Alcohol Detox
Ocean Recovery Centre is an alcohol detox clinic offering assisted alcohol rehab and alcohol detox services in Lancashire. Request a Callback
By John Gillen - Last Updated: March 15, 2023 | All Sources
Clinically Reviewed on February 1, 2023 by Dr. Olalekan Otulana. All information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
Our clinical team at Ocean Recovery provide a full detoxification service within our effective alcohol rehabilitation programme. This is simply the safest and most effective way to overcome alcoholism.
Our alcohol addiction withdrawal treatment takes place as part of our specialised detoxification programme, where every trace of the substance is withdrawn from your body in a medically supervised environment – all of our detoxification programmes come with a FREE 12-month aftercare package.
Our alcohol detox treatment programme is designed to assist clients in managing new strategies to control their alcohol use or achieve total sobriety from alcohol. Choosing our treatment programme will require an initial alcohol detox programme.
The purpose of this is to remove the alcohol within your system with clinical support, to ensure you safely detox from alcohol and can cope with the withdrawal effects you may experience.
Undergoing an alcohol detox is the first step toward sobriety. Below, we answer many of your questions regarding alcohol detox and alcohol rehabilitation; contact details will follow so you can get in touch and discover how we may help you.
Quick Links
Quickly skip to parts of this page you are most interested in by clicking on any of the below links.
When is Alcohol Detox Necessary at an Alcohol Detox Clinic?
An alcohol detox programme is necessary when you begin to suffer from alcoholism. You will know an alcohol detox is necessary because you will begin to suffer from cravings and withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking alcohol.
These symptoms require medical assistance. You could expose yourself to medical complications such as a seizure or cardiac arrest if medical assistance is not sought.
Below, we list some of the more common symptoms arising when a person suffering from alcoholism attempts to give up alcohol without the benefit of medical assistance:
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Insomnia
- Rapid heartbeat
- Hallucinations
If your alcoholism is sufficiently severe and advanced, you may begin to suffer from a condition known as delirium tremens (DTs). DTs is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal. Symptoms of DTs include:
- Delirium
- Tremors
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Fear
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Contact Us
94 Queen's Promenade, Blackpool, FY2 9NS, Blackpool, FY2 9NS
Landline: 01253 847 553
Email: info@oceanrecoverycentre.com
Start your Recovery - Call us nowWhat Happens During An Alcohol Detox Programme?
An alcohol detox within a clinical setting allows you to stop drinking alcohol in a medically controlled manner. Before your detox begins, you will be assessed by a psychiatrist. You will be assigned to a therapist and key worker; these professionals will assist you throughout the programme.
A psychiatrist will ask questions about your alcoholism during the initial assessment. During this assessment, the psychiatrist will gather relevant information about your health and any past alcoholism treatments you may have undergone.
It is vital to answer these questions correctly and thoroughly. The information you provide will help the psychiatrist in developing your individual detox and rehab plan.
The psychiatrist will also complete a physical and mental examination with you. This will help to unearth any conditions that must be treated during your recovery programme. You will then be prescribed suitable medication to help fight off alcohol withdrawal symptoms inevitably arising during the alcohol detox process.
After completing this initial assessment, you will be shown around the rehab clinic and taken to your room. You will then meet with your assigned therapist and key worker. These professionals will explain what happens during your detox and rehab programme. After completing all the above formalities, you will be supervised for 24-72 hours while you commence your detoxification treatment.
This enables our team to observe how you respond to this treatment and ensure you remain comfortable and safe throughout the process. If you are a ‘chronic alcoholic’, you will likely be at risk of severe withdrawal. So our team will monitor you closely for signs of serious illnesses associated with alcohol withdrawal, such as Delirium Tremens.
During an alcohol detox programme, much emphasis is placed on nutrition. When you abuse alcohol, you also tend to eat all the wrong foods. It’s also likely that you haven’t eaten enough food so you could be experiencing malnutrition. Our alcohol detox clinic will make sure you have a nutritional diet.
To help treat malnutrition during your alcohol detox programme, lots of quality food will be offered. You do not have to cook and prepare this food yourself because the detox clinic employs qualified chefs to ensure you are eating correctly. A qualified dietician designs meal plans.
Once the first 24-48 hours are completed, our team will work with you to start to plan and build your alcohol rehab programme, which will focus on a range of therapies to help you start to deal with your addiction, understand why you drink, how it affects your life and what you want to achieve during your treatment programme with us.
