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How Long Does It Take for Your Body to Detox from Alcohol?

How Long Does It Take for Your Body to Detox from Alcohol

Alcohol detox is the first, and often most difficult, step in the recovery journey. For many, the question arises: How long does it take for your body to detox from alcohol?

While the general detox process lasts anywhere from a few days to over a week, the honest answer is far more personal. Your unique history, biology, and support system all play a role in the timeline and effectiveness of detox.

Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery (CMAR) in Denver provides a safe, structured, outpatient detox program that blends medical supervision, FDA-approved medications, and compassionate therapeutic support. Whether detoxing for the first time or returning to recovery after a relapse, we’re here to help you safely take the first step.

How Long Does It Take for Your Body to Detox from Alcohol

What Is Alcohol Detox?

Alcohol detoxification is the process of removing alcohol from your system and allowing your body to return to a stable chemical balance. For individuals who drink heavily or regularly, this process can trigger withdrawal symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening.

Withdrawal occurs because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. Over time, the body becomes dependent on it. When alcohol use stops suddenly, the brain struggles to regulate itself, causing the symptoms associated with detox.

Detoxing without medical supervision can be dangerous, especially for those with a long history of alcohol use. That’s why CMAR offers a medically supported, outpatient detox program in Colorado, tailored to each person’s health, lifestyle, and treatment goals.

General Timeline: How Long Does It Take to Detox from Alcohol?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but here’s a typical timeline based on clinical experience:

6–12 Hours After the Last Drink

  • Mild symptoms appear: anxiety, headache, nausea, insomnia, tremors
  • Cravings begin to build
  • Blood alcohol levels drop

12–48 Hours

  • Moderate withdrawal sets in: sweating, irritability, increased heart rate
  • The risk of seizures begins, especially for long-term or heavy drinkers
  • Some may experience alcohol hallucinosis (auditory or visual hallucinations)

48–72 Hours

  • The highest risk period for severe symptoms such as Delirium Tremens (DTs):
    • Confusion
    • Disorientation
    • Fever
    • High blood pressure
    • Seizures

DTs occur in about 5% of individuals withdrawing from alcohol, but they require immediate medical attention and can be fatal without treatment.

4–7 Days

  • Symptoms gradually subside
  • Mood, appetite, and sleep begin to stabilize
  • Emotional challenges, depression, anxiety, and restlessness may persist longer

Pro Tip from CMAR: Many patients feel tempted to leave treatment once physical symptoms improve. But this is when emotional healing and relapse prevention work becomes critical.

General Timeline How Long Does It Take to Detox from Alcohol

What Affects the Duration of Alcohol Detox?

Several personal and medical factors influence how long detox takes:

1. Amount and Duration of Alcohol Use

Heavy drinkers or those with a long history of alcohol use typically have more intense withdrawal symptoms that last longer.

2. Age, Weight, and Gender

Younger individuals often detox faster. Metabolism, liver health, and hormone levels also affect the speed of alcohol elimination.

3. Co-Occurring Disorders

People with mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or PTSD may experience prolonged symptoms and require dual-diagnosis treatment.

4. Polysubstance Use

If alcohol was used alongside opioids, benzos, or stimulants, the detox process becomes more complex and often requires integrated care.

5. Liver Function and General Health

Since the liver plays a central role in metabolizing alcohol, those with liver disease or chronic conditions may experience slower detox.

Why Medically Supervised Detox Matters

Alcohol detox isn’t just uncomfortable; it can be deadly if done improperly. That’s why CMAR provides a structured outpatient withdrawal management (OWM) program for safety, flexibility, and long-term success.

Benefits of Our Program Include:

  • Daily medical monitoring
  • Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) using Suboxone, Vivitrol, and comfort meds
  • Access to therapists and counselors
  • A seamless transition to IOP or PHP for continued care

Unlike inpatient facilities, CMAR’s outpatient model allows you to live at home or in sober housing while receiving professional support each day.

