you try to complete alcohol detox at home or in a medical center. However, individuals are unequipped to handle the force of withdrawal on their own, whereas we can minimize discomfort through professional treatment. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be painful, frustrating, and exhausting. Some of the potential symptoms are:
- Cravings
- Headaches
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Flu-like symptoms
- Trouble sleeping
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Hallucinations
- Confusion
- Restlessness
How Long Is Alcohol Detox?
Alcohol detox is a fairly short process, typically between 4 and 8 days, depending on the person. The detox timeline depends on how long it takes for your body to adapt to physical sobriety. However, after detoxification, you may still experience lingering symptoms like cravings, mood swings, or restlessness as your body heals further. After detox, clients transition into inpatient treatment and continue to receive 24/7 support.
Get confidential help from our addiction and mental health treatment facilities located across the United States. Call to join one of our quality programs today!
Speak With Our Admissions TeamIs Alcohol Detox at Home Safe?
It is not safe to try to attempt detoxing from alcohol at home. Many people aren’t prepared for the force of their withdrawal symptoms and relapse back into drinking.
There are many potential health dangers when detoxing from alcohol that you aren’t equipped to face in a home detox, such as:
- Pancreatitis
- Gastritis
- Internal bleeding
- Cardiomyopathy
- Liver disease
- Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies
Professional Medical Detox for Alcohol Addiction
Professional alcohol addiction treatment offers more than a safe and comfortable detox. We also offer the full continuum of care for AUD recovery. Each client can move between our levels of care to achieve whole-body healing during their time spent in treatment.
Individualized Treatment Plans
Addiction treatment is fully customized to our clients and their needs. Each individual works with their medical team to create an individualized treatment plan for their recovery journey. Further, we offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) plans for those who benefit from medication in combination with therapy.
Expert Medical Staff
Aliya Health Group’s facilities are staffed by licensed and knowledgeable experts in the field of addiction healing. We implement evidence-based treatment options to give individuals the best recovery experience.
Relapse Prevention
Professional alcohol addiction treatment helps prevent relapse. Our addiction recovery program will teach you coping skills to manage alcohol withdrawal at home after treatment when cravings linger. Thus, you will be able to maintain sobriety even after graduating from treatment by having the necessary tools and skills. We help improve your mental health so you can approach alcoholism treatment programs with confidence.
Looking for quality treatment for substance abuse and mental health that’s also affordable? Aliya Health Group's treatment facilities accept most major insurance providers. Get a free insurance benefits check now!
Check Your CoverageAlcohol Detox Center Near Me
Aliya Health Group can help you identify the warning signs of alcohol abuse and safely detox from alcohol to complete the inner work of healing. We desire for all our clients to achieve fulfilling, sober lives so our programming is accessible to everyone. Our program helps reduce drug and alcohol cravings so you can move on to a happy and healthy life. The treatment team uses MAT to provide medication that reduces withdrawal symptoms in severe alcohol abusers. We can also help you understand the alcohol detox timeline and educate yourself on the treatment of alcoholism.
Reach out to a medical professional today to discuss how your insurance provider can pay for treatment programs like detox, as we accept most major insurance companies. Don’t attempt alcohol detox at home. Call us today to ask any questions about rehab and to reserve a spot in one of our medical detoxification facilities for substance abuse and reduce the amount of alcohol you consume.
