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Alcohol Detox At Home: Is It Safe?
Alcohol is a substance that many of us have consumed at some point or another, mostly when socializing or when we just want to chill out and relax, but when drinking becomes more habitual or more constant, we may take it upon ourselves to quit the habit by going cold turkey just like quitting smoking.
There doesn’t appear much to it; after all, it’s just a case of stopping the habit and restraining consumption, so what could be so difficult, and what’s the harm in that?
The answer to that is quite blunt; there are severe withdrawal symptoms involved when one decides to stop drinking alcohol, and it has serious consequences on physical and mental health, especially if you have been drinking for a long time.
In this blog, we will explain the reasons why detox at home is not recommended and why you should seek professional help.
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The Risks Attached To Detoxing From Alcohol At Home
Habitual alcohol use can lead to tolerance, dependence, and addiction to the substance, depending on the severity of consumption and length of time.
Still, many people decide to quit on their own, believing they are in full control of the situation.
For those who drink little and can manage their consumption intake, stopping altogether may not prove challenging, and a home detox may suffice, but this is generally not the case as most alcohol drinkers find themselves relatively dependent on the substance before realizing they have a habit and proves harder to get away from.
A home detox from alcohol would seem to be the easiest option for most consumers, it is more comfortable and cheaper, and they can make their own decisions and judgments during the process.
Sounds good? Too good to be true is more likely because detoxing from alcohol at home comes with heightened risks that many people don’t know about, and can face severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
To self-detox at home not only comes with health risks, but there is also a greater chance of relapse due to the lack of emotional support and supervision.
As with most habits, they are difficult to quit, but alcohol is perhaps one of the most challenging substances to eradicate and has a high rate of failure when attempting to go solo.
In the first stage of treating severe alcohol misuse, withdrawing from alcohol needs to be progressive with the correct detox process for it to be successful, and this is why most at-home detox attempts don’t succeed.
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Detox At Home Should Be Avoided Due to Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
There is a misconception that detoxing from alcohol is much easier than detoxing from other substances and is less dangerous, maybe because we are aware that alcohol is legalized and, therefore, we are “allowed” to consume it as we please and can control our drinking habit, as we believe we can just switch on and switch off at any given time.
This is far from the truth, as when under the influence, our body reacts with adverse effects such as impaired judgment, slow responses, slurred speech, bouts of euphoria or depression, and more. There is more risk of injury due to falls, accidents, or getting involved in harmful anti-social behaviors.
If that’s not all, there are significant life-threatening risks when someone becomes addicted to alcohol, making detox potentially dangerous, particularly when attempting to do it alone.
Coming off alcohol should be done gradually and tapered off because if you stop suddenly, the body reacts with several withdrawal symptoms, some more severe than others perhaps, and these can be unpleasant, hard to cope with, and can go on for weeks.
Stopping abruptly may lead to experiencing hallucinations, seizures, or cardiac arrest that could be fatal. Until you are in the process of detox, it’s difficult to predict how the body will react, which is why it is recommended to seek medical help to address any adverse physical symptoms that appear.
At this point, it should be added that these symptoms can be much worse if any other substance has been used while drinking, such as prescribed medications, heroin, or similar drugs.
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Addiction impacts both individuals and families — but help is available. Reach out now and let our specialists provide the support, care, and guidance you need to move forward with confidence.
Attempting an at-home alcohol detox on your own should be avoided as withdrawal symptoms can be intense and painful, causing a lot of discomfort, which after a short time can get so unpleasant that it becomes unbearable, making the person start drinking again and restarts the cycle of wanting to stop but not able to.
Some of the severe withdrawal symptoms are:
- Seizures.
- Delirium Tremens.
- Dehydration.
- Heart Complications.
- Mental Health Issues.
- Relapse
Each symptom carries damaging effects on the body and mind, and if left untreated, some of these symptoms can lead to premature death.
Safety Measures To Take For Alcohol Detox At Home
We have highlighted the reasons you should avoid home alcohol detoxification. However, if you still need to detox and are considering doing it on your own, you should be aware of the risks and prepare a plan to detox safely.