Alcohol Detox Medications We Use

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) can significantly improve your comfort and reduce the risk of complications during detox. At CMAR, our licensed clinicians may recommend:

  • Vivitrol (Naltrexone): Reduces cravings and blocks euphoric effects of alcohol
  • Antabuse (Disulfiram): Creates unpleasant side effects if alcohol is consumed
  • Comfort Medications: Non-addictive meds for nausea, anxiety, insomnia, etc.

These medications are administered as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, never as a stand-alone solution.

What Comes After Detox

Many assume that detox is the end of the recovery process, but it’s only the beginning.

After your body is alcohol-free, the real work of healing and preventing relapse begins. CMAR offers a full continuum of care in Colorado, including:

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

  • 5–6 hours/day, 5 days a week
  • Intensive therapy, dual diagnosis care, and structured routines

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

  • 3–5 days/week, morning and evening options
  • Ideal for balancing recovery with life responsibilities

Mental Health Treatment

  • Integrated support for anxiety, depression, trauma, and more
  • CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed therapy approaches
What Comes After Detox

Who Is a Good Candidate for Outpatient Alcohol Detox?

CMAR’s outpatient detox program is ideal for individuals who:

  • Are medically stable and don’t require 24/7 inpatient monitoring
  • Have mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms
  • Want to maintain work, school, or family responsibilities during treatment
  • Are you ready to transition into long-term outpatient support

If you’re unsure whether you or a loved one is a candidate, our intake team will conduct a personalized assessment to determine the safest, most effective path forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for alcohol to leave your body completely?

Alcohol is metabolized at a rate of about one standard drink per hour, but full detox and recovery of brain and organ function may take weeks or months, depending on the severity of use.

Can I detox from alcohol at home?

Home detox can be dangerous. Without medical oversight, the risk of seizures, dehydration, and delirium tremens increases. Always consult a professional like CMAR before attempting detox.

Does insurance cover alcohol detox?

Yes, CMAR accepts most major insurance providers and Medicaid, and we offer affordable cash-pay options for those without coverage.

Ready to Begin? CMAR Is Here to Help

If you’re searching for answers about how long it takes to detox from alcohol, chances are you’re ready to take action. At CMAR, we make it easy to get started!

About the Author

Founder

VERIFY INSURANCE

Cortland Mathers-Suter

MSSA
Managing Partner

Cortland Mathers-Suter entered the treatment space after his own battle with addiction. He first worked as a peer mentor, before starting clinical work while completing his Masters of Science in social administration from Case Western Reserve University where he focused on policy and direct practice. Cortland moved to Colorado in 2015 to start his first addiction treatment program, AspenRidge Recovery. Under his tenure, AspenRidge Recovery became a two-location, nationally accredited organization. He has since spent the last two years researching and developing what is now Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery (CMAR).

According to Cortland, “Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery is the most important organization I have had the honor to help build. We’re offering a service that seeks to not only improve the lives of our patients but also evolve how we look at medication-assisted treatment in Colorado entirely. Most individuals receiving medication-assisted care only receive medication and urinalysis. Sure you can call that ‘treatment,’ but you can’t call that ‘recovery.’ Our model is about adding the missing recovery component, and thus affords an opportunity to achieve lasting change for each patient and the industry.”

Cortland and his treatment programs have received numerous honors. These include Colorado Business Magazine’s “GenXYZ” award, the 2020 “Titan 100” award, and his program AspenRidge Recovery was both a finalist for “Best Healthcare Company” and named in the “Company’s to Watch” by Colorado Business Magazine as well. He has been interviewed and quoted by numerous publications for his “addiction expertise”, including News Week, 5280 Magazine, the Denver Post, Elephant Journal, Colorado Biz Mag, and TheRecoverySource.org.

Tyler Whitman

Compliance/HR Administrator

Tyler is originally from Omaha, Nebraska. He worked in manufacturing administration for 18 years until he chose to pursue recovery from alcohol addiction, which led him to Chicago, Illinois. Since then, Tyler gained experience in retail, retail pharmacy, and healthcare as a vaccine coordinator for a local Colorado clinic. At the clinic, Tyler discovered that healthcare was the career change he had been looking for. His newfound passion for healthcare, combined with his lived experience with addiction, brought him to Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery as an Office Administrator.

