If you’re drinking frequently, you may need to go through alcohol detox in order to quit. This is the first step to recovering from alcoholism. Giving up alcohol cold turkey can be dangerous, so it’s important to get medical advice before you stop.
For many people in addiction, taking the first step towards sobriety can feel daunting. But there is help available locally in Manchester to make your alcohol detox more comfortable and ensure you stay in recovery.
Find out how residential detox, private home detox and NHS detox routes in Manchester can help you move forward into sobriety.
There are many ways to go through alcohol detox in Manchester, including inpatient detox, supervised home detox and NHS-funded treatment, which all have different access requirements and suitability.
Residential detox takes place in a specialised clinic or treatment centre which offers around-the-clock medical support. You’ll get constant monitoring, a structured environment, and higher security, so you’ll be less at risk of relapse.
This type of treatment offers the highest level of care, so it’s best suited to people with a long history of alcohol use, previous withdrawal complications or limited support at home.
Home alcohol detox in Manchester is available through private treatment providers. This is where you detox in your own home. You’ll receive alcohol withdrawal medication like Librium delivered to your house.
You’re not alone, as you’ll receive regular check-ins to make sure you’re safe and supported. However, this type of detox is more suited to people with mild to moderate alcohol dependence and a stable home environment, as you won’t receive the same level of care as residential detox.
The cost of private home detox in Manchester is generally in the range of £1,200–£1,700, depending on your assessment and level of support.
It’s important during your assessment that you’re open and honest about your situation and addiction, to ensure you receive the right medical care to keep you safe.
While historically you may have been able to get a ‘community detox’, access to home detox through your GP is now rare. This is because alcohol detox can be dangerous, so it’s not safe for most people to detox with the limited resources the NHS can offer.
It is possible to get a referral from the NHS for funding to a private detox provider, but this funding is very limited and you’ll need to meet strict criteria.
If you need help in an emergency, you can be seen by the MRI hospital’s Alcohol Care Team:
Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9WL
When you go private, you get a lot more choice about how you detox, faster admission and a higher level of care, however these options need to be funded out of pocket or claimed on your health insurance.
NHS routes to detox involve getting a referral to private care – they are not a primary alcohol detox provider. Funding is limited, so you’ll need to meet specific criteria and face a long waiting list to receive treatment.
Both routes can be effective, but the right choice depends on how urgently you need care, what your budget is and whether you have other clinical needs like mental health conditions.
It’s important to get help as soon as possible to prevent the risks of ongoing alcohol use, so don’t let uncertainty put you off getting help.
The alcohol detox process is when you stop drinking and clear alcohol from your body while managing your withdrawal. For people who drink heavily and regularly, alcohol detox can cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
In some severe cases, alcohol withdrawal can even be deadly. This is because drinking large amounts of alcohol leads to physical dependency, leaving your body reliant on the chemicals to function normally.
During detox, you may be prescribed medication like Librium to ease your symptoms and prevent dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
After you quit alcohol, you’ll go through stages of withdrawal:
The severity of your withdrawal symptoms will depend on your drinking history, physical health and whether you’ve had previous detox attempts.
If you experience severe withdrawal symptoms like confusion, hallucinations, seizures or severe agitation, alert your detox provider immediately as these require urgent medical attention.
Alcohol detox is about managing alcohol withdrawal symptoms safely. This is only the first step of recovering from alcohol addiction. Detox doesn’t treat the psychological side of addiction.
After detox, it’s important to make sure you get to the root cause of your addiction, and receive aftercare to prevent relapse.[1]
Seeking alcohol detox can be a difficult step to take, but recovery is always possible. Make an appointment with your GP, who will assess your health and signpost you to local community alcohol services. Never try to attempt detox alone.
If you have the funds for private detox, or your healthcare plan covers rehab, inpatient detox in Manchester can give you the highest level of care and comfort.
Reach out to Rehab 4 Addiction to find out more about alcohol detox in Manchester. Call 0800 140 4690 (or +44 345 222 3508 from outside the UK).
Below, we answer some common questions around this topic:
If you feel out of control of how much you drink, crave alcohol often or experience withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink, you may have developed alcohol dependence and will need to go through alcohol detox. If you’re unsure, get an assessment from your GP.
Most detox programmes last around 5 to 10 days, depending on severity and individual response. Withdrawal symptoms take 3–7 days to ease, so you’ll be treated until they have passed. Severe alcohol dependence can lead to post acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) which can last longer.
NHS options exist, but funding is limited, so you’ll need to meet strict criteria. If you pass the requirements to be referred to a private detox, you’ll likely face long waiting times. Speak to your GP to find out which free options are available to you locally in Manchester.
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) is commonly used to reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms and risks under medical supervision. The drug reduces anxiety, agitation and tremors as well as preventing seizures and lowering the risks of delirium tremens.
