How Long Does Alcohol Rehab Take?

Alcohol Use Disorder – How Long Does Alcohol Rehab Take?

Finding help for alcoholism is one of the best things you can do to improve your life or the life of someone you care about. Alcoholism becomes progressively worse over time. In 2015, there were a reported 88,000 deaths related to alcohol abuse in the country. When you decide to find help for alcoholism, one of the first questions you may have is “how long does alcohol rehab take?”

In this article, we will explore alcohol detox, treatment and look at how long the process takes.

The Detoxification Stage

How long does alcohol rehab take? The first stage of alcohol rehab in Florida that an alcoholic will have to do is detox. During detox, the body goes through hardships as it begins to function normally again after alcohol became a regular part of the person’s life. The symptoms begin from about 6 to 24 hours after their last drink. A medical detox for alcohol can also assist a person who is detoxing through the use of proven medications that help to quell many of the symptoms. A medical detox is also the safest way to detox from alcohol.

Broken down into three stages of increasing severity, the symptoms of withdrawal are as follows:

• First stage – This stage consists of symptoms including abdominal pain, insomnia, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, depression, mood swings and an irregular heartbeat.
• Second stage – High blood pressure, irritability, confusion, increased body temperature and mood disturbance are some of the symptoms that begin to intensify once a person reaches the second stage of a medical detox for alcohol.
• Third stage – The third stage is rarer, occurring in about 5 percent of individuals, but it can be life-threatening. The symptom known as delirium tremens can cause a person to experience severe symptoms which include vivid hallucinations, confusion, agitation, seizures and fever. These symptoms require medical care to ensure a safe recovery.

After 5 to 7 days, the symptoms of withdrawal begin to fade and the person is then ready for the next part of their recovery: behavioral therapy.

Alcohol Rehab in Florida

The answer to the question “how long does alcohol rehab take?” can change based on how effective treatment is for a particular person. Treatment for alcohol addiction cannot be done in just one way; each person must have a treatment plan made specifically for them to improve results and shorten treatment time. An important aspect about addiction to keep in mind is that it can be a lifelong condition. Years after rehab, a person can still relapse.

So, how long does alcohol rehab take on average? Most inpatient rehab programs last for around a month. This time includes the week it takes to detox. The program lengths can be shorter or longer depending on how effective treatment is and how ready the person is to leave the facility.

Outpatient programs for alcoholism can go on for longer than an inpatient program. In most cases, outpatient programs will last for a few days to a month, changing with the addict’s needs such as coming in for therapy to avoid relapse or using it as the sole treatment.

After rehab, a recovering person is expected to stay on top of their addiction. This is done by using the skills learned in rehab and by making use of the many support groups. The more time that passes, the easier it can become to manage an addiction.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.