A typical alcohol detox programme in an alcohol detox clinic is run over a 7-10 day period. During this time, alcohol withdrawal symptoms will be closely monitored and treated. You will be given drugs such as Librium, disulfiram and naltrexone to help control cravings and treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Medications to help reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms are not the sole treatment you receive during alcohol detox. You will also benefit from a range of therapies. These therapies are offered whilst you undergo an alcohol detox programme.
At Ocean Recovery, we have experienced addiction staff and therapists, along with a range of psychiatrists, and psychologists, that are here to help you through any of your problems. You will be allocated your own worker to help you design your Recovery Action Plan (RAP) and guide you on your new journey to recovery.
How Long Does Alcohol Detox Take?
There is no ‘official’ duration for an alcohol detox programme. The length of your detox must reflect the severity of your addiction to alcohol and the amount of treatment you will likely require during this period. Many detox programmes at an alcohol detox clinic run over a 10-day period.
However, alcohol detox is usually incorporated into a more extended alcohol rehab programme. An alcohol rehab programme is most effective when running over a 28-day period. Patients should always ensure that they complete the entire course, as there are risks associated with leaving rehab early.
The duration of alcohol detox and rehab varies for each individual and depends on the level of the client’s addiction to alcohol. We recommend a minimum of 7 – 10 days for an alcohol detox as this allows our team enough time to carry out safe and comfortable detoxification and begin preparing yourself for the next steps.
Some will opt to undergo 7-day alcohol detox. This is perhaps the shortest amount of time in which an alcohol detox may be completed.
We will not accept anyone for detox for less than 7 days due to the clinical risk presented with alcohol dependency. We would always recommend that clients consider increasing their stay up to 28 days so they benefit from our rehabilitation service and address any issues associated with their alcohol use. This is proven to increase your chances of a full recovery from alcohol addiction and help you not to relapse once you leave our care.
The therapeutic rehabilitation service refers to various practices depending on your clinic. At Ocean Recovery, we choose a mix of techniques to ensure you have the mental state of mind to stop abusing alcohol after you leave our rehabilitation clinic. A very popular and proven method of therapeutic rehabilitation is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
CBT helps you better understand yourself and teaches techniques and coping mechanisms for your cravings. CBT also helps post-alcohol detox patients to find their triggers and see what sets them off – and can even help you pinpoint the source of your addiction.
We also offer treatment for co-existing mental health issues, like depression and anxiety. Often these are either the cause or effect of alcohol abuse, and helping you deal with mental health can equip you with a stronger shield against future cravings.
If you have any questions about the alcohol detoxification programme, please don’t hesitate to call us on 0800 880 7596, and we will provide you with experienced guidance.
How to Ease Alcohol Detox Symptoms
There exist many different ways to reduce alcohol detox symptoms. The best way to treat these symptoms is with a drug called Librium. Librium is a benzodiazepine.
It allows you to undergo an alcohol detox by slowly allowing chemicals in your brain to readjust without the sudden ‘jolt’ that would otherwise occur when alcohol consumption is abruptly stopped.
Librium does not utterly prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms but vastly reduces these symptoms, particularly the more dangerous symptoms such as DTs.
We also prescribe secondary medications that help to reduce alcohol cravings. You will be prescribed Librium and other medications over the course of a 10-day alcohol detox at an alcohol detox clinic. These medications will be gradually reduced over this period.
What to Eat When Doing an Alcohol Detox?
When you undergo an alcohol detox, eating healthy foods is a vital ally in the fight against alcohol withdrawal symptoms. When you attend Ocean Recovery alcohol detox clinic, good nutrition will play a vital part in your early recovery efforts.
Certain foods are thought to possess properties that help to reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These foods include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, foods high in vitamin B, and foods rich in protein. The food you eat during your alcohol detox programme will mostly consist of these food types.
Alcohol Detox with Insurance
Many alcohol detox clinics allow you to pay for your treatment through a valid health insurance policy.[2] Ocean Recovery Centre is no exception in this regard. You must download a claim form from your insurer’s website to claim through your insurer.
You then send our admission team the claim form so that our physician may complete this claim form on your behalf. We then send the completed claim form to your insurer for processing.
Your insurer’s claim department will review your application and decide to grant, conditionally, or reject your claim for rehab funding.
Our admissions team will discuss other funding options if your claim is rejected. This may include self-funding and advice on paying through a payment plan.
Alcohol Detox for Seniors
Alcoholism is a particularly dangerous condition for elderly people. This includes the risk of falling over, memory blackouts, and an increased risk of driving intoxicated.
