RECO

Alcohol Detox, put simply, is the process of removing alcohol from the body and managing withdrawal symptoms that may occur when someone becomes alcohol dependent. Alcohol dependence is characterised by craving, tolerance, a preoccupation with alcohol and continued drinking in spite of harmful consequences (1). When an alcohol dependent person reduces or attempts to stop drinking, they may experience significant, harmful, and potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. In order to stop drinking alcohol safely, medication must be prescribed in order to minimise and alleviate the symptoms.

For most people with an alcohol addiction who want to be sober, detoxification is a compulsory and necessary first step on the recovery journey.

In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about alcohol withdrawal symptoms and the detox process so that you can understand what you may need to do for yourself, or someone you know, to get the correct medical treatment.

Before examining the myriad of withdrawal symptoms that occur when an alcoholic stops drinking, it is important to understand why they occur. In order to understand this, we need to first understand how alcohol works.

Alcohol affects the neurotransmitters in our brain – the chemical messengers that transmit signals around our body, telling our organs what to do, deciding how we think and what we feel. These neurotransmitters are both ‘excitatory’ (speed things up) and ‘inhibitory’ (slow things down).

One example of an excitatory neurotransmitter is glutamate, which speeds up our brain activity and increases energy levels – when alcohol is consumed, it slows down the release of this chemical, which in turn decreases your cognitive function and increases feelings of lethargy.

On the other hand, GABA, is an ‘inhibitory’ neurotransmitter – a natural chemical to counterbalance the glutamate. Alcohol increases the function of GABA – slowing your heart rate and breathing. The combination of these two interactions when alcohol is consumed, results in everything (thought, movement, speech) slowing down. In layman’s terms, alcohol suppresses your main bodily functions – your ability to regulate your body temperature, to talk, and to stand up straight – which is why people slur their words and fall over when they are drunk.

So, when people drink large quantities of alcohol on a daily basis, their bodies are in a constant state of suppression and slow down. Abrupt cessation of chronic alcohol consumption unmasks these changes with a glutamate-mediated CNS excitation resulting in autonomic overactivity (2) So when an alcoholic suddenly stops drinking alcohol, their automatic and unconscious bodily functions come back to life in a very sudden way, leading to sweating, shaking, and in severe cases seizures and delirium tremens.

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are both physical and mental and vary depending on the severity of the individual’s alcohol use disorder and can range from mild to severe. The most commonly experienced symptoms include excessive sweating, shaking, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

When diagnosing alcohol withdrawal, a Doctor only needs to find 2 of the key withdrawal symptoms present in a person, after they have stopped drinking. If any of these symptoms occur within a few hours after stopping alcohol consumption, they are not due to another medical condition and the symptoms are causing significant distress to the individual, it is very likely that the diagnosis is AWS.

If you are concerned that you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms listed in the table above, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical advice. Severe alcohol withdrawal can lead to seizures and delirium tremens (DTs) which can be life threatening.

Delirium Tremens (literally translated from Latin as ‘deranged’ and ‘shaking’) is an especially severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome and can be fatal if not treated accordingly. There are three classical symptoms which include confusion, vivid hallucinations / illusions, and tremors. Early warning signs can include insomnia, tremulousness and a general sense of fear; the onset of ‘DT’s’ may also be preceded by withdrawal convulsions. It is believed that alcohol withdrawal delirium occurs in between 5-20% of patients going through alcohol withdrawal, and the death rate of those diagnosed with DT’s is between 1-5% (3).

Seizures are most commonly associated with people who suffer from activity in the brain, which disrupts the way that brain cells communicate with each other (4) Such electrical bursts can cause involuntary changes in behaviour, movement, and levels of consciousness. As we have already explained, when someone is alcohol dependent, they are in a constant state of suppression, so when alcohol is removed, the brain starts ‘firing up’ again, which explains why seizures are a risk factor when going through an alcohol withdrawal. It is generally regarded that the individual risk of having an alcohol withdrawal seizure is dependent on the amount that person drinks and for how long they have been dependent.

Some studies have even suggested that some people are genetically pre-disposed to alcohol withdrawal related seizures (5)

It is also important to know that studies have shown that risk of seizures does increase, the more times a person goes through an alcohol detox. (6) This is related to the kindling effect.

