Safe Alcohol Detox & Withdrawal

For those that suffer from alcohol addiction, alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence, stopping drinking is not easy – far from it.

Alcoholism, a chronic and progressive disease of the brain, hijacks your thinking and your every waking moment. Most alcoholics feel hopeless, no matter how much they want to stop, they fail time and time again.

What if we told you that it is possible to stop and to stay stopped? That we have helped thousands to recover from active alcohol addiction? That alcoholism can be prevented and treated?

We want to give you hope; PCP rehabs can help you to overcome this deadly disease with the correct alcohol treatment, starting with medical alcohol detox.

What is a Medical Alcohol Detox?

Medical alcohol detox is where you will be given approved medication to replace the alcohol, then weaned down from that medication until your body is completely rid of all traces of alcohol and withdrawal symptoms have stopped.

Medical alcohol detox should only be conducted within a safe environment that is purpose built and has medical and therapeutic support 24/7.

When an individual develops a dependence on alcohol, it is not safe to stop suddenly. Alcohol is one of the most dangerous chemical dependencies to stop.

Medical alcohol detox is recommended for those that suffer from alcohol dependence. Alcohol dependence often accompanies alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse.

It is important to consider that you do not have to be a daily drinker in order to be alcohol dependent.

PCP offer affordable medical inpatient alcohol detoxes; we have a variety of CQC registered and regulated rehabs in London, Midlands, Bedfordshire and Essex. We will take every measure to ensure your safety, monitoring you medically and therapeutically throughout the entire detox process.

How Does Alcoholism Develop?

The time frame in which alcoholism develops can be fast or slow. Some alcoholics will tell you that they drank alcoholically from the very first time; that it became their solution to the way they felt inside and that once they started they had no stop button. Others, through repeated exposure to drinking, develop it over time.

Alcoholism develops through repeated, frequent exposure to alcohol. Over time, this causes fundamental changes in the brain’s neural pathways and pleasure/reward system. These changes take away the power of choice once the individual starts to drink or use. When they try to stop, their brain compels them to drink. Once alcoholism has developed, it becomes a vicious and destructive downward spiral.

Their only hope becomes a professional alcohol intervention. This takes the sufferer out of the community and places them in a temptation-free environment that supports complete abstinence whilst they detox. This is the first step in overcoming alcoholism, the alcohol must be safely removed before intensive therapeutic measures can be of maximum benefit.

Ways to Detox from Alcohol

There are several ways in which you can detox from alcohol, but many come attached with risks:

  1. Your local drug and alcohol services can support you in reducing your alcohol intake
  2. You can apply for government funding through your local drug and alcohol services for a rehab admission. NHS addiction services have been cut, so please bear in mind that the waiting lists are very long.
  3. Your GP may agree with a prescribed home detox. This is rare due to the risk factors involved and the fact that it involves controlled drugs.
  4. Hospital detox: this is only conducted when an individual is admitted through an emergency, even then, it is rare a full alcohol detox is provided
  5. You can pay for a private home detox but this is very high risk without 24/7 medical support
  6. You can admit to a private alcohol detox clinic or rehab facility.

*Please do not attempt abrupt cessation if you are alcohol dependent.

Clinically, the safest way to detox from alcohol dependence is to undergo an inpatient medical detox in a medically assisted and supportive environment. If this is something you need help with, PCP specialises in private inpatient medical detoxes and can accommodate emergency admissions.

How Do I know I Need an Alcohol Detox?

If you drink any less than your body/brain has become accustomed to and develop withdrawal symptoms, that go away by taking another drink, then it is highly likely you are alcohol dependent and require a medical alcohol detox to stop safely.

Even heavy weekend binge drinkers can develop alcohol dependence, please call us for a free telephone consultation if you are unsure.

Common Alcohol Detox Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawing from alcohol when you are dependent can be extremely unpleasant when professional and medical help is not sought. It is also extremely dangerous.

Common alcohol detox withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Anxiety
  • Panic
  • Confusion
  • Insomnia
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Tremors
  • Sweating
  • Hallucinations
  • Heart palpitations
  • Delirium tremens
  • Alcoholic seizures

*Alcohol detox symptoms that are highlighted in red require immediate emergency hospital treatment as they are life-threatening.