If you suspect your elderly relative is suffering from alcoholism, you may be well advised to be on the lookout for the classic symptoms of alcoholism amongst the elderly. These symptoms include: drinking alcohol at all hours of the day, hiding alcohol away from loved ones, using alcohol as a form of medication and drinking in isolation from others.
At Ocean Recovery Centre, we offer specialist rehab for the elderly. The elderly typically require enhanced care needs when undergoing an alcohol detox programme. We employ specially trained staff members who can cope with the advanced care needs of elderly clients who need an alcohol detox programme.
Our building is also modified. This allows us to care for the care needs of elderly clients who struggle with mobility.
Outpatient Vs Inpatient Alcohol Detox
When you enquire about going to an alcohol detox clinic, you will quickly discover outpatient and inpatient options. Whilst the distinction between the two may sound obvious, the benefits and drawbacks of each are often less apparent.
Inpatient treatment involves more significant expenses than outpatient treatment. However, this cost is well-spent and far more intensive than outpatient treatment. When you attend an inpatient clinic, you will benefit from 24-hour care. This is vital given that alcohol detox is a sufficiently dangerous procedure to warrant 24-hour medical care.
You will focus on your recovery 24 hours a day. This means inpatient rehab is intensive and, thus, highly effective. Because you are removed from your home, you will also be removed from the stresses of daily life. This allows you to invest your energy solely in your recovery.
During your time at an inpatient clinic, you will participate in group therapy, individual therapy and complementary therapies throughout the day. This treatment is particularly advantageous for those who suffer from dually diagnosed mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
Outpatient treatment allows you to receive therapy and treatments during the day. However, you return to your home following the completion of daily sessions. The critical advantage of outpatient treatment is that your professional and family life is unimpeded.
This treatment is particularly beneficial for those suffering from mild alcoholism. If you choose to attend an outpatient clinic, you would be well advised to attend an intensive outpatient programme where therapies and treatments run over an entire day and not for just one or two hours a day.
What is a Home Alcohol Detox Treatment?
You may undergo a detox programme from the comfort of your own home. You will generally visit your GP before your home detox begins. In recent years, many GPs have refused to prescribe necessary medications when undergoing a home detox programme. This reluctance is because GPs rightly consider a home detox a risky venture.
For the above reasons, the superior option is to undergo detox at an inpatient clinic. When you undergo a detox from your own home, you could make too many errors when taking medication.
This could mean you suffer from advanced withdrawal symptoms such as DTs. This could result in your death. For this reason, we do not recommend you consider undergoing a home detox.
Can You Carry Out an Alcohol Detox at Home?
According to the NHS statistics, in 2021, 167,000 prescription items were dispensed to treat alcohol dependence. This was 1% higher than the previous year.
Alcohol is still seen as an innocent substance; however, it is still a dangerous substance that can destroy lives, relationships, ambitions, and dreams. The longer you abuse alcohol, the more difficult it becomes to stop drinking alcohol. For many alcohol addicts, alcohol detox becomes the only option to eliminate the alcohol in your body.
Alcohol detox is not something you can easily do by yourself. The process of detoxifying refers to removing all toxins from your body, and alcohol detox is, therefore, the process of removing all traces of alcohol from your body.
As alcohol affects almost every cell in the body, it is very complicated to withdraw from it. Rehabilitation clinics generally recommend that those affected by alcoholism complete an alcohol detox programme before entering rehabilitation. It is necessary for all traces of alcohol to be removed from the body so that the person is completely clean before attempting rehab.
Can an Alcohol Detox Kill You?
If you suffer from alcoholism, your brain chemistry is altered by the volume of alcohol you have consumed over the years. When alcohol consumption is abruptly discontinued, you will suffer from a range of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
This is because chemicals in the brain begin to readjust. However, this readjustment in brain chemistry causes a range of withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms range in severity from discomfort to potentially life-threatening.
At Ocean Recovery Centre, when you begin your inpatient alcohol detox, you will be given medications that allow you to detox without risking potentially lethal withdrawal symptoms. We also supply you with healthy meals and a range of vitamins and other supplements that also act to ease alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Learn More About Our Alcohol Treatment Options
Get in touch with us today and we will talk to you about our different treatment options. If you’re worried that you have any of these symptoms of alcohol dependence, or you’d like to learn more about the withdrawal process, then contact us and see how we may be able to help.
