Alcohol addiction is among the most challenging to quit. After all, many people dismiss the dangers of alcohol due to its prevalence in society and its legal status. However, alcohol is a dangerous drug—and our alcohol detox in Atlanta, Georgia, will help you quit for good.
Retreat of Atlanta offers alcohol detox programs in Atlanta, Georgia that are safe and effective for you or a loved one. Visit our admissions page today to get started.
How Do I Know I Need Alcohol Detox?
You need alcohol detox if you can’t quit drinking despite the negative effects alcohol has had in your life.
Some people can keep their drinking under control or cut back when they want to. However, for other people, quitting isn’t easy. And, if they suffer adverse consequences from drinking but still can’t stop, then they need a professional alcohol detox program.
One of the primary signs that you need alcohol detox is having withdrawal symptoms if you stop drinking. Withdrawal symptoms occur when you stop drinking because your body and mind are accustomed to functioning with alcohol in your system. So, when you stop drinking, as you re-adjust, you have unpleasant, distressing, and sometimes dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms include the following:
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Irritability and mood swings
- Headache
- Nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
- Profuse sweating
- Clammy skin
- Difficulty sleeping
- Tremors
- Rapid heart rate
- Trouble thinking clearly
- Strong cravings for alcohol
Some people have dangerous withdrawal symptoms called delirium tremens (DTs), which include:
- Agitation and aggression
- Deep sleep that lasts a day or more
- Severe confusion
- Fever
- Hallucinations or delusions
- Seizures
If you drink heavily and often, you’re more likely to have distressing and dangerous symptoms. If you’ve abused alcohol for years, you’re also more likely to have challenging withdrawal symptoms.
However, regardless of how much or how often you drink, if you can’t seem to quit, cut back, or are worried about withdrawal, then you need alcohol detox.
More On Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a type of substance use disorder (SUD) where alcohol is the primary drug of addiction.
Also called alcohol addiction or alcohol use disorder (AUD), alcoholism occurs when a person cannot stop or cut back on their drinking. In addition, the person’s life seems to revolve around drinking. For instance, they might spend their entire workday fixated on happy hour.
Additional signs of alcoholism include:
- Being unable to quit or cut back on drinking
- Drinking more or for longer periods of time than you intend
- Withdrawal symptoms (headache, nausea, shaking, etc.) appear when you stop drinking
- Hiding alcohol use from others
- Drinking heavily while alone
- Losing interest in activities that don’t involve alcohol
- Obsessing about the next time you can get a drink
- Spending most of your time drinking or recovering from the aftereffects (hangover)
- Need to drink more for the same effects (developing a tolerance)
- Continuing to drink despite negative consequences
- Engaging in reckless behaviors while under the influence
Despite its legality, alcohol is a dangerous substance. Many Americans abuse alcohol, leading to poor health consequences, social and legal problems, mental health issues, and chronic alcoholism.
Alcoholism Statistics
Alcohol is the most widely used chemical substance in the country. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 221.3 million people over the age of 12 and older (78.5% in this age group) reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lifetime.
Unfortunately, a significant number of people who consume alcohol will go on to develop an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Sadly, few of these people receive the clinical care they need to recover fully, including access to treatment at a secure alcohol detox center in Georgia.
How Does Our Alcohol Detox Near Atlanta Work?
Alcohol detox near Atlanta works by providing you with a safe, comfortable environment to manage withdrawal symptoms with medical and psychological monitoring.
With medical support, we’ll ensure you are safe during the acute phase of withdrawal. This includes checking vitals and physical health throughout the process. That way, any medical concerns can be handled immediately.
We also support your mental health during detox. Alcohol withdrawal can be physically distressing—and this can impact your emotional well-being. With professional and peer support, you can work through these challenging emotions during withdrawal.
In addition, many people use alcohol to mask underlying mental health symptoms. These symptoms return when you stop drinking. During detox, you’ll learn healthy ways to cope with your mental health symptoms and can continue to seek aftercare at a dual-diagnosis treatment center.
Tour Our Georgia Addiction Treatment Programs
What To Expect During Alcohol Detox Near Atlanta
At Retreat of Atlanta, you can expect evidence-based treatment from our caring and compassionate team of addiction specialists.
