Before people can start alcohol rehab, it’s important that they seek detox services. It’s the first step in every alcohol rehab program. In fact, many rehab programs won’t even accept clients who haven’t undergone detox. When people need detox for alcohol, they have to choose between outpatient and inpatient alcohol detox.

The Difference Between Outpatient and Inpatient Alcohol Detox

Counselor and young man chatting before inpatient alcohol detox treatment.The main difference between outpatient and inpatient detox is where the client lives for the duration of the program. With outpatient detox, they return home at the end of the day. They only visit the clinic during the day for treatment. With inpatient alcohol detox, they stay at the detox center.

Inpatient Detox Benefits

Numerous benefits come with choosing an inpatient alcohol detox program. First of all, inpatient centers give people access to dedicated medical staff 24 hours a day. It’s important to have access to medical support during alcohol detox because alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous. The medical team can help with both physical and mental side effects. Inpatient detox programs also provide a safe haven to focus on detox. Outpatient detox programs only work if people have strong support systems at home. Without a strong support system, they’re likely to return to their old habits. That’s because of the amount of freedom that they have. Lastly, inpatient detox programs protect people from stress. At home, they have to deal with drug triggers, responsibilities and tension. During detox, it’s important that they focus completely on staying sober and relaxing. Stressing out just makes them more likely to relapse.

Alcohol Detox Timeline

The alcohol detox timeline is different for everyone. A lot of factors play a role in determining the progression of inpatient alcohol detox, including:

  • How much people drank
  • The number of years that they drank
  • Their family history of drug use or addiction
  • Social aspects such as home life and friends

In general, doctors break down the alcohol detox timeline into stages. The stages of alcohol detox usually start eight hours after the last drink. The most extreme symptoms happen during the second stage, which occurs between the 24- and 72-hour marks. The third stage of alcohol detox starts around the third or fourth day. Sometimes it’s even worse than the second stage and lasts longer. It’s common for the third stage of alcohol detox to last between five and seven days.

Alcohol Detox Withdrawal Symptoms

People have a lot of symptoms during detox. Once again, they vary in strength depending on the individual. People who drink more tend to experience the worst withdrawal. During the first stage, withdrawal symptoms typically include minor hand tremors, headaches and sweating. During the second stage, these symptoms get much worse. People start to experience hallucinations, mental confusion, and irritability too. During the third stage, people who drank heavily start to experience life-threatening symptoms. One example is delirium tremens. It’s extremely important that people seek expert care during this stage of detox.

Don’t Let Alcohol Withdrawal Keep You From Getting Sober

Because of the extreme nature of the alcohol withdrawal timeline, people tend to fail their attempts to stop drinking. Before they can seek help at a rehab center, they have to undergo detox. At Serenity House Detox & Recovery, we offer alcohol detox. We have many fantastic detox services, including:

At Serenity House Detox & Recovery, we provide several holistic treatment options such as yoga, and meditation. All of these programs can reduce stress and keep you focused on detox. Don’t live your life as a slave to alcohol. Get help for your drinking problem at Serenity House Detox & Recovery. Call us at 866-294-5306 to start your first step down the road to sobriety.