If you are struggling with alcohol addiction in Kent, then the first and most important step towards your recovery is undergoing a medical detox.
An alcohol medical detox allows your body to safely withdraw from alcohol or other addictive substances whilst reducing the risks that are associated with withdrawal symptoms.
At Rehab 4 Addiction, our team of specialists are able to help people across the Kent area access safe and effective alcohol detox services. This includes whether they gain access to their detox through inpatient rehab or structured home detox.
This article will explore what an alcohol detox is, why it is so important and whether or not you should opt for a private or NHS-funded detox.
An alcohol detox is the process of removing alcohol from your system. A medically supervised detox will do this in a safe and controlled way.
This is necessary, as when someone develops a physical dependence and addiction to alcohol, stopping suddenly can lead to life-threatening withdrawal symptoms [1].
It is important to understand that a medical detox is not the same as attending drug and alcohol rehab.
This is because rehab focuses on therapy for mental health trauma, whereas a detox focuses specifically on ridding the body of any addictive substances and managing withdrawal symptoms whilst doing so.
When someone detoxes from an alcohol addiction, they will likely experience a number of different withdrawal symptoms, which could include some of the symptoms listed below for you [1]:
As you can imagine, some of these symptoms can be particularly dangerous and risky, which is why a medical detox should always be supervised and closely monitored [1].
People who attempt to overcome an addiction on their own but their health is at risk by doing so. This is because an alcohol addiction changes how the brain, body and nervous system functions.
Removing alcohol abruptly and suddenly, without support or supervision, may trigger serious health complications.
On the other hand, a structured detox programme reduces the risk of any health complications and helps to manage any withdrawal symptoms with treatment and medication. By attending a medical detox, you will also help to manage your cravings.
Without detoxing from alcohol, it is impossible to recover from your addiction. This is because alcohol affects the body, meaning that your body is physically reliant on the substance in order to function.
By ridding your body of this dependence, you will be in a position to start the second phase of your treatment, which will be therapy to tackle the psychological side of your addiction.
When it comes to detoxing in Kent, there are two primary types of alcohol detox available. The first is an inpatient or residential detox, which takes place in a clinic or rehab centre.
During this treatment, you stay for the duration of your withdrawal period, which is typically anything between 7 and 10 days.
There are a number of benefits associated with an NHS-funded, inpatient alcohol detox, including some of the benefits listed below for you:
This type of detox and withdrawal is highly recommended if you suffer from a severe addiction to alcohol, or if you have previously tried but failed to detox in the past. Likewise, if you suffer from mental health issues alongside your addiction, then an inpatient alcohol detox will always be recommended.
On the other hand, a home detox allows you to withdraw from alcohol in the comfort of your own home, also with medical support. This usually comes in the form of prescription medication such as Chlordiazepoxide (commonly known as Librium), which is delivered to your home after a thorough assessment by trained medical professionals.
A home detox allows you to detox in the comfort of your home but is only for those with a mild or moderate addiction issue who do not have any distractions at home.
You will be sent medication in the post and will have daily phone calls from doctors to check up on your progress and withdrawal symptoms as well as your mental health.
It is important to understand that very few NHS trusts offer a home detox. This is why a lot of people go private for their detox treatment.
However, a private home detox in Kent typically costs anywhere between £1,200 and £1,700, depending on the severity of your addiction and the level of treatment that you require, as this will dictate how long you will need to stay.
Likewise, a home detox is only available for those with a mild addiction, with no history of seizures or severe withdrawal symptoms. You will also need a stable home environment with no triggers or distractions.
As discussed above, individuals seeking an alcohol detox in Kent generally have two options to choose from.
The first is private rehab treatment and the second is NHS-funded rehab treatment. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to both, some of which are explained further below for you.
If you suffer from a severe addiction issue, then a private detox is the fastest route to treatment. You will gain access to a same day assessment, rapid admission and the choice of a number of local rehab centres across Kent.
You will then be offered the choice between an inpatient detox or a home detox, with confidential care and support throughout
The other option is to wait for NHS-funded treatment. This is available through your local drug and alcohol services in Kent. However, it is important to understand that there are long waiting lists involved with NHS-funded treatment, as well as strict eligibility criteria.
Likewise, a home detox is very rarely offered through NHS-funded treatment.
In many cases, you can be waiting weeks or even sometimes months for access to free, NHS-funded detox and rehab treatment, which is a stark contrast to same day, private admission.
In the past, some local GPs in Kent offered a home detox as a form of addiction treatment. However, due to changes in the NHS and a lack of funding, this is now highly rare and uncommon.
If you need access to a medical detox, then your local GP is most likely to refer you to the local addiction services or recommend a specialist, private detox provider. This means that relying on your local GP in Kent for detox support is unlikely to provide you with immediate support.
In case of an emergency situation, alcohol withdrawal may be treated in hospital. There are a number of facilities across Kent, including Kent and Canterbury Hospital as well as Kent and Medway Mental Health that may be able to provide some acute care if your withdrawal symptoms become severe [2,3].
However, it’s important to understand that hospital treatment is only for those with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms and that A&E is not designed for people withdrawing from addictive substances.
When it comes to choosing the right treatment for you, our team at Rehab 4 Addiction are on hand to help. When it comes to selecting the right detox and treatment plan for you, there are several factors that we will take into consideration.
For example, we will consider the severity of your addiction, your previous withdrawal history, your physical and mental health and your budget.
This is why you need to be as honest as possible during your assessment, as this is the best way to determine the safest and most effective option for you and your specific circumstances.
As discussed throughout this blog, an alcohol detox is an incredibly important stage when it comes to overcoming an addiction issue. Attempting to withdraw alone and without medical support can be incredibly risky, especially for those with moderate to severe addiction issues.
In Kent, both inpatient and home detox options are available, with private alcohol addiction treatment offering you faster access and more flexibility in treatment options and quality of care. While NHS services can help and although they are free, you will likely be waiting weeks or months to receive your treatment.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, then start by calling our team for help and support. Calling our friendly and helpful team is the first step into getting the help you need and deserve and preventing serious health complications caused by addiction.
To enquire about a private alcohol detox either taking place at your own home or residential settings, you can contact us on 0800 140 4690. You can also email our team in confidence by using our online form.
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6761814/
[2] https://www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/drug-and-alcohol-support
[3] https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk/information-and-advice/alcohol-and-substance-misuse/
