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Clinically supervised, non-acute alcohol detox in Cape Town. Our programme uses withdrawal-severity assessments, scheduled vital-sign monitoring, and defined escalation protocols. If higher risk is identified, we transfer to a local hospital and stay responsible for continuity of care.
AI Overview - Alcohol Detox
Alcohol detox is supervised care that makes stopping safer. Staff assess you, check vital signs regularly, and use medication only when indicated after in-person review. Symptoms usually begin 6 to 24 hours after the last drink, peak at 24 to 72 hours, and ease within 3 to 7 days. Seek emergency care for seizure, severe confusion, collapse, unstable vitals, or persistent vomiting and dehydration.
Our Detox at Liberty Home
Non-acute, residential detox for medically stable adults in Cape Town. Pre-admission safety screen, arrival vitals and baseline score, scheduled reviews, quiet environment. No remote detox or take-home packs. If thresholds are met we transfer to a local hospital and coordinate your return once medically cleared.
Quick Takeaways: What Medical Alcohol Detox Involves
Medical alcohol detox gives you a safe start: a short clinical screen, planned days, and regular checks so problems are caught early. Most people feel the worst between 24–72 hours after the last drink, this is exactly why supervised detox exists. If your risk rises, we step care up and transfer to a local hospital while staying involved in your plan.
You usually begin with an evaluation. Medical staff assess your drinking history, physical health, and any mental health concerns. This step helps design a safe and effective detox plan.
During stabilisation, you receive care to keep your body balanced as it adjusts to the absence of alcohol. Doctors may use medication to ease symptoms such as tremors, nausea, or anxiety.
How Alcohol Detox Works
Alcohol detox involves structured medical care to help you safely stop drinking while managing withdrawal symptoms. It includes careful assessment, continuous monitoring, and supportive treatment to maintain your physical and mental stability.
Pre-Admission Assessment And Risk Screening
Before admission we complete a confidential safety screen: recent alcohol use, health history, current medications, and immediate risks. If non-acute residential detox is appropriate, we book you in. If hospital is safer, we’ll say so and help you get there.
Stabilisation And Continuous Monitoring
On arrival we record vital signs and a withdrawal-severity baseline, then review you at set intervals through the first days. You’re not left on your own,we adjust support as your body settles.
Escalation Pathway To Hospital
If clinical thresholds are met, e.g., seizure, persistent confusion, unstable vital signs, chest pain, collapse, or uncontrolled vomiting/dehydration, we transfer you to a local hospital and remain involved so handover and step-down back to residential care are coordinated.
Who is Eligible for Non-Acute Detox at Liberty Home
We admit adults who are medically stable and able to participate in monitoring. We accept clients from Cape Town, across South Africa, and internationally.
Eligible (typical non-acute):
- Daily alcohol use with mild–moderate withdrawal history
- No uncontrolled medical conditions
- Able to consent and follow the safety plan
Not eligible (hospital first):
- History of withdrawal seizure or delirium tremens
- Severe confusion, chest pain, collapse or very high fever
- Uncontrolled comorbidities (e.g., decompensated liver disease)
- Pregnancy
If you’re not eligible: we arrange assessment at a local hospital and coordinate step-down back to residential care when you are cleared.
How We Keep You Safe
You won’t be told to “ride it out.” On arrival, a nurse checks you in, takes vitals, and starts regular reviews using withdrawal-severity assessments to guide care. We monitor pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and orientation day and night, keep hydration and meals simple, and provide a calm, low-stimulus space with planned rest; gentle movement only if appropriate. We don’t post dosing or give “detox packs”. Care is in person and supervised.
If risk rises (seizure, persistent confusion, unstable vitals, chest pain, collapse, uncontrolled vomiting/dehydration), we transfer to a local hospital and stay involved for a clean handover and coordinated return once you’re medically cleared.
Inpatient vs Outpatient Detox
Outpatient can fit low-risk, medically stable people with reliable daily support at home and quick access to review.
Inpatient is recommended when risk is moderate-to-high, home support is uncertain, or there’s any history of severe withdrawal. We provide non-acute inpatient detox on site and escalate to a local hospital if acute criteria are met. (No affordability talk, no external citations.)