The first step you should take is to talk to your healthcare provider, who can give you further advice and monitor your progress and may be able to prescribe medication to assist with withdrawal symptoms. This, however, would only be an option for someone with mild consumption but not for anyone dependent on alcohol.
You should remove all alcohol to avoid temptation when cravings appear and avoid places where alcohol is available. Getting support is fundamental, so maybe a family member or friend can be on hand for encouragement and help you find medical help if needed.
You should always be in safe surroundings, and for any chance of success, you should take time off work and forget responsibilities so all your concentration is focused on recovery without having to deal with other matters.
This is very basic, simple guidance in staying safe should you decide to detox from home, and serious consideration should be given beforehand as this can prove much more challenging and dangerous than meets the eye.
Home Detox Vs Medical Detox
Home detox from alcohol seems easy enough to do. It may suffice for those who have no severe alcohol problems, but is it worth taking the risk knowing there are serious withdrawal symptoms that could manifest into escalating health problems?
Home detox is certainly not recommended for anyone who may have any of the following:
- Severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) or a heavy drinker over a long time.
- Record of previous alcohol withdrawal seizures or delirium tremens.
- Liver or heart disease.
- Mental health disorders, predominantly depression and anxiety.
- Taking other substances or drugs.
- Failed home detox due to complications.
Anyone who has had any of the above should never attempt to detox on their own and must seek medical help.
Medically assisted detox is aimed explicitly at treating most substance disorders, and under medical supervision, withdrawal symptoms can be treated efficiently, causing less discomfort and being able to manage cravings.
Treatment is supervised in a safe and secure environment and tailored to suit each individual’s needs. Not only will you find that symptoms may be less intense, but there is less chance of relapse and heightened levels of recovery and living a life of sobriety.
The benefits of medical detox outweigh by far those of attempting a home detox on their own.
Medically-Supervised Detox Can Assure You Detox Safely
If you are contemplating kicking your alcohol habit and wondering about detoxing from the substance altogether, there is every reason to seek professional help who is fully equipped and knowledgeable on alcohol withdrawal syndrome and what it entails.
Detox isn’t as straightforward as most people think, so many fail when attempting to do it alone. Detox can help cleanse the body from most substances. Still, alcohol is perhaps one of the most complex due to the adverse withdrawal symptoms that can appear and be attended to by expert medical specialists.
You’re Not Alone
Addiction impacts both individuals and families — but help is available. Reach out now and let our specialists provide the support, care, and guidance you need to move forward with confidence.
The first stage of recovering from alcohol addiction starts with detox. This process lasts around a week, depending on how each individual responds to treatment.
Clinicians may administer prescribed drugs to alleviate painful withdrawal symptoms and help reduce intense cravings. After a successful detox, the following stage is rehab, where patients receive a specific treatment program, including therapies, group sessions, and ongoing support.
Resilient Recovery is a luxury detox and rehab facility in Lancaster, California. We have superb facilities to attend to the needs of our patients with dedicated one-on-one treatment with our professional team of specialists.
Our medically supported detox process is just one of our components to help people struggling with substance abuse and addiction. It forms the first approach to our individualized treatment programs to ensure a safe journey to recovery and regain a joyful life.
Our alcohol addiction treatment is one of the many substances we treat and is only a part of our thorough rehab procedure. Every patient has our full, dedicated support and help whilst under our care to promote well-being, a healthier life, and being completely drug-free.
We would be delighted to hear from you, listen to your worries and concerns and give you the advice you need. Call us today; we are here to help you and offer our full support.
For some people, the pain is so bad that they decide to start drinking again. It ends up being a cycle of trying to quit but not being able to because of the withdrawal symptoms.
When you enter an inpatient alcohol treatment program, you’re removed from your environment and bad habits.
Many individuals who struggle with alcohol addiction are also battling other medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, or personality disorders.
People frequently use alcohol to self-medicate themselves, but when they stop drinking, these disorders can worsen. In fact, some people don’t even realize they’re dealing with mental health disorders until they stop drinking.