Alcohol Detox in Spain: Life-Changing Recovery

May 6, 2022

Last updated: October, 2025

Alcohol detox is often the first and most crucial step on the road to recovery. It is both a physical and emotional process — one that demands courage, structure, and professional support. For many individuals, detoxification can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance and environment, it becomes the beginning of renewal.

At Hacienda Paradiso, our medical and therapeutic teams specialise in safe alcohol detox in Spain. The focus is not only on managing withdrawal but also on restoring stability, confidence, and calm throughout the body and mind. Recovery begins when the body is freed from dependence and the individual feels supported every step of the way.

What Happens During Alcohol Detox?

Alcohol detoxification (or detox) refers to the process of clearing alcohol from the body while managing the withdrawal reactions that follow. When someone has been drinking regularly, the brain adapts to the presence of alcohol and adjusts its chemistry. Once drinking stops, these brain chemicals — especially dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) — suddenly decrease, causing physical and emotional discomfort.

Typical withdrawal symptoms

Tremors or shaking
Sweating and fever
Nausea or vomiting
Restlessness or anxiety
Headache and dry throat
Insomnia and vivid dreams
Rapid heartbeat and increased blood pressure

These symptoms are temporary but can be intense. In severe cases, individuals may experience hallucinations or delirium tremens (DTs), a serious condition that requires immediate medical supervision. For this reason, alcohol detox should never be done alone.

Why Choose Alcohol Detox in Spain?

Detoxing in a calm, warm, and natural environment can make a profound difference in the recovery experience. Spain (and particularly Málaga, Costa del Sol) offers the perfect combination of serenity, sunshine, and privacy.

Being far from daily triggers allows individuals to focus completely on healing. The Mediterranean climate supports relaxation, while the peaceful surroundings of Hacienda Paradiso help reduce anxiety and physical tension. The change of environment also helps break habitual patterns that often sustain addiction.

For many, this distance provides emotional clarity: a space to rediscover strength, reflect, and begin again.

Medical Support and Safety During Detox

Alcohol withdrawal can affect every system of the body. At Hacienda Paradiso, detoxification is carried out under 24-hour medical supervision, ensuring that each stage is safe and supported.

The detox process typically includes:

Initial assessment: medical evaluation, lab tests, and personalised detox plan.
Stabilisation phase: monitored medication to reduce discomfort and prevent complications.
Nutritional support: restoring essential vitamins, especially B1 (thiamine), which is often depleted by long-term alcohol use.
Hydration and rest: replenishing the body’s strength and energy.
Psychological support: gentle therapy to manage anxiety, fear, or guilt that often arise during withdrawal.

Medical detox is not simply about cleansing the body; it is about helping the person feel safe and cared for as the brain and nervous system regain balance.

The Hacienda Paradiso Detox Protocol

Our detox protocol is based on complete abstinence, supported by medication when necessary. Gradual reduction often prolongs discomfort and increases relapse risk, whereas full abstinence allows the body to stabilise faster under supervision.

Detox duration varies depending on each person’s history, physical condition, and alcohol use. On average, withdrawal symptoms peak within the first 48–72 hours and begin to subside after 7–10 days. However, emotional recovery takes longer, which is why detox is always followed by rehabilitation and therapy.

As one resident shared, “The first few days were hard, but once my body started to calm, I felt a peace I hadn’t known in years.”

The Role of Environment in Healing

Recovery is not only medical, it is emotional and environmental. At Hacienda Paradiso, treatment takes place within Spain’s first ecological rehab, surrounded by nature and tranquillity. The serene landscapes, organic gardens, and gentle climate all play an active role in promoting calm and restoration.

Each individual has private or semi-private accommodation, healthy Mediterranean meals, and access to holistic practices such as mindfulness, yoga, and outdoor walks. This integrative approach helps reconnect the body and mind, nurturing the sense of safety essential for sustainable recovery.

Aftercare and Long-Term Support

Detox is just the first step. Without proper aftercare, old habits and emotional triggers can reappear. At Hacienda Paradiso, aftercare begins the moment detox ends. Residents work with therapists to develop strategies for stress management, emotional regulation, and relapse prevention.

Ongoing support includes:

Individual and group therapy
Lifestyle and nutrition planning
Mindfulness and coping skills training
Relapse prevention tools
Access to aftercare programmes

Each treatment plan is tailored to the person’s needs, helping them rebuild a life free from dependency and filled with balance.

Why Hacienda Paradiso?

Located in the heart of Andalucía, Hacienda Paradiso is more than a clinic: it is a sanctuary designed for healing. As the world’s first eco-rehab, it blends modern medical care with sustainability and nature-based therapy.

The centre has received international recognition for its excellence and compassion, including the Most Affordable Luxury Rehab in Europe award. Every story is treated with confidentiality, respect, and warmth. Healing begins with listening, understanding, and guiding gently but confidently toward lasting change.

Recovery begins with understanding and compassionate care. Request more information to learn how Hacienda Paradiso’s alcohol detox in Spain can help restore balance, health, and long-term freedom.