In his free time, Tyler enjoys cooking, hiking, and skiing. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from Regis University.

Simmeren Boanvala

BA
Outreach and Admissions Representative

Simmeren comes to CMAR after several years working admissions in inpatient psychiatry and addiction. A first-generation Colorado Native, Simmeren attended CU Boulder, where she earned a BA in psychology. Simmeren is currently completing her CAC III while working toward her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.

According to Simmeren, “I joined CMAR because I believe in the quality and importance of the program whole-heartedly. My goal at CMAR is to guide each prospect who calls CMAR to find the best possible pathway to their recovery”. Simmeren currently lives in her hometown with her dog and cat.

Tyler Hale

Tyler Hale

Community Partnership Lead

Tyler Hale began his career in addiction treatment following a decades-long fight with his own substance abuse issues. Since achieving long-term recovery, Tyler has held various positions in direct care, client services, admissions and outreach departments at various addiction treatment organizations. From sober living program director to outreach director to admissions director at a drug and alcohol treatment program, Tyler consistently finds himself in leadership roles within the addiction treatment space.

Tyler is originally from Chicago, IL, where he graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Bioethics. Thereafter, Tyler built a successful career in the tech industry, before finding sobriety and a subsequent calling to help others. Tyler joined the team at CMAR because he believes in the efficacy of comprehensive and patient-centered outpatient treatment. In his free time Tyler enjoys camping, hiking and spending time with his newborn son.

Kirstin O’Carroll

MSW
Engagement and Relations Director

Kirstin O’Carroll started her career in addiction and mental health services 23 years ago after graduating with an MSW from The Oho State University. Hired directly from an internship program, she served as a case manager and vocational specialist on a community treatment team in Columbus, OH, working to help severely mentally ill adults remain at home and in a community setting. Within the same organization, she later transitioned to clinical assessment and crisis intervention services with children, adolescents, and adults. Through these experiences, she learned the importance of providing empathetic, high-quality care and the need to “start wherever the patient is” with regard to finding the best treatment & solutions for her patients.

After seven years, Kirstin made a career change to diagnostic sales and worked for several Fortune 500 companies as an acute care sales specialist. She is delighted to return “home” to her passion for helping others and believes her new role as community engagement coordinator for CMAR is the perfect alignment of both her clinical and sales skills. When not promoting CMAR, she can be found reading, running, hiking, watching movies, and spending time with her husband Dennis and senior canine son Reggie.

Thomas Mazzarella

LAC
Primary Therapist

Thomas is a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) in the State of Colorado and a Licensed Addictions Specialist (LCAS) in the State of North Carolina with particular expertise in the treatment of chronic Substance Abuse Addiction and Dependency.

Thomas is dedicated to Individual, Couples, Family, and Group Counseling and Therapy for individuals with Substance Use and Mental Health issues and concerns.

James Jackman

CAS
Primary Therapist

James Jackman is a Certified Addiction Specialist and has been practicing addiction treatment in Colorado since 2015. James is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Metropolitan State University Denver. James is a traditional CBT therapist specializing in childhood events that lead to adult addictions.

James has received special training in Family Systems, Inner Child, Maladaptive Schemas, and Adverse Childhood Experiences. James has worked in many treatment settings throughout his career and uses a client-centered treatment approach to help one recover from destructive patterns that facilitate addiction. In addition, James enjoys working with rescue animals and advocates for several local rescue organizations outside of work.

Outside of the office, Megan enjoys spending time with her two German Shepherds and her cat. She is passionate about fostering animals through various local rescues to find adoptive homes for dogs and cats in need.

Megan Hanekom

LPC, LAC, NCC
Therapist & Clinical Compliance Officer

Megan is a licensed counselor who has worked in various mental health and addiction treatment environments. She practices cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing and believes in pulling from various therapeutic approaches to best support each individual. Megan received her bachelor’s in psychology and Spanish from Concordia College. She relocated from North Dakota to Colorado where she earned a master’s in counseling psychology from the University of Denver.