Our inpatient detox center offers a homelike atmosphere for your comfort. This is a distressing time for you, and you need to be in a comfortable setting to succeed.
We also have a small client-to-staff ratio to give you the attention you need. Many of our staff members are in recovery themselves. We’ve been where you are—and we know what you’re going through.
Throughout alcohol detox, you’ll begin the process of recovery. That is why we offer therapy and group support to address the underlying causes of your addiction. We also work with you on an aftercare plan and connect you with treatment centers to continue your recovery.
How Long Does Our Alcohol Detox Program Last?
Our alcohol detox program lasts about seven to ten days.
Most withdrawal symptoms peak around three days after your last drink. After that, your symptoms will start to wane in intensity. Thus, the alcohol detox timeline for most people is about seven to ten days.
However, you might need more time due to a severe addiction or other complications. For example, if you also abuse other substances, you’ll need time to detox from these substances as well. Other people develop post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) and need additional time in our alcohol detox program.
Therapies Utilized During Detox
We use therapy during detox to help you manage mental health symptoms that accompany withdrawal.
Our therapeutic modalities include the following:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is among the most common types of therapy because it works for a range of mental health issues—including alcohol abuse. During CBT, you challenge the negative thought patterns and beliefs that influence your behavior.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT can help you if you struggle with emotional regulation, self-destructive behaviors, relationship problems, and all-or-nothing thinking. Although DBT was originally developed to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD), it’s proven helpful for alcohol use disorder as well.
- Individual Therapy: One-on-one therapy is critical for recovery from alcohol addiction. Our masters-level therapists can help you find healthy coping mechanisms for a range of issues that accompany alcoholism.
- Group Therapy: During alcohol detox in Atlanta, you’ll meet others who are dealing with similar issues. In group therapy, you and your peers meet with a therapist to discuss your recovery as a group.
- Family Counseling: Addition is a family disease. Every family member struggles when a loved one is addicted to alcohol. Family counseling can help you rebuild relationships disrupted by drinking.
What Happens After Detox?
Detox is the first step of recovery from alcohol addiction. However, you still have a long way to go after detox.
At Retreat of Atlanta, we’ll help you plan your next steps after detox while you’re in our care. We can connect you with our partnered aftercare treatment facilities. This ensures a smooth transition from one level of care to the next.
After detox, most people progress through the following levels of care:
- Residential Treatment: It’s best to go to a residential treatment center right after detox. Also called inpatient rehab, residential treatment programs provide the foundation you need for long-term recovery. Most residential treatment programs last 30 to 90 days. Our alcohol rehab in Atlanta will help you continue your recovery after detox.
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): PHP programs are the next step following residential treatment. During PHP, you’ll spend most of your day in treatment—attending groups, psychoeducational programming, and life skills training.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): After you complete a PHP, you can attend a lower level of care call IOP. You’ll attend treatment three to five days per week, usually for about four hours per session. This allows you some flexibility to transition to everyday life while still getting a high level of support.
- Outpatient Therapy: After intensive programming, you can step down to outpatient therapy. You might have some lingering issues and need additional psychological support. Many clients see an outpatient therapist about once per week for an hour at a time.
- Alumni Program: Building a community is critical for long-term recovery. Alumni programs keep you connected to your treatment center and peers.
Can I Detox From Alcohol At Home?
Attempting to detox from alcohol at home can be dangerous for individuals and their families. The physical and psychological symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can lead to life-threatening complications when not closely monitored in a designated treatment center.
It is advised that even those with mild alcohol use disorders enter into a professional detoxification program for supervision. If symptoms are mild, the client will transition to the next appropriate level of care sooner.
Start Detox in Atlanta Today
Alcohol addiction affects the lives of millions of Americans each year. Many people don’t seek treatment due to fear of withdrawal symptoms. This isn’t an invalid concern—alcohol withdrawal symptoms are among the most distressing and dangerous of all drugs.
At Retreat of Atlanta, we offer the medical and psychological support you need to manage withdrawal symptoms safely. Contact us today to begin alcohol detox in Atlanta, Georgia.
More on Alcoholism
Can You Reverse the Effects of Alcohol?
Alcoholism and Sleep Disorders
Alcohol Hepatitis and Liver Cirrhosis
ADHD And Alcoholism
Why Alcoholism is Considered a Chronic Disease
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