What Our Alcohol Detox Service is
Alcohol detox is a supervised intake service that manages the first days off alcohol. We provide non-acute detox in a residential setting for medically stable clients. Acute or complicated cases are managed in hospital.
How Non-Acute Detox Works Here
What We Do vs What Hospitals Do
non-acute cases needing close observation and structured therapeutic work
Our centre: 
acute or complicated cases requiring IV therapy, continuous monitoring or ICU
When required, we escalate to a local hospital under a pre-agreed protocol and remain involved in your plan.
Local hospital: 
28-Day Programme: What Happens Each Week
Week 1 — Stabilise & Orientation (Days 1–7)
Clinical reviews; escalate to a local hospital if criteria are met. Two 1:1 sessions/week start. Daily groups (relapse prevention, psychoeducation, CBT/DBT-informed skills). Dual-diagnosis screening and early support. Calm environment, planned rest. Outputs: personal goals + first coping plan.
Week 2 — Triggers, Cravings, Routines (Days 8–14)
Oversight continues; monitoring cadence tapers as you stabilise. 1:1 (2×/week) on trigger mapping, craving management, boundaries. Daily groups + community meeting; peer check-ins to lock routines. Outputs: final trigger list + tested coping scripts.
Week 3 — Practice & Step-Down Planning (Days 15–21)
Maintain stability (sleep, nutrition, structure). 1:1 (2×/week) to build relapse-prevention map and crisis plan. Workshops on communication, support networks, practical planning. Choose step-down path. Output: draft aftercare schedule.
Week 4 — Consolidation & Discharge (Days 22–28)
Fit-for-discharge review. 1:1 (2×/week) to finalise aftercare, barriers and contingencies. Targeted groups to reinforce skills. Confirm next stage: Liberty Lodge (residential step-down), Beyond online aftercare, or local handover near home. Outputs: signed aftercare plan; travel/admin confirmed for out-of-town or international clients.
Step-Down & Aftercare options
Residential Step-Down (Cape Town)
If you want a gentler bridge between detox and full independence, you can move into Liberty Lodge, 15a Gibson Road, Kenilworth. It’s a structured, supportive home where you keep working on routine, accountability, and the skills you’ve started, without losing momentum.
Online Aftercare (Beyond)
If you’re heading home or live out of town, Beyond lets you stay connected to the programme from wherever you are. You’ll join structured groups and have scheduled one-to-one sessions, keeping continuity with the same team that already knows your story.
Local Handover
If you prefer to continue care near where you live, we coordinate a handover to clinicians and support services in your area, so you leave with clear next steps and people expecting you.
Levels of Care & Referral Pathways
Your care follows a simple path: start safely, step up if risk increases, and leave with a plan you can actually follow. Here’s how the pieces fit together.
Residential Non-Acute Detox (On-Site, Cape Town)
This is our core programme for medically stable adults who can take part in daily work. You’ll have monitoring at set intervals, two individual counselling sessions each week, daily therapeutic groups and a community meeting, plus practical workshops. We also support co-occurring issues (like anxiety, mood and sleep) within a non-acute scope.
The environment is calm and structured with planned rest, what we don’t provide here are ICU-level observation, continuous cardiac monitoring, remote detox, or take-home “detox packs.”
When We Use Hospital Care (Acute Detox)
If your risk crosses clinical thresholds, examples include a seizure, persistent confusion, unstable vital signs, chest pain, collapse, or uncontrolled vomiting/dehydration, we arrange transfer to a local hospital. We coordinate admission and handover, stay involved while you’re there, and plan your return to residential care once you’re medically cleared.
Step-Down & Aftercare: What Happens Next
Before discharge, we agree your next stage so you don’t lose momentum. Options include Liberty Lodge in Kenilworth (residential step-down with structure and accountability), Beyond online aftercare if you’re out of town or returning home, or a local handover to clinicians and supports near where you live.
You leave with a written aftercare schedule, contacts and actions, plus a relapse-prevention plan covering triggers, coping scripts and crisis steps.
Who we admit & availability
We welcome clients from Cape Town, across South Africa, and overseas. If you’re travelling from outside Cape Town or internationally, we’ll go through arrival logistics with you during your pre-admission call so the handover is simple and calm.