Outside of the office, Megan enjoys spending time with her two German Shepherds and her cat. She is passionate about fostering animals through various local rescues to find adoptive homes for dogs and cats in need.

Maggie Coyle

MA, LPC
Primary Therapist

Maggie Coyle, MS, MA, LPP, LPCC has worked in the mental health and addictions counseling field for the past six years. She has extensive experience in working in the varying levels of mental health and addictions treatment as well as with diverse populations.

She practices cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy as primary intervention methods. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology as well as a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling both from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. She has also earned a master’s degree in addictions counseling from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. Maggie moved from South Dakota to Colorado in June 2020 and is excited to be a part of the CMAR team.

Michael Damioli

LCSW, CSAT
Clinical Director

Michael Damioli has been passionately working in the fields of addiction treatment and mental health since 2012. He has held a variety of different roles within the addiction recovery space, ranging from peer support to direct clinical practice. Notably, Michael was part of a leadership group that developed a small therapy practice into a nationally branded addiction treatment program, which offers multiple levels of care to recovering professionals. Michael is a strong believer in the family disease model of addiction and has focused much of his clinical work and training on supporting families impacted by addiction. He also specializes in treating individuals suffering from co-occurring chemical and process addictions.

Michael is honored to be leading the clinical care team at CMAR and believes that excellent clinical care begins by simply treating a patient with dignity and respect. Michael is a strong advocate for ethical reform within the addiction treatment field and is excited to promote CMAR as an ethical and thought leader throughout the treatment & recovery industry. Michael earned his master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver and is independently licensed as a clinical social worker with the state of Colorado. He holds an advanced post-graduate certificate in marriage and family therapy from the Denver Family Institute as well as an advanced certificate in sexual addiction counseling from the International Institute of Trauma and Addiction Professionals.

Dwight-Duncan

Dwight Duncan

Psy.D
Psychologist

Dr. Duncan was born and spent most of his early life in California. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Denver in 1987. He is a licensed psychologist as well as a licensed addiction counselor. He has had extensive training and experience throughout his professional career in medical psychology, mindfulness, integrated behavioral healthcare, and substance abuse.

Dr. Duncan is married and has one daughter, a neurologic physical therapist in Los Angeles.

Susan-Miget

Susan Miget

NP
Medical Provider

Susan has been in healthcare for more than 20 years. She was an ICU nurse for nine years, then returned to school and completed her master of nursing and family nurse practitioner degree at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2007. She practiced pain management for many years before developing her current passion for addiction treatment.

Susan has transitioned her practice to focus entirely on addiction treatment. She has worked in residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP) programs. Susan most enjoys working with patients one-on-one in a private office to protect their confidentiality and ensure top-rate care. Knowing that addiction can affect anyone, anywhere, and at any time, Susan continues to strive to make treatment more accessible and confidential.

Whitney-Grant

Whitney Grant

MSN, FNP-BC, ARNP, RN, CPN
Medical Provider

Whitney Grant is an experienced family nurse practitioner with experience and expertise in medication-assisted treatment. Whitney earned her BSN at the University of Miami before moving on to achieve a master of science in nursing degree there as well, becoming a nurse practitioner immediately thereafter.

Whitney has since achieved board certification from the ANCC as a family nurse practitioner. After spending her entire formative and educational years in South Florida, Whitney moved to Denver in 2018 to pursue a career as a provider in family practice, sub-specializing in addictions medicine. Whitney has worked under the guidance of Dr. Nathaniel Moore, CMAR’s medical director, since moving to Denver.

Nathaniel Moore

MD
Medical Director

Dr. Nathan Moore is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Moore attended Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA for his undergraduate work and then attended Duke University School of Medicine and obtained his M.D. in 1995. Dr. Moore then came to Colorado and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Colorado’s Family Medicine Program at Rose Medical Center.

Dr. Moore practices primarily at our Aurora location. He provides comprehensive family medicine services and has a special interest in addiction medicine, treating patients with opioid use disorder as well as alcohol addiction.

Dr. Moore is married with three children. He enjoys mountain biking, running, and golf.