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treatment takes place as part of our specialised detoxification programme, where every trace of the substance is withdrawn from your body in a medically supervised environment – all of our detoxification programmes come with a FREE 12-month aftercare package.

Alcohol Detox

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.

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

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94 Queen's Promenade, Blackpool, FY2 9NS, Blackpool, FY2 9NS

Landline: 01253 847 553

Email: info@oceanrecoverycentre.com

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What Happens During An Alcohol Detox Programme?

alcohol detox clinicAn 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.

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

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.