Serenity Lane offices have been impacted by the ice storm throughout the state. Click here for the most up-to-date information on the status of our services. (last updated 1/18/2024, 5:42 PM)
Did you know that the body can start the alcohol detox process as quickly as six hours after the last drink was consumed? What can you expect during alcohol detox and what exactly is it, anyway?
With over 60% of adults in Oregon admitting to drinking regularly, and over 25% of adults binge drinking, there’s a good probability that you might even know someone who’s experienced alcohol withdrawals or detox before. Alcohol is a substance that primarily affects the body’s central nervous system. When a substance that alters the body is within it for long periods of time, the body slowly adapts to it being there. When you then suddenly remove this substance, or the body starts to detox it on its own, this creates a sort of void in the body where the substance used to be. The body tries to then rapidly adapt to the loss of this substance which leads to withdrawal.
At Serenity Lane, our nonprofit organization is here with the goal of helping people who are striving to recover from substance use. We believe in helping to not only assist in clients reaching their recovery goals but also helping to further destigmatize substance use as a whole. Part of destigmatizing it comes from education, so let’s dive into alcohol detox and learn more about it.
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is the collection of symptoms that occur when the body withdrawals from alcohol. These symptoms primarily appear and peak during the first 72 hours of withdrawal, though some may persist for a few weeks afterward. The longevity of symptoms depends on many different factors such as age, metabolism, length of alcohol use, and what type of medical assistance you may or may not be receiving during your withdrawal or recovery.
Medication is a great tool to assist those detoxing from alcohol. It can be used to curb and reduce symptoms in order to help a person better focus on their healing instead of the side effects. Some of the common medications used in combination with treatment include different forms of benzodiazepines, as well as some other medications. While in a detox facility, these are always taken under supervision to ensure they work best for the client.
The effects of withdrawing from alcohol can impact many areas of the body. Alcohol is a depressant that impacts the central nervous system, which is tied to many functions of the body. Beyond this, it also can impact areas it’s commonly being processed through, such as the liver and digestive system, and even go as far as to have the potential to impact your heart.
When you’re withdrawing from alcohol, many people experience both physical and mental side effects. Detoxing lasts for an average of 3 days, during which the majority of the symptoms of withdrawal are felt. Once the body is done detoxing, many of these symptoms and side effects will dissipate or go away entirely. However, some side effects sometimes persist up to a couple of weeks after detoxing has finished.
During withdrawal and detox, you might experience a variety of physical symptoms such as:
The mental side effects from withdrawal can sometimes last longer than the withdrawal itself, such as depression or anxiety. These can be treated alongside alcohol use disorder. There are other symptoms that may present themselves, however, that aren’t as long-term. These include things like hallucinations, memory issues, or difficulty sleeping.
Delirium tremens is a condition that can be developed during alcohol withdrawal. It has many overlapping side effects with normal withdrawal, so it isn’t always easy to spot. Delirium tremens come from rapid onset withdrawal and can be fatal if not caught and treated. Here are some of the symptoms you can look out for:
If you’re wanting to start recovering from alcohol use disorder, you’re probably curious about what your timeline might look like.
During the detox stage, if you’re at a rehab center such as Serenity Lane, you will have access to medical professionals during the whole time. They help make sure that your detox is safe and your withdrawal symptoms are managed so that you can focus on your start to recovery.
When detoxing from alcohol at a medical facility, you normally stay on sight in order to ensure that no complications arise during the process. During the first 24-48 hours, you’re at the highest risk of more dangerous symptoms such as seizures. Being around trained, licensed medical staff ensures these risks are little to none.
Afterward, you will discuss with your medical team what options are going to work best for you during your recovery. Here at Serenity Lane, we offer both Inpatient and Outpatient treatment options for our clients so that they may pick a path that works best for them and their healing.
Inpatient treatment involves you staying on-site 24/7 during a large chunk of your recovery. There are both individual and group therapy sessions offered during your stay, constant access to medical care while being in a safe environment, as well as other activities and new skills you can learn during your stay. Picking up new skills or hobbies is shown to help people during recovery, giving them something new to focus on instead of their previous substance use.
Our outpatient program offers many of the same treatment options while the client stays off-site instead. This can be especially helpful for those who need to maintain a job during recovery, or those who might wish or need to be with family as well.
If you or a loved one is wanting to get started on your journey to recovery from alcohol use disorder, or if you have any questions about our treatment plans and programs, don’t hesitate to give us a call now at (800) 543-9905. Our staff will happily answer any questions you may have.
What is alcohol withdrawal?
Alcohol withdrawal occurs when your body adjusts to regularly having a substance in its system and then is no longer receiving that substance. Since your body has adjusted to its presence, the lack of it can send your system into shock as it tries to readjust to the substance no longer being there. This process is called withdrawal and can come with a myriad of symptoms alongside it.
Is alcohol detox offered as a residential or outpatient treatment option?
Detox usually occurs while at a facility. This is because of some of the dangerous side effects that can occur during withdrawal. Being on-site allows medical staff to ensure the best safety and experience of the person detoxing.
What to do about alcohol cravings?
Alcohol cravings can be combated with certain medications alongside treatment.
Copyright © 2026 SERENITY LANE
SERENITY LANE is a registered trademark of Serenity Lane, an Oregon non-profit corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
