Alcohol rehab in Islamabad

Alcohol is rarely talked about openly in Pakistani families. Most of the time, a wife or a brother has known for years before anyone says the word out loud. By then, drinking has usually moved from weekends to every evening, and often to the morning as well.

Health Plus treats alcohol dependence in Bani Gala, Islamabad. Withdrawal is managed by our psychiatrists and nurses on site, and recovery work starts as soon as the body is stable. Families are involved from the first week.

Why families in Pakistan often find out late

Because alcohol is illegal for most Muslims in Pakistan, it is bought quietly and drunk out of sight. People hide bottles in cars, offices and cupboards. Families notice the effects first: missed work, short temper, poor sleep, money that does not add up.

Many people also search for home remedies or a 'sharab chhurwane ka tarika' online before they call anyone. Stopping suddenly at home after months of heavy drinking can be dangerous. That is the main reason we ask families to call before trying it.

Signs to watch for at home

Noticing several of these over weeks, not days, is a reason to get advice.

• Drinking every day, or starting earlier in the day
• Shaking, sweating or anxiety in the morning until a drink is taken
• Bottles hidden in the car, office or cupboards
• Missing work, family duties or prayers because of drinking
• Promises to stop that do not last
• Anger, arguments or accidents linked to drinking
• Poor appetite, weight loss and broken sleep

How alcohol detox works at Health Plus

On admission, a doctor checks blood pressure, pulse, liver health and how much the person has been drinking. This tells our psychiatrist how severe withdrawal is likely to be.

Withdrawal symptoms usually start within a day of the last drink. They can include shaking, sweating, anxiety, nausea and poor sleep. In heavy drinkers, more serious problems such as seizures or confusion can happen, so we use prescribed medicine on a reducing dose and check vital signs every day.

Detox usually takes about a week. After that, the person joins the full residential routine: group therapy, one-to-one sessions with a psychologist, the 12-Step program and family sessions. The work then turns to why the person drinks, what triggers it and what they will do differently at home.

What heavy drinking does to the body

Years of heavy drinking affect more than the mind. The liver is usually the first organ to suffer. Early damage often has no symptoms, which is why we check liver tests in the first days of admission. Later signs can include yellow eyes, a swollen stomach, easy bruising and confusion.

Heavy drinkers also often eat poorly, so they can be short of important vitamins, especially thiamine (vitamin B1). A lack of thiamine can damage the brain and memory. Our doctors give vitamin replacement during detox as a routine precaution.

Blood pressure, stomach problems, poor sleep and low mood often improve within weeks of stopping. Some damage takes longer to recover, and some is permanent, which is one more reason not to wait.

If your husband or father has vomited blood, has yellow skin or eyes, is very confused, or has had a seizure, he needs a hospital emergency department first. Call 1122. We can plan rehab once he is medically stable.

How long treatment takes

Detox takes days. Recovery takes longer. Most patients stay 3 to 6 months, and the length is reviewed with the family as treatment goes on. Some people are better suited to our day program or outpatient follow-up after a shorter stay.

What families can do

• Do not try to force a sudden stop at home after long, heavy drinking. Call us first.
• Keep track of what you see: how much, how often, and any shaking or confusion. This helps the doctor.
• Stop covering for missed work or broken promises.
• Remove alcohol from the house, but do not search and confront when they are drunk.
• Join our family sessions. They cover boundaries and what to do if drinking starts again.

Who will care for your loved one

Next steps

• Supervised DetoxSafe, monitored withdrawal as the first part of treatment.
• Residential Program (3–6 months)A live-in program combining medical, psychological and recovery care.
• Rehab fees and roomsFrom PKR 120,000 a month
• How admission worksNine steps, from first call to discharge