Minor alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia and headaches, can start to occur within 6-12 hours after cessation of alcohol use. If left untreated, more problematic symptoms such as hallucinations creep in between 12 and 24 hours. The longer a person goes without an alcoholic drink, the more the symptoms worsen – shaking becomes more noticeable, sweating becomes more profuse and anxiety is exacerbated. Most people find these symptoms so uncomfortable and worrying that they consume alcohol again to alleviate them, or if they are determined not to drink, to correctly seek the medical attention they need – this would, unless pre-planned, involve calling emergency services or attending the Accident and Emergency department.

However, sometimes people not knowing the severity and dangerousness of AWS, continue to attempt to abstain from alcohol. After 24 hours it is most likely that a person could experience an alcohol withdrawal seizure and beyond this, delirium tremens.

Please remember that the range of symptoms differ from person to person, as well as the timeframes for onset – it has been reported and observed for individuals to experience seizures within 2 hours of abstaining from alcohol. With this in mind, it is critical that anyone wanting to abstain from alcohol, seeks medical advice before they do so.

Hospital Detox

When attending Accident and Emergency in a state of acute alcohol withdrawal, it is possible for people with alcohol dependency to be treated in hospital. The benefit of such treatment is that you will be in an environment with a high number of Doctors and Nurses with the highest technological medical equipment and treatments, such as the Thiamine injection, Pabrinex.

The downside is that alcohol dependency, detoxification and treatment is a very specialist area of medicine, where some hospital staff may not have such experience in managing patients going through alcohol withdrawal.

Due to the stigma attached to alcoholism, an alcoholic having to be treated in hospital for anything directly related to their addiction, is seen by some to be a drain on public resources. This often results in very short stays in hospital in both general and mental health wards. To free up bed spaces, patients often have to leave without both having fully completed their detox and a good contingency plan in place to ensure ongoing abstinence from alcohol.

Inpatient Residential Rehab Facility

One of the most effective ways to detox, is via an alcohol rehab centre, the majority of which will include a detox as part of the rehab package. As part of the admission process, you will be assessed by a doctor, employed by the rehab, who will prescribe the detox medication which will be administered by the rehab staff. If you are to go down this route, it is best practice for the rehab to employ Nurses to oversee the detox.  A service with 24-hour nursing is described as ‘medically monitored’ and one with part time nursing care is known as ‘medically assisted’. It isn’t always absolutely necessary to have 24-hour nursing care, as most rehab centre staff are trained to support and care for people undergoing a detox. Of course, the more a detox service is staffed by Nurses, the safer it is likelier to be.

The other main benefit of undergoing a detox in a rehab facility, is that patients can engage in the structured groupwork programme and benefit from having counsellors and support workers available to talk to. This helps by giving the client focus, something to do to distract themselves from the physical effects of the withdrawal. By engaging the mind and the brain on therapeutic activities, you are not thinking about the negative impact your addiction has had on your life and the emotional and physical turmoil you are going through.

Home Detox

Home Detox, alternatively known as an ‘Ambulatory’ Detox, is an efficient, low-cost way to get detoxed from alcohol. Patients are assessed by a doctor either over the phone or via Zoom, the Doctor will then prescribe the same detox medication that you would receive in a clinic or in a hospital, for you to take at home. In some cases, the assessment and prescribing are conducted by a Nurse Medical Prescriber (NMP)

In order to qualify for a home detox, the patient must have someone at home with them to collect the medication from the pharmacy and ensure that the medication regime is followed as per the Doctor’s dosing regimen, and to be on hand to support if there are any complications. Home Detox is also only generally suitable for patients with a mild-moderate dependency, and with no co-occuring physical or mental health issues, which could require more intensive and professional medical intervention.

Home Detox is preferred by people that want to be in the comfortable environment of their own home. It is also much more affordable than going to a rehab clinic, as you are not having to pay for the 24-hour staffing, bedroom facilities and therapy. It is also a lot more private; some people may not be ready for the intensive counselling that takes place in a rehab.  However, one of the negatives of a home detox is that it only deals with the physical dependency to alcohol, without looking at the psychological aspect.

It is therefore critically important that people undergoing a home detox have a comprehensive support package in place to help deal with any difficult emotions that arise which could lead to a lapse, both during and upon completion of the detox.

