Alcohol is one of the most widely available substances in this country. Most people know that if someone drinks too much, it can cause problems. What most people don’t know is how long it takes for alcohol to leave your system and to detox from alcohol. Like any other substance that you put in your body, alcohol has an effect. Over time, your body becomes adjusted to functioning under the influence of alcohol. When it’s time to get sober, detox is often the first step, and it’s important to understand how the process works and how long it will take. Even though there are some standard guidelines for how alcohol detox should take, remember that each person’s case is different, and their symptoms timeline will be different.
At See Purpose, our mission is to give our clients the tools they need to recover from alcohol abuse and its side effects. To that end, we have created this blog post that will discuss the alcohol detox timeline, alcohol withdrawal, how alcohol affects the body, whether or not alcohol is addictive, and how to find alcohol detox programs for you and your loved one. Detox is the first step on the path to recovery once you’ve begun abusing alcohol.
Is Alcohol Addictive?
The short answer to this question is yes; just like any other substance, it has the potential to become addictive. In fact, because alcohol is so widely available, it is easy for many peoples to become addicted without even trying. An alcoholic is a person who drinks heavily on a regular basis or drinks daily, developing a habit of drinking to cope with day-to-day life stressors.
A person becomes addicted to alcohol because the alcohol slowly changes the body chemically to where the body becomes dependent on the substance to function normally. Once a person moves past this chemical dependence, they may become fully addicted to the substance and will often disregard their own safety to continue using it. This is one of the classic signs of alcohol addiction when a person continues using regardless of the effects that it has had on their life.
How Does Alcohol Affect the Body?
Alcohol, when consumed, acts as a depressant slowing down the body’s functions and a person’s motor skills and brain wave function. This can be particularly dangerous when a person operates a motor vehicle as their reaction time, and their ability to concentrate and focus on the task at hand is compromised.
However long with the physical impairment, one of the main reasons people drink alcohol is that it also lowers their inhibitions, making them feel more comfortable and more unrestrained, especially in social situations. This is why many people become binge drinkers or drink heavily in social settings. They use alcohol to cope with unusual situations or loosen themselves up in a group.
Unfortunately, alcohol can also have dangerous medical consequences on the body, impacting both the kidneys and the liver. Heavy use can lead to severe and even deadly medical consequences such as kidney and liver failure, cirrhosis of the liver other problems.
What is the Alcohol Detox Timeline?
As we discussed, the detox timeline may vary by person depending on their daily alcohol intake, addiction history, and medical history. However, a standard detox timeline for alcohol is roughly 5 to 7 days. A person is likely to experience withdrawal during this time, including sweats, fatigue, anxiety, vomiting, nausea, headaches, and other symptoms.
Because of the potential severity of the symptoms, we always advise that a person goes through detox in a medically supervised environment where their health can be monitored, and any potential side effects can be managed with medication or support. While the immediate effects of alcohol leave the body fairly quickly, the long-term effects can last for years or even decades, depending on how much damage was done to the body from the alcohol.
How to Find Alcohol Detox Programs
If you or someone you know is suffering from alcohol addiction, the first step is admitting the problem. The next step is to find a licensed treatment facility like ours here at See Purpose to begin your treatment with detox. Our team is dedicated to the health and safety of all of our clients, and we’d supervise our detox program with highly trained medical staff.
We are there to ensure your health and safety throughout the entire process, and once the detox process is complete, your individualized treatment plan can begin at our calm and relaxing facility. Detox is the first step on the road to sobriety, and everyone deserves a chance to start over again without having to deal with alcohol addiction. Our residential inpatient care gives you the tools you need to live a life free of alcohol. Once your treatment plan ends, we also offer aftercare services to continue with the support and treatment you need once your stay at our facility has ended.
If you or someone you know is suffering from alcohol addiction and needs Indiana-based detox, don’t hesitate to contact See Purpose right away.
