Alcohol Detox

The following information on alcohol detox has been prepared under the supervision of Consultant Addiction Psychiatrist Dr Bruce Trathen MBBS MRCPsych, and Senior Addictions Therapist David Goodlad FRSPH MA Dip. MBACP (Snr. Accred) UKRC NCAC CADC.

Accessing reliable and accurate information on alcohol detox can be confusing and time consuming. Triage Advisors are here to help you make fully informed and accurate decisions. Call 0117 339 0080.

What is an Alcohol Detox?

Alcohol detox or alcohol detoxification refers to the process involved in helping a person to become completely free from alcohol. An alcohol detox center aims to minimise the danger and alleviate the unpleasantness by carefully managing the withdrawal symptoms.

Sudden withdrawal from alcohol can be fatal. Therefore, it is important that alcohol detox medication is available to make the process as safe as possible whilst completing the detox from alcohol. The medication typically used for an alcoholic detox would be Librium, Diazepam, or sometimes a combination of the two. In cases of liver damage, some alcohol detoxification centres may use other combinations of drugs.

Once the person has successfully completed an alcohol detox, it is important that they focus on the psychological side of the addiction. Alcohol detoxing is the first step on a long journey. Alcoholic detox centres will also focus on the psychological side of the dependence. This will usually combine several types of therapy such as group and one-to-one therapy, educational seminars, and personal reflection. It is important that the person learns to understand their addiction and the reasons behind it in order to avoid future relapse.

What to look for to find the best alcohol detox

When considering an alcoholism detox, it is vital to consider the type of treatment being offered. A rapid or accelerated alcohol detox is not advisable both for psychological reasons and physical comfort. The safest method of detox for alcohol is a medicated detox supervised by highly trained professionals. Alcohol detoxing can cause a person to become anxious and uncomfortable, and it is important that the highest level of support is offered at all times.

The type of psychological treatment offered in an alcoholism detox centre should also be taken into account. Typically, most alcoholism detoxification centres will operate the 12 step programme favoured by Alcoholics Anonymous due to its long-standing success. Some treatment centres will also incorporate elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which can help people to learn to change the way they think about their addiction.

The standard of accommodation and amenities available at an alcohol detox centre will also be an important consideration. Some individuals prefer their alcoholism detoxification to take place in quite luxurious, spa-like facilities, whereas for others, they will prefer to be an environment fairly similar to that experienced at home. There are centres that offer alcohol detox UK wide which can meet either requirement. The facilities offered by alcohol detox centres that Triage Healthcare work with will always be clean and comfortable.  

Success rates will also be important when it comes to alcohol detoxing. It can be extremely difficult to quantify success rates, because success will be different for each person. For some people it will be successfully completing an alcohol detox, for others it will be remaining abstinent. The length of abstinence should also be considered, how long a person remains sober after a detox for alcohol measures success to a certain extent. It is important to recognise the difference between retention rate, when someone completes a detox from alcohol, and success. All of the alcohol detoxification clinics Triage Healthcare works with are regulated by the appropriate governing bodies such as the Care Quality Commission which ensures they are of the highest standard possible.

Home based detoxification for alcohol may be a consideration in some circumstances. Triage Healthcare always recommend a residential rehab program is considered before home based alcohol detoxification due to the environment in residential treatment being more conducive to successful outcomes. It is also a more cost-effective route to explore. However, if a residential program is not a feasible consideration, then Triage Healthcare may be able to arrange a home detox. Patients will be fully assessed by a specialist nurse before a home detox is approved. Overall medical responsibility falls on our medical director, Dr Bruce Trathen, consultant addiction psychiatrist.

Types of Alcohol Detox Centers

The advantage of seeking private residential treatment in the UK is that it can be accessed immediately. Admission through Triage Healthcare can normally be arranged within 24 hours. Residential rehab differs from other treatments in that it is more intensive. The person is given some time away to really focus on getting themselves better. Another advantage is that the person is in a therapeutic environment surrounded by professionals that will make the process as easy as possible.

It is possible to access private overseas rehab. This option can be particularly appealing to those individuals who have already accessed rehab in the UK with limited success. By travelling overseas to access treatment, the person is completely removed from their problematic surroundings. Overseas rehab can also represent better value for money in some cases.

It is also possible to access free NHS alcoholism detoxification programs in the UK. Whilst it would clearly be preferable to receive treatment without having to pay for it, it is important to remember that there is an imbalance between availability of addiction treatment in the NHS and the demand in the community. Therefore, there can often be long waiting lists involved when trying to access the NHS options.

How long could an Alcohol Detox take?

The duration of detox will vary depending on the particular situation. The physical side of the addiction can normally be treated within 7-10 days, but the longer term psychological treatment will usually be between 4 and 12 weeks long. Regardless of the length of treatment, an attitude of ‘seeing it through’ is central to effectiveness (Trathen et al, 2008).

How much does private alcohol Detox cost?

Triage Healthcare recognises that there is a deficit in the provision of affordable private treatment for addictions in the UK. High quality free advice and information is provided to all, as well as best-value private treatment to individuals with a limited budget. If you arrange an alcoholism detoxification through Triage Healthcare you will never pay more and in some cases you will pay less for residential treatment than by booking direct with a treatment centre.

How to find the best alcohol Detox center

There are a number of different treatments available. It is important that the treatment is tailored to the individual - addiction is different for each person; there is no “one-size-fits-all solution”. In order to find out the treatment that represents the best chance of success for all concerned, call one of our experienced advisors. Our advice is all completely free and confidential.

We are staffed by highly experienced and expert professionals in addiction medicine and counselling, who are ethically bound to give you advice according to the latest evidence of what works, and who are not allowed to advise you according to a profit motive. Rather we will find you the best value treatment given your particular circumstances and wishes.

References

Trathen et al. (2008). Guidelines for the best practice treatment of Substance Misuse. Triage Healthcare: Canterbury, UK.