Home detox is also a very effective option for those who have already been in treatment before, those with a good understanding of their addiction, but have recently relapsed. It is also convenient for heavy binge drinkers or those with a low-level alcohol dependency who have responsibilities. which mean that they cannot enter a rehab facility away from home. For many individuals with mild symptoms and no history of seizures or DT, supervised withdrawal can be safely and effectively managed in the ambulatory setting (8)

It is important when undergoing a detox, that where possible, as much medical information is gathered about the patient before prescribing, such as GP summary and up-to-date blood test results, particularly Liver Function Test (LFT). It is also absolutely imperative that patients are open and honest about their health and levels of alcohol consumption.

However, like any medical procedure, there is always a concern that the treatment may not have the correct effect, and unpredictable risks are still present even when detox is carried out in a safebenvironment under the supervision of medical staff, such as:

• Grand mal seizure – Alcohol withdrawal can lead to grand mal fits, which may occasionally be fatal.
• Delirium tremens – Alcohol withdrawal can lead to delirium tremens (DTs) which can be fatal
• Overdose – Taking alcohol and benzodiazepines together in large doses can lead to fatal overdose.
• Suicide / Self Harm- Patients may become emotional labile during detoxification and be at increased risk of suicide or self-injury.
• Wernicke’s encephalopathy – Alcohol withdrawal in the presence of thiamine deficiency can lead to Wernicke’s encephalopathy, which is reversible if it is treated promptly.

Wernickes-Korsakoff Syndrome

Wernickes Encepalopathy is an alcohol related brain disorder (ABRD) caused by a deficiency of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) which leads to intense swelling in the brain. If this condition is not identified and treated early, it can lead to ‘Korsakoff Syndrome’ which has many of the same symptoms of dementia (9)

Possible Indicators of Wernickes Encepalopathy:

• Severe confusion – this is the most common (and often only) symptom. Patients may appear more intoxicated than expected or not responding to standard detox medication treatment.
• Ataxia i.e., poor balance –
• Ophthalmoplegia/nystagmus i.e., double vision
• Hypothermia and hypotension i.e., low temperature & 35 ℃ and blood pressure & 90/60 mmHgn respectively
• Memory disturbance
• Undernourished, or underweight, or a recent sudden loss of weight.

Reduction of Risks Associated with Alcohol Detoxification

All of the risks described above should be mitigated with standard alcohol detox treatment, guided by NICE guidelines. The standard medical protocols for an alcohol detox may include some or all of the following medical interventions.

• Prescribing of Chlordiazepoxide (or alternative benzodiazepine in equivalent dose) in reducing doses over an 8–14-day period. First day dosing will be matched as closely as possible to the patient’s level of alcohol consumption, guided by Units of Alcohol consumed and SADQ score.
• Short course of Carbamazepine (anti-seizure medication) to be prescribed where a risk is identified that patient may suffer seizure during detox despite the presence of the benzodiazepine.
• Suitable patients at the doctor’s discretion should be given high-dose thiamine as part of detoxification package. All other patients will usually be prescribed oral vitamin b compound strong and Thiamine in tablet form.

Who qualifies for an alcohol detox? Identifying Suitable Patients
Detoxification is offered to patients who are diagnosed by a doctor or Nurse Medical Prescriber, as being dependent on alcohol and wishing to completely abstain from (rather than reduce) alcohol, and who meet the criteria below:

Inclusion criteria:

• Regular heavy drinker who has recently needed to drink to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
• Appropriate care arrangements have been put in place for any children and vulnerable adults closely related to the patient.
• Patient agrees to daily observations and monitoring whilst undergoing detoxification.
• Patient agrees to have blood tests if requested by doctor on suspicion of signs of chronic liver disease particularly if no recent result within three to six months available before admission.

Exclusion Criteria

Though alcohol detox is a relatively straightforward and low risk medical procedure, there may be cases when someone is un-suitable for a detox, in certain settings.
Any of the following complications would be deemed as possible high-risk factors which may determine that an individual would not be suitable for detox in a residential drug and alcohol rehab setting, thus requiring inpatient hospital care.