Cost of Private Alcohol Detox in the UK

Many people want to stop drinking but struggle to afford the cost of private alcohol detox in the UK.

At PCP, we have kept our alcohol detox prices low. This way more individuals can access lifesaving alcohol treatment.

Sadly the NHS’s lack of professional addiction treatment and funding means that more people have to turn to private rehab in order to address their alcohol or drug problem.

PCP offer affordable and very competitive alcohol and drug detoxes that are conducted by qualified, medically trained, professionals.

The cost includes your accommodation, medication and treatment throughout your stay. You will also receive counselling and other evidence-based alcohol addiction treatments whilst in our care. The cost will be dependent on which of our rehabs you choose to admit to and also the duration of your alcohol detox.

Please call us directly for information on the cost of alcohol detox that is suitable for your individual treatment needs and circumstances.

How Long Does an Alcohol Detox Take?

Alcohol detoxes are individualised according to your treatment needs. How long alcohol takes can vary depending on this.

We take into account all relevant factors when detoxing an individual from alcohol including:

  • Your gender and age
  • Your levels of alcohol dependence
  • Your physical condition
  • Any dual diagnosis conditions presenting, which we treat simultaneously
  • Any drug addictions that need to be addressed
  • If you have experienced complications during a previous alcohol detox

Alcohol detoxes take an average of 7 to 10 days to complete.

It is strongly recommended that you stay for a full rehabilitation treatment programme so that you don’t relapse following your detox.

Will an Alcohol Detox Cure me?

Alcohol detox only serves to rid the body of alcohol and prevent acute withdrawal symptoms. It does not address the driving factor of alcoholism, which is the compulsion to drink despite negative consequences.

Following an alcohol detox, you will look and feel much better, you may think you can drink moderately or have the odd drink on special occasions. This is the kind of thinking that leads many alcoholics to a full-blown relapse.

Alcoholism often has deep-rooted psychological issues attached. It is vital that they are addressed professionally and comprehensively through an alcohol rehabilitation programme.

You will never be cured of alcoholism, taking another drink following a detox could prove fatal. It is important to undergo rehabilitation and arm yourself with the facts of your disease and the tools and techniques to stay sober and in recovery.

How Much Alcohol is too Much?

For both men and women, the UK’s Chief Medical Officer has recommended a maximum safe drinking limit of 14 units of alcohol per week; which should be spread out over the course of the week with at least two alcohol-free days included.

If you are drinking more than this regularly, then it is time to consider that you may have a problem with alcohol.

Alcohol Detox Q & A

Will alcohol detox be painful?
Medical alcohol detox is not painful; the majority of your withdrawal symptoms will disappear completely or diminish drastically.

Will an alcohol detox repair my body?
An alcohol detox does not repair body damage caused by alcoholism. Abstinence, nutrition and a change in lifestyle, however, does. If you have cirrhosis of the liver, this cannot be reversed, but further damage can be prevented.

Will an alcohol detox stop me drinking again?
Alcohol detox is only the first step in a long road to recovery. Intensive therapeutic and psychological treatment is also required to keep active alcoholism at bay.

Can Alcoholism be cured?
Alcoholism is an incurable disease, however, it can be arrested and successfully treated by professionals.

Will I be bored without alcohol?
It is possible to live a full and happy life and have fun without alcohol!

UK Alcohol Facts and Statistics

  • Liver disease, related to alcohol consumption, is one of the UK’s biggest killers – claiming up to 12,000 lives every year in England.
  • Middle-aged males are more likely to suffer from alcohol-related illnesses than any other age group
  • The UK’s leading experts in alcohol treatment have predicted that up to 63,000 individuals will die from alcohol-related liver diseases in England over the next 5 years. The vast majority of those deaths will result from liver cancer.

Alcohol Detox Help

Please call PCP rehabs direct for a confidential and free assessment of your individual alcohol detox needs; we can provide immediate alcohol detox treatment and help today