Beds are limited. Depending on occupancy, same-day or next-day admission is often possible, call us and we’ll tell you exactly what’s available right now.
Admissions, Travel & Availability
Medications & clinical support
Medication is there to reduce risk and discomfort, not to mask what’s going on. We only consider it after an in-person assessment, and we review decisions as you settle. The aim is simple: use the least intervention necessary to keep you safe while your body stabilises.
What May be Used Under Supervision
Medication is considered only after in-person assessment and is reviewed during your stay. Decisions reflect clinical assessment (history, allergies, interactions), ongoing observation (vital-sign reviews, withdrawal-severity checks), and a lowest-effective-intervention principle. You’ll give informed consent before anything is given.
How We Monitor Safety
Regular reviews by the clinical team with adjustments as needed; escalation to a local hospital if risk increases; full documentation; and medication reconciliation with your existing prescriptions.
Scope & Limits
No remote detox. No take-home “detox packs.” No prescriptions without in-person review. We coordinate with outside clinicians when appropriate and provide a handover on discharge.
For Clinicians (External Guidance We Align With)
We don’t publish medication schedules or dosing online. These neutral references cover assessment and general management principles.
- WHO – Management of alcohol withdrawal (mhGAP)
- NICE CG115 – Alcohol-use disorders: assessment & management
- NICE CG100– Alcohol-related physical complications
Can You Detox From Alcohol At Home? Risks And When To Go To Hospital
Detoxing from alcohol without medical help can lead to serious health problems, including seizures and delirium tremens. Professional supervision helps manage these risks and ensures that dangerous symptoms are treated quickly and safely.
Risks Of Unsupervised Detox
When you stop drinking suddenly, your body reacts to the loss of alcohol’s effects on the brain and nervous system. This can cause alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which may begin within hours of your last drink. Common symptoms include sweating, anxiety, nausea, and tremors.
More severe complications can include seizures, hallucinations, and delirium tremens (DTs). DTs can cause confusion, agitation, and unstable heart rate or blood pressure, and may be life-threatening. According to Alcohol.org, DTs have a mortality rate of up to 10% without medical care.
At-home detox also increases the risk of dehydration, hyperthermia, and malnutrition. Without proper fluids or medical monitoring, your body can quickly become unstable. Long-term withdrawal effects, known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), may cause sleep problems, mood swings, and fatigue for weeks or months.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does alcohol detox take?
Most clients stabilise in 3–7 days. Discomfort often peaks at 24–72 hours and settles with monitoring, fluids, nutrition and rest. See the full timeline at Alcohol Withdrawal.
Can I detox at home?
Not recommended. Unsupervised detox can lead to seizures, severe confusion, dehydration or collapse. We provide non-acute, supervised detox and escalate to a local hospital if needed.
Do you handle acute detox?
Acute or complicated cases are managed in a local hospital. We escalate under a pre-agreed protocol and maintain continuity of care back to residential treatment once you are stable.
How quickly can I be admitted?
Often same day or next day, subject to bed availability.
What should I bring?
Photo ID, current meds in original packaging, comfortable clothing, basic toiletries, phone/charger subject to house rules.
What about costs and medical aid?
We normally take a small deposit for medical aids. We will explain everything once we speak.
Can you explain the potential risks associated with detoxing from alcohol without medical supervision?
Detoxing without medical help can be dangerous. Sudden withdrawal may cause severe dehydration, seizures, or delirium tremens, which can be life-threatening. Medical supervision ensures your safety and provides medication to manage symptoms effectively.
Thinking About Detoxing From Alcohol?
If you’re reading this, you’ve already done something hard: you’ve stopped pretending it’s fine. Detox doesn’t have to be chaotic or frightening. Done properly, it’s calm, private and structured—with a team that treats you with respect from the first conversation.
You don’t need the perfect plan before you reach out. Tell us what’s been happening; we’ll listen, ask a few practical questions, and explain the safest next step.
If a hospital assessment is the right move, we’ll say so clearly. If non-acute residential detox fits, we’ll guide you in—without drama and without judgement.