• History of difficult or complicated withdrawals, for example delirium tremens (DTs) or seizures that have specifically occurred during previous medically assisted detox EXCEPT if the doctor is confident that these risks can be managed e.g., prescribing Carbamazepine to reduce seizure risk. Many people with an alcohol dependency may have experienced an alcohol withdrawal induced seizure, often when they have attempted to stop drinking without medical intervention and guidance. In most cases, the standard medication prescribed to alleviate withdrawal symptoms (Chlordiazepoxide) greatly reduces the risk of seizure for most people presenting for detox.
• Presenting with obvious signs of liver decompensation/alcoholic hepatitis e.g., jaundice and ascites.
• With diagnosed decompensated liver cirrhosis, debilitating alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy, or other complications.
• Is presently confused or has ongoing hallucinations.
• Lacks the mental capacity to make an informed decision to enter treatment at the time of assessment with the Doctor.
• Is malnourished and at risk of Wernicke’s encephalopathy (in cases of mild malnourishment, the doctor may deem fit to prescribe supplements to manage this if appropriate)
• Has severe diarrhoea/vomiting with possible risk of dehydration.
• Is at significant risk of suicide / self-harm.
• Has an acute or poorly controlled or unmanageable physical illness particularly those over 65 years old, debilitated, hypertension, coronary heart disease, significant renal impairment,mand diabetes.
• Has an acute or poorly controlled mental health condition
• Pregnancy
• Problematic multiple illicit drug use with history of complications requiring hospitalisation.

All of the above conditions fall on a spectrum of severity, so it may still be deemed appropriate and safe to admit to an alcohol detox unit, however prior to admission it may be required for the patient to obtain up-to-date Liver Function Tests and specific actions may be required of staff medically monitoring the patient, to ensure the patient’s safety whilst undergoing the procedure.

Preparation for and the Process of Alcohol Detoxification

Preparing for alcohol detox can play an important role in determining the efficacy of the treatment, to ensure readiness for what can be a physically and emotionally challenging time.

Giving up alcohol for someone that has relied on it for so long, can be scary on many levels. First there is the dread of the potential physical withdrawal symptoms, especially if that person has suffered severe withdrawal symptoms or even a seizure in the past. Then there is the totally understandable fear of going to an unknown environment, meeting unknown people, far away from the comforts of home, leaving family, friends and pets behind. Lastly, and this is often overlooked, there is often a genuine, often unconscious, anxiety among alcohol dependents, of living a life without alcohol; something that for many has been an ever-present in their lives, a comfort blanket that helps them live without having to fully experience the emotions and thoughts they hold within.

For this reason, being ready for alcohol detox and rehab treatment is critical.

Before making the decision to enter into an inpatient programme, we recommend that people….

– Seek advice – Where possible, speak to your GP, Keyworker or any other professional. If you attend AA meetings, speak to someone in the rooms who has been through a detox – they should be able to re-assure you that going through a detox is a positive experience for most.

– Read – Go online and research. Speak to different clinics to see what they offer, specifically ask about levels of nursing care available, the medications given and what therapeutic treatment is on offer alongside the detox programme. If you can, ask to visit a clinic before you make your decision, this is a good way to see the facilities on offer, meet the team and speak to other residents going through the programme.

– Take Time – See and speak to friends and family for re-assurance, do something fun with your children and tie up any practical ‘loose ends’ like work tasks, or paying bills – you don’t want to have to worry about these sorts of things when you trying to focus on getting yourself better.

– Reduce your drinking if you can. Whilst it is never advised for someone with an alcohol dependency to stop drinking before they enter a detox, it may be possible for someone to reduce their drinking incrementally. This will make the first few days of detox easier to tolerate. Please seek professional medical advice before taking this action.

Indeed, patients who access residential treatment through NHS funding, will often be required to attend groupwork sessions in advance of funding being agreed by the local authority, who wants to be assured that the government funding is going to effective use. Failure to attend such sessions may signal that an individual is not ‘ready’ or motivated enough to go to detox, if they cannot attend free, local sessions.

Once you have ‘booked in’ to a detox facility, it is good practice for the service delivering the care, to conduct a ‘Pre-admission’ screening, prior to your admission date. This usually takes place over the phone, where a member of staff at the clinic (usually a Nurse) will call the patient, discuss how the detox will work and go through everything that person needs to do, and what to bring on the day.

We also advise all patients to, where possible, contact their GP to get a Liver Function Test, and request to be started on Thiamine and Vitamin B Strong 3 days before arrival for detoxification. This is not essential in most cases, but helpful and beneficial to the patient.

Assessment for Detox

Similar to any setting where care needs to be planned, assessment of needs is critical to high quality care.

Assessments for alcohol detox should be comprehensive and multi-disciplinary (carried out by members of staff with different qualifications – Doctor, Nurse, Counsellor). They should account for a persons physical health condition, mental health presentation, social needs as well as taking into account any personal preferences and wishes that person may have (for example relating to dietary or religious needs)

All treatment should follow the NICE Guidelines, which tell us that the AUDIT questionnaire may be used to assess whether or not there is a problem with dependence. Actual alcohol dependency levels should be done with the ‘Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire’ (SADQ) which was developed by the Addiction Research Unit at the Maudsley Hospital.