Frequently Asked Questions: Alcohol Detox in Spain

How long does alcohol detox take?

The detox process usually lasts between one and two weeks, depending on the person’s alcohol use, health condition, and metabolism. Withdrawal symptoms often peak within the first three days, followed by gradual improvement. Full recovery, however, extends beyond detox and continues through therapy and rehabilitation to support emotional healing.

Is alcohol detox safe?

Yes, when carried out under medical supervision. At Hacienda Paradiso, detox is monitored 24/7 by healthcare professionals. Medication may be prescribed to manage withdrawal symptoms safely. Attempting detox alone can be dangerous and, in some cases, life-threatening due to potential seizures or delirium tremens.

Why is detoxing in Spain beneficial?

Spain’s warm climate, natural beauty, and peaceful pace of life support relaxation and physical recovery. Being in a new environment helps break old habits and mental associations tied to drinking. The setting at Hacienda Paradiso — private, ecological, and discreet — enhances comfort and calm throughout the process.

What happens after alcohol detox?

After detox, residents transition into personalised therapy and rehabilitation. This phase addresses the psychological and behavioural aspects of addiction. Through therapy, mindfulness, and holistic activities, individuals learn to manage stress, rebuild confidence, and create healthy routines for the long term.

Can I detox from alcohol at home?

Detoxing alone is not recommended. Alcohol withdrawal can cause unpredictable and dangerous reactions, including seizures and dehydration. Professional medical care ensures safety and comfort throughout the process. At Hacienda Paradiso, detox is supported by ongoing aftercare, helping individuals maintain recovery once they return home.

Our addiction treatments

Detox @ Purify™

Detox, the first stage of becoming free from drug and alcohol dependency, is both physically and psychologically uncomfortable. Purify™ by Hacienda Paradiso was created to ease this discomfort. Restoring the body and mind in safe and comfortable surroundings, under medical supervision. The detox process will be complete within seven to ten days, with many clients beginning a successful programme of recovery after the detox process is complete.

Alcohol Addiction

Hacienda Paradiso is an award-winning alcohol treatment facility where the process of treating addiction is grounded in care, compassion and recovery. The process of treating alcohol addiction usually goes through four stages: admission, detox, rehab, and lasting recovery. We adopt an approach that is discreet, non-judgmental and individual. Our priority is to look beyond the symptoms of alcoholism and treat the causes of the condition, delivering successful lasting recovery and remission.

Bipolar Disorders & Depression

Childhood trauma, stress, grief, structural brain changes, hormonal imbalances and other neurological indicators have a proven link to Bipolar Disorder & Depression. Treatment at Hacienda Paradiso is highly effective and helps sufferers gain valuable insight and increased control over mood swings and other symptoms. It is essential to seek treatment as early as possible.

At Hacienda Paradiso, you will meet our Consultant Psychiatrist on admission. They will help you describe the symptoms you have experienced, and together with the exceptional therapeutic team, will create a treatment plan with you. If you have been using alcohol or substances, we will help you to safely detox in comfort, while we assess your care plan and recovery.

Our addiction treatments

Detox @ Purify™

Depression

Hacienda Paradiso luxury residential depression clinic takes an individualized deep dive with clients on a therapeutic led journey of recovery. The World Class treatment teams deliver long term remission from all forms of depression, depressive episodes and previously treatment resistant cases of major depressive disorder. Award-winning therapists and psychiatrists at the Hacienda work with clients to identify and treat and heal underlying problems. If the causes of depression are not identified, treated and healed, sufferers of can continue to experience symptoms throughout their lives.

Drug addiction

Drug addiction is a very complex, multi-faceted disorder. Major indications of drug addiction include cravings, withdrawal and unsuccessful previous attempts to stop or reduce use. The drug addiction experts at Hacienda Paradiso treat all forms of addiction including cocaine, cannabis and prescription medication. Hacienda Paradiso takes a pragmatic and highly individualized approach to drug addiction by treating the underlying factors and any co-existing mental health issues. The team at Hacienda Paradiso has been recognized internationally for their success and dedication to long term successful recovery.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual diagnosis is a term when a mental illness and substance misuse disorder coexist simultaneously. Often depression and anxiety may lead to alcohol and drug addiction and vice versa. The complexities of Dual Diagnosis is to establish the specific order of coexisting conditions to effectively treat the underlying causes to create successful, lasting and long term recovery from addiction and remission from coexisting mental health conditions.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is an emotion that is okay to feel. Experiencing it occasionally is common and normal. However, anxiety disorders are much different to feeling the occasional bout of anxiety. Anxiety disorders can be paralyzing to those who experience them. They can leave a person feeling unable to cope with life.

Residential treatment at Hacienda Paradiso Clinic allows you to live, learn, and understand your anxiety disorder. Often clients experience significant and rapid reduction in anxiety and in many cases complete remission from a debilitating condition.

Gambling Addiction

The World Class team at