If you’re struggling with your alcohol use, alcohol detox is the first step on the road to recovery. Quitting alcohol can be dangerous, so alcohol detox is about managing alcohol withdrawal symptoms safely.
Thailand is a popular location for private alcohol detox, as there are a wide range of high quality treatment providers that offer privacy, affordability and fast access.
We discuss your options for alcohol detox in Thailand, the costs, safety, and how you can gain admission.
Globally renowned as ‘The Land of Smiles’, Thailand offers peace and entertainment. With serene Buddhist temples and turquoise oceans, it’s a great place to let go, reflect and start a new chapter.
People choose to go through alcohol detox in Thailand because of shorter waiting times, greater anonymity away from home and more cost-effective treatment.
Whether you’re currently living in Thailand or you want to travel for your alcohol withdrawal treatment, Thailand offers options to help you detox safely and successfully.
However, for people with severe alcohol addictions or additional health needs, it may not be possible to travel for alcohol detox treatment. Always get a medical opinion before you travel, to ensure detoxing in Thailand is the right choice for you.
Alcohol detox is the process of eliminating alcohol from your body while managing withdrawal symptoms. When you quit drinking, your brain and body will need to adjust to this change, and reacclimatise to life without it.
Stopping drinking suddenly without medical supervision can be dangerous, as alcohol withdrawal in extreme cases can lead to dangerous withdrawal symptoms like delirium tremens (DT) and seizures.[1]
If you’ve been drinking heavily (more than 20 units a day) and you experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop, you may have developed a physical alcohol dependence, and will need a medically-managed alcohol detox. This means a medical professional will monitor your health closely and manage any withdrawal risks with Librium.
After you quit alcohol, you’ll go through stages of withdrawal:
Detox and rehab are not the same. Detox only treats withdrawal, and is only the first step towards recovery. Rehabilitation offers treatment throughout the whole recovery journey, including the causes, relapse prevention and aftercare.
Thailand offers a wide range of options for alcohol detox. Which option is best for you will depend on severity of your alcohol addiction, your mental health, what your home support network is like and your budget.
Completing your alcohol detox in an inpatient rehab clinic in Thailand offers the highest level of support and bespoke care. You’ll temporarily live at the facility while receiving around-the-clock supervision by rehabilitation professionals, and medication where necessary.
This ensures any alcohol withdrawal symptoms are carefully monitored and managed to keep you safe from complications. This alcohol detox option is best suited to people with moderate to severe alcohol dependence, as you will need a higher level of care.
The typical duration of alcohol detox in Thailand is 5 to 10 days, which will be adjusted to ensure your physical withdrawal symptoms have eased off and you’re safe to leave the detox setting.
Many Thai rehabs are high-end, resort-style clinics with luxury rooms, so you can detox in comfort. This holistic approach treats the root causes of addiction, and gives you a higher chance of long-term recovery.
The cost of a 28 day stay at inpatient rehab in Thailand is £7,000 for a shared room, and £10,999 for a shared room. A high-end programme costs £15,000. This price is inclusive of detox, therapy, workshops, facilities and meals.
Private outpatient alcohol detox in Thailand may be possible for people with a mild alcohol addiction and a stable support system. You’ll need to be assessed to ensure this option is safe for you, without risk from alcohol withdrawal complications.
For people travelling to Thailand for treatment, this can be conducted in a private villa, hotel or residence. You’ll be prescribed medication following assessment, and you may receive check-ins from medical staff.
The level of care you’ll receive depends on who you choose to detox with. Always ensure you choose a reputable, medically-led detox provider.
Major Thai hospitals like Bangkok Hospital also offer immediate support, assessment, clinical detox and alcohol cessation support. This usually lasts 3-10 days, though it can be longer.
This is a highly medical setting, so you’ll receive the supervision necessary to monitor your health and prevent any serious complications of alcohol withdrawal.
Costs range between a few hundred pounds to £2,000, depending on your stay.
If you want to go through alcohol detox in Thailand, make sure you get a medical screening before you leave. Make an appointment with your doctor and be honest about how much you drink and how often, so they can assess your risk of health complications.
Your doctor will be able to advise whether it’s safe for you to travel. If you have a severe alcohol addiction or other health conditions, it may be best for you to receive alcohol treatment in your home country.
For those returning home after detox, consider what support you will have. Alcohol detox is only the first step of recovery. To give yourself the best chance of recovery, it’s important to receive treatment for the psychological side of addiction, and aftercare to prevent relapse.
To find out more, or to enrol into alcohol detox in Thailand, call Rehab 4 Addiction on 0800 140 4690 (or +44 345 222 3508 from outside the UK).
Below, we answer some common questions around this topic:
Alcohol detox typically ranges from a few hundred pounds a month for hospital treatment to £15,000 a month for a luxury inpatient rehab. Prices frequently change, and can increase if you add access to add-on activities and facilities.
Thailand offers faster access and often lower costs, while the UK provides local continuity of care. People with mild to moderate addictions may be able to travel for treatment, but this isn’t always best for people with severe addictions or health complications.
While temples in Thailand do offer alcohol detox at minimal cost, these are not medical facilities, which means you won’t receive a clinical assessment or medication – only natural remedies. This puts you at risk of dangerous alcohol withdrawal complications which can be deadly if severe.
[1] https://www.rdash.nhs.uk/policies/alcohol-detoxification-inpatients-policy/