There are a number of questions which we are regularly asked surrounding alcohol detoxification, so we have answered some of the most common queries below.
Areas We Cover
See below list of just some of the locations our leading alcohol rehab service covers in the United Kingdom.
- Rehab in Liverpool
- Rehab in Manchester
- Rehab in Birmingham
- Rehab in Nottingham
- Rehab in Glasgow
- Rehab in Cardiff
- Rehab in Bristol
- Rehab in Blackpool
- Rehab in Cumbria
- Rehab in Lancashire
- Rehab in Merseyside
- Rehab in Cheshire
- Rehab in Yorkshire
- Rehab in West Midlands
- Rehab in North East
- Rehab in Surrey
- Rehab in Essex
- Rehab in London
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing the right rehab treatment provider can be a life-changing decision; here are some of the most common questions we are asked pre-admission.
What Are The Signs Of Alcohol Withdrawal?
When you stop drinking after prolonged alcohol consumption, you will more than likely suffer from alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Usually, the signs of alcohol withdrawal are divided into two different categories: Physical and psychological signs.
Physical Signs:
- Hand tremors
- Nausea and/ vomiting
- Sweating
- Hallucinations
- Minor to moderate seizures
Psychological Signs:
- Anxiety & Depression
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
Can You Detox From Alcohol At Home?
An alcohol detox is something you can do at home but we definitely wouldn’t advise it. Some have had success detoxing from home and using the support of a group such as Alcoholics Anonymous, while we do advise our clients to visit these kinds of groups after treatment, we know that alcohol withdrawal can cause severe health issues that will require medical treatment.
We know that if you have an alcohol addiction then it’s very unlikely that you will fully recover without addiction treatment – this is why supervised detox and professional rehab will give you a better chance of maintaining long-term sobriety.
This is why if you looking for a serious treatment for alcohol addiction, we’d advise using a medically supervised clinic, like ourselves.
What Are Delirium Tremens?
Delirium Tremens, also can be known as DTs or the shakes is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. This is quite common with people who have suffered with prolonged periods of alcoholism, or are going through an instant withdrawal from alcohol.
Common symptoms associated with DTs include:
- Nightmares
- Hallucination
- Fever
- Perspiration
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Heightened heart rate
- Tremors
- Increased blood pressure
What Can You Expect During An Alcohol Detox
Everyone differs in experience but during detox many individuals feel worse before they feel better. Symptoms can vary depending on the severity of your condition. Common symptoms can include
- Sweats
- Chills
- Exhaustion
- Irritability
- Flu like symptoms and more
Can You Die From Alcohol Withdrawal?
Experts say it is possible to die when going through alcohol withdrawal. But it is extremely rare.
Can You Avoid Alcohol Withdrawal?
This is not possible. If you are dependant on alcohol then your body will certainly go through alcohol withdrawal when you stop drinking.
How Long Will A Person Stay Off Alcohol After Detox?
If you are serious about quitting alcohol, a combination of addiction treatment support, aftercare services, group support and understanding of your friends and family will make it possible for you to stay off alcohol after detox.
What's The Difference Between Alcohol Withdrawal And A Hangover?
A hangover is caused when you consume too much alcohol. Researchers believe a hangover is due to a toxin that’s produced in the liver known as acetaldehyde. In contrast, alcohol withdrawal is caused when sufferers of alcoholism consume too little alcohol. A hangover affects everyone who drinks too much alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms will only affect those who suffer from alcoholism.
John Gillen
- Author
- Last updated: March 15, 2023
John is one UK’s leading professionals in the addiction recovery industry. Pioneering new treatment techniques such as NAD+ and ongoing research into new therapy techniques such as systematic laser therapy, John is committed to providing the very best treatment for people throughout the UK and Europe. During his extremely busy schedule, John likes to regularly update our blog section with the latest news and trends in the industry to keep visitors to our site as well informed as possible on everything related to addiction treatment.

Dr. Olalekan Otulana
- Clinical Reviewer
- Last reviewed: February 1, 2023
MBChB, DRCOG, MRCGP, DFSRH, FRSPH, MBA (Cantab)
Dr Otulana is a highly experienced GP and Addiction Specialist Physician. He is particularly interested in Substance Misuse Management and has a wide range of experience in the assessment, management and residential rehabilitation of patients with drug and other substance addiction problems. His main aim is to assess patients with addiction problems and determine their treatment needs for medical detoxification treatments and psychological interventions. He is also experienced in managing patients who require dual drug and alcohol detoxification treatments.
