Alcohol Detox Houston

Top Rated Houston Alcohol Detox

Resurgence Behavioral Health is the top-rated alcohol detox for residents of Houston, Texas because we not only provide high-quality treatment and programs that can be modified to suit any individual who needs it, but we also have qualified and professional staff who truly care about our patients and want to help.

Many of our staff members have been through some sort of rehabilitation program in their past, and know what it is like to feel out of control. All employees at Resurgence Behavioral Health are trained in trauma-informed care, meaning that we know how important it is to earn and maintain your trust. We recognize that many people have not had good experiences when feeling vulnerable or in medical care in their past, and we will do all we can not re-traumatize our patients. Through informed consent, transparent decision-making, and open and honest communication, we will ensure each patient feels safe and listened to throughout their treatment.

At Resurgence, we do not want anybody to have to suffer through their detox, and so we provide an integrated medically assisted treatment (MAT) program to get you through detox safely and as comfortably as possible.

The Importance of Medical Detox for Alcohol

Quitting drinking is not as simple as putting down the bottle and exclaiming “Never again!” It is actually unsafe to stop drinking suddenly, in a cold-turkey method, especially if you have been drinking in large amounts (binge drinking) and/or drinking for a long period of time, or if you have experienced the dangerous condition of delirium tremens or other withdrawal symptoms before.

Alcohol addiction is serious. It makes changes to the chemistry of your brain, causing extremely uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that can turn dangerous and even deadly if untreated by medical professionals.

Medical detox is the safest method for quitting alcohol for good. In a medical detox program, you will move into a safe, sober facility that is staffed 24 hours per day with clinical caregivers who will ensure no medical emergencies happen as the alcohol leaves your system. You will be treated by doctors who can provide prescription medications that are FDA-approved, to help you with your withdrawal symptoms, including alcohol cravings, pain, anxiety, and restlessness. These medications are given at the lowest possible dose, and only when you need them, so a new addition won’t take root.

In a medically assisted treatment (MAT) program, you will be treated not only for your physical symptoms of withdrawal, but also for co-occurring conditions like trauma or mental illness, and counseling will be provided to help you deal with stress, and talk through your thoughts and emotions, helping you get through this difficult but necessary period of time without suffering or feeling alone.

Dual diagnosis treatments are provided for mental illness and may include psychiatric medication and therapy. This is important to start right away, because there is usually a link between trauma, mental illness, and addiction, and they may even stem from the same root cause. Treating all these afflictions at once is the most efficient and effective way to help you be able to move on with your life, providing healthy coping mechanisms for you to use.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually include:

These symptoms are uncomfortable and may cause significant distress to the patient, but the true worry is the more severe symptoms that can come with a history of drinking, drinking heavily, mixing alcohol and other drugs, or having other health issues present as you detox. There is a condition known as “the DTs”, delirium tremens, that can be very dangerous to your health, and can even cause death if untreated.

The DTs are characterized by symptoms such as:

Detoxing in a medical detox center is the best way to avoid experiencing serious withdrawal symptoms like the DTs. Even if you are unsure whether you are a “heavy” drinker, it is better to err on the side of caution and contact an addictions specialist before trying to detox on your own.

Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline

Detox will follow this general timeline for most people:

1. Symptoms generally show up in two to six hours after your last drink and may include headaches, anxiety, stomach pain, and nausea, and you may have trouble sleeping.

2. From 12 to 48 hours after your last drink, symptoms will worsen gradually. If you are experiencing serious withdrawal symptoms you may begin to experience hallucinations and even having seizures at this time.

3. The time between 48 hours and 72 hours after your last drink is usually where symptoms are at their strongest. They may escalate rapidly and include high fever, rapid heart rate, confusion, hallucinations, and delirium tremens. At this point, many people require medical intervention to remain safe.

4. Over the next few days, symptoms will decrease and you will begin to feel a little better each day, with your ability to rest and think clearly improving.

Medications Used in Alcohol Detox

The most common medications that are used in alcohol detox and rehabilitation are:

• Naltrexone – used for both alcohol and opioid addiction, this medication blocks the relaxing and positive feelings drinking can provide
• Vivitrol – an injectable form of Naltrexone used for both opioid and alcohol addiction
• Disulfiram – this medication causes unpleasant symptoms if you drink, and is used to reinforce abstinence after detoxing and rehabilitation is complete
• Acamprosate – this medication does not prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms but will help patients avoid alcohol use afterward
• Pain relief medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be provided to relieve aches and pains
• Benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants – given for the short-term, in low doses, these medications will help promote relaxation and reduce anxiety, so you can get the rest your body needs
• Anticonvulsant medications will prevent seizures during withdrawal
• Antipsychotics and other psychiatric medication may be provided to help treat a co-occurring mental health condition

How Long Does Alcohol Detox Last?

Alcohol detox is a personal experience that can take a few days for one person, or over a week for the next. There are factors that can cause detox to be more difficult, including:

There is no definitive timeline for detox as every person is different, and at Resurgence, you can stay in your detox program for as long as you need.

What Happens After Alcohol Detox?

After alcohol detox is complete, it is strongly recommended that you move into a rehab program. Rehab can be either inpatient or outpatient, and is a crucial step in addiction recovery, because it is a place where you can access therapy, life-skills training, counseling, and other programs that will help you find the root of your addiction and help you alter your behaviors, providing healthy coping mechanisms that promote a sober lifestyle. 

At Resurgence, we offer the full continuum of care, from detox, through inpatient and outpatient rehab programs, all within the same facility with the same caregivers. These programs can be tailored to suit any of our client’s needs, and are designed to help you regain your physical and mental health as you learn new recovery skills and work through the deep down issues that may be contributing to your self-destructive behaviors and addiction.

Alcohol Detox for Houston Residentshttps://t.co/ueahT1hCC3

— Resurgence Behavioral Health (@RBHRecovery) December 30, 2021

Alcohol Detox and Rehab at Resurgence

At Resurgence, after medical detox is complete, we usually recommend a minimum of 30 days in inpatient treatment, but we recognize this is not possible for everybody, and have customizable plans available for outpatient rehab as well.

In our inpatient programs, you will live inside our facility for 30, 60, or 90 days, staying in a comfortable room with a full-sized bed, not a hospital bed. Surrounded by a supportive community of caring professionals and peers in a similar situation to you, you will spend your days in group and individual therapy, in educational courses, and life-skills training. You will have access to amenities like a full gym, games, and food cooked on-site by our chefs. You will be removed from the usual people, stress, and other triggers that may cause a relapse, and you will gain the skills you need to live a healthier, alcohol-free life. It is recommended to transition into outpatient care after inpatient rehab is over.

Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a transitional program between detox or inpatient care and the IOP, in which you begin to shift focus onto your own personal responsibility, taking on usual tasks slowly, without becoming overwhelmed all at once. You will live away from the facility but commute in for full days of groups and other appointments.

Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is a much more flexible program that works around your schedule so that you can return to work or school, or take care of things at home, while still getting the treatment you need. This program is best suited to people who have a supportive place to live, and for those who have a low risk of relapsing.

Once you have completed your time in rehab, we offer outpatient aftercare that will keep you connected to a sober community of alumni with access to sober living homes, as well as the doctors and psychiatrists you were seeing in rehab to maintain your continuity of care.

Through our varied spectrum of treatments, we can help you to safely stop drinking, and give you the tools and support you need to move on with your life, alcohol-free. If you think you are ready to get started on your road to recovery, call us today and we can let you know what your next steps should be.

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

Research | Editorial