The SADQ questions cover the following aspects of dependency syndrome: 

• physical withdrawal symptoms
• affective withdrawal symptoms
• relief drinking
• frequency of alcohol consumption
• speed of onset of withdrawal symptoms.

Medications

Alcohol withdrawal is mostly managed with Benzodiazepines, which as a central nervous system suppressant, act in a similar way to alcohol, preventing the spike in activity the brain which cause the withdrawal symptoms.
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) The first line of treatment for the management of assisted withdrawals from alcohol is Chlordiazepoxide. The use of Chlordiazepoxide and Diazepam has the strongest evidence base in the management of detoxification. Although Clomethiazole (former name Chlormethiazole) is an effective treatment for alcohol withdrawal, there are well documented fatal interactions with alcohol which render it unsafe to use without close supervision. (10)

Alternatives to Librium

Diazepam, Oxazepam or other appropriate Benzodiazepines can be used in cases of Chlordiazepoxide non-availability, patient allergy or other reasons in a patient’s safety and best interest. Where patients undergoing detox have liver complications, Oxazepam is often prescribed as it is less impacting when being processed by the Liver.

Other Medications:

Other medications may be prescribed during an alcohol detox, to manage and minimise individual withdrawal symptoms.

These may include:

– Zopiclone or Promethazine for insomnia
– Metoclopramide or Buccastem for nausea/vomiting
– Propranolol for anxiety.
– Paracetamol / Ibuprofen for Headaches
– Dioralyte / Loperamide for Diarrhoea
– Gaviscon for Acid Reflux

Thiamine and Vitamin B Strong are vitamins prescribed during a detox and often for a longer period after the detox to replenish depleted stores. Where the alcohol detox setting allows, an injectable form of Thiamine, known as Pabrinex, can be given. Especially in cases where a patient has poor nutrition and may be at risk of Wernicke’s encephalopathy, Pabrinex gives the brain a quicker injection of Thiamine, to better protect against any ABRD.

Nutritional Enhancement The body requires energy during any detox process and without vital nutrients the whole process of detoxifying can be especially taxing both physically and mentally. For selected patients as identified via the Doctor’s assessment, additional nutritional support in the early stages, such as Fortisip/ Ensure Plus may be prescribed to enhance the physical rehabilitation during detox.

The Detox Process

In the grand scheme of things, alcohol detoxification is a low impact, safe procedure which under the right medical supervision, is very easy to carry out. When going through a detox, you will be given Librium 4 times a day. Whilst taking this medication, you will have an opportunity to speak to the person giving the medication – who should also take your vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, o2 saturations) and carry out withdrawal assessments using the CIWA tool.

This is to ensure that there are no markers nor obvious signs that the medication is not working and that the person is not suffering from significant withdrawals. Of course, when going through a Home Detox, this may not be possible as the only other person that may be present is a family member. Sometimes, when doing a Home Detox through the local Drug and Alcohol Team, you may be requested to attend the local daycentre to collect medication daily, so that a trained medical professional can carry out these short tests.

Outside of these medication times, what someone does with their time is down to them. Rest is always recommended, as is regular healthy meals to build up body strength and mental wellbeing. When doing an alcohol detox at a residential rehab clinic, patients are encouraged to participate in the groupwork sessions and activities taking place throughout the day. Staying in bed, with no focus
and limiting interaction with others, increases focus on the physical symptoms. Whereas, engaging in activities that stimulate the mind, helps to distract from feeling physically weak or unwell.

1. Coping with Withdrawal Symptoms

During detoxification, the medication prescribed acts a substitute for the alcohol you have been taking, and the idea is to gradually wean your body off the drug, so that the withdrawal is gradual, controlled, and comfortable. For most people, the medication alleviates most, if not all withdrawal symptoms, certainly after 72 hours of starting the detox treatment. However, people do still suffer from physical and psychological withdrawals, so there are many things that we recommend to patients to give them the best chance of feeling physically and emotionally healthy during detox:

– Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water and other non-alcoholic beverages can help keep your body hydrated and flush out toxins.

– Eat a balanced diet: Eating a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can help replenish nutrients that may have been depleted by alcohol use.

– Get plenty of rest: Rest is important for allowing your body to heal and recover from withdrawal symptoms. Aim to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

– Stay active: Light exercise, such as walking or gentle yoga, can help reduce stress and promote relaxation.