Dr Otulana started practising as a doctor in 2000 and has been in the field of addiction for over a decade. He is an Advanced Practitioner Member of Addiction Professionals and holds a Part 1 Certificate in Clinical Psychopharmacology from the British Association for Psychopharmacology. He is excellent healthcare service professional with a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from Cambridge University Judge Business School.
Request A Callback
Enter your phone number and a member of our team will call you back to discuss your recovery.
Contact Us
For more information please get in touch using the information below
Call: 01253 847 553 Send us a messageDownload Our Brochure
For more information about the addiction services that Ocean Recovery offer, download our brochure.
Download our brochureDo I need help?
A lot of people are unsure if there are suffering from addiction. Take these tests to find out if its effecting you without your knowledge.
Select your test and find out more
Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol Detox Resources

Google Reviews
5
Tel: 01475 303998
Email: info@novarecovery.com
Address: 10-12 Scott St, Largs, North Ayrshire, KA30 9NU
View Centre
Google Reviews
4.5
Tel: 01923 369 161
Email: info@cassioburycourt.com
Address: Cassiobury Court, Richmond Drive, Watford, Herts, WD17 3BH
View Centre
Google Reviews
4.5
Tel: 01908 489 421
Email: info@asanalodge.com
Address: 48 Moorend Rd, Yardley Gobion, Towcester, NN12 7UF
View CentreOur Blogs
-
The Link Between ADHD and Drug Addiction
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and studies show that some individuals suffering with ADHD also turn to substance misuse. Here, we explore the link between ADHD and drug addiction and highlight what you can do if you’re concerned about your own behaviour or a loved one. Understanding ADHD and Its Impact on Mental
-
How Many Units in a Glass of Wine?
How many units are in a standard glass of wine? A typical-strength medium (175ml) glass of wine has around 2.3 units of alcohol. When we break this down a little further into numbers, we can see that according to official websites, the range of ABV for unfortified wine is about 5.5% to 16%, with an
-
Signs of Compulsive Overeating
Compulsive overeating is a common type of eating disorder that involves a person regularly eating large amounts of food over a short space of time until they are left feeling uncomfortably full. Find out what this condition is, the symptoms and signs of compulsive overeating, as well as the health risks of this eating disorder.
-
How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?
Cocaine is a stimulant that was once used medicinally, but it’s now more commonly known as a recreational party drug. Over the decades, it has become more prevalent among casual drug takers. Its rise in popularity has led to more people developing a cocaine addiction. If you use cocaine, you may think that once the
-
5 Benefits of Quitting Alcohol
Do you worry that you’re drinking too much alcohol? Perhaps you’ve wondered what it would be like if you stopped drinking altogether. Whether you’re looking to save some money or just want to live a healthier lifestyle, both physically and mentally, quitting alcohol can provide you with a number of well-being and health benefits. Learn
-
How Effective are Addiction Treatment Programmes?
Are you wondering if an addiction treatment programme is effective? Learn about the effectiveness of drug and alcohol rehab here. Types of Addiction Treatment Programmes Starting a journey to long-term recovery can be difficult. It involves accepting that a time in your life is over and that you need help moving forward. Thankfully you
-
Why is Aftercare Important in Long-Term Addiction Recovery?
Aftercare in addiction recovery is a simple and effective treatment that prevents a person facing addiction from relapse after alcohol rehab. Sometimes, addiction relapse happens even with relapse prevention, however, aftercare sessions make the chances much less likely due to the supportive environment group sessions create. There are numerous ways in which long-term addiction recovery
-
The Effects of Drug and Alcohol Abuse on Oral Health
The negative impact that drugs and alcohol have on the body and mind are plentiful, but one that can often go overlooked is the effect that it has on our oral health. Whether it’s the effect of alcohol on teeth, or what drugs can do to your oral health and gums, none of it is
-
How to Have Difficult Conversations with a Loved One About Addiction?
Drug and alcohol addiction is a disease that is incredibly common, however, it boasts numerous issues that can occur with your mental and physical health combined. Oftentimes, people ruled by addiction do not appreciate that there is a problem. Denial is a common factor of addiction and can cause numerous issues at work, at home
-
Sleep and Alcohol: What is the Effect of Alcohol on Sleep?
Alcohol can affect not only your waking hours but also when you try to sleep. Once it has you, there is no real escape from addiction, and private drug and alcohol rehab might be the only option. To stop alcohol from affecting how much sleep you get and the quality of it, you may need