– Practice relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, meditation, and yoga can help reduce stress and promote relaxation.

– Seek support: Talking to a therapist, joining a support group, or confiding in trusted friends or family members can help you manage the emotional challenges of withdrawal and stay motivated to maintain sobriety.

– Do things you like to do: Hobbies which engage and excite the mind, keep us naturally stimulated and happy. Whether it is knitting, reading, playing guitar – all help contribute to a positive mindset and help us to remember that we can enjoy life, without alcohol.

Post Detox Recommendations

Creating a plan for ongoing recovery

There is no right or wrong way of doing recovery. Everyone is different. What works for some, may not work for others. But having a range of structures in place is going to be beneficial. We also promote writing things down, journalling your daily thoughts and feelings, expressing gratitude.

Having a written plan, can be helpful in many walks of life, and your recovery plan after detox may include:

Continuing Therapy

It is widely acknowledged that recovery from addiction is a long-term, in some instances, lifelong process. For many, completing an alcohol detox is the easy bit. Staying sober is where the hard work begins. Where possible, it is always beneficial to engage in a longer term rehab programme – up to 12 weeks is the recommended length of stay. If rehab isn’t an option, accessing local support groups delivered by the Community Drug and Alcohol Team is free and easy to access. Many such organisations have a range of structures in place to support people who are abstinent from drugs and alcohol including Volunteering opportunities. For people with more complex issues, 1-2-1 counselling is available nationwide, which can be accessed either privately or in some instances via NHS routes. If you would like to engage in therapy, speak to your GP surgery who may be able to offer some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) counselling or your local Alcohol service.

Counselling is an amazingly helpful process and can be beneficial to absolutely anyone, regardless of mental health issue or alcohol problem. Just having a professional, non-judgemental person to speak to in complete confidence is a great way to get things off your chest and process your thoughts and feelings.

Ongoing Medical Treatment

There are also medications available to support ongoing abstinence from alcohol. Disulfiram (Antabuse), Acamprosate (Campral) and Naltrexone can be used to help maintain abstinence in patient’s completing detoxification. They are not routinely prescribed within the detox or rehab setting, as most patients remain at the rehabilitation centre for many weeks following detoxification.

However, patients attending detox for a short-term period only would benefit from these relapse prevention medications particularly Acamprosate, as this medication has the effect of making someone sick if they drink alcohol, therefore providing a strong physical deterrent not to drink. To check the availability of these medications in your areas, it is recommended that you visit your GP and Local Alcohol Team for further advice and assessment.

The Importance of Support

The opposite of Addiction isn’t sobriety, it’s connection’ said Johann Hari in his book ‘Chasing the Scream (11) A common theme in many alcoholic’s lives, is a feeling of isolation, being alone. Which is why it is so important to develop and re-build relationships with important family members and friends. You may have hurt them in the past, but most people are forgiving and embracing of the new, sober you. You will also have the support of the detox unit and their staff. We offer free aftercare for life, for anyone that has been through our alcohol detox clinics. Getting a trusted sponsor, someone you can call at any time of day or night, if you are having a bad time, can be the difference between sobriety and relapse. But only you can make the call.

Support groups for addiction recovery

Alongside attending more formal and professionally guided treatment, we would also recommend joining a local ‘mutual aid’ group – whether this is Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery. One of the main benefits of the Alcoholics Anonymous programmes, is that it brings people together, to help people feel that they are not different – there are millions of people across the world going through similar problems – a problem shared is a problem halved. There are also many online offerings, from Facebook Groups, to podcasts, to online support groups such as ‘One Year No Beer’ (ONYB). The more positive interactions, interventions, and recovery-based experiences you get involved in, the better the long-term outcome is going to be.

Summary

If you or someone you know is dependent on alcohol, they will probably need to have a detox. Whilst it is scary, it’s an un-intrusive, pain free medical procedure, with very good outcomes, especially when combined with psychosocial interventions such as Counselling. Alcohol dependency causes huge amounts of physical harm to and ultimately, left untreated will be fatal. Making the choice to go into detox, could result in amazing, life changing outcomes not only for the person, but for everyone around them. If you would like to know more about our success stories, from people who have been through our rehab programme, visit our Video Testimonials Page and check out our reviews here. If you simply want someone to speak to find out more about our detox centre, then please do give us a call on 08000 380 480. We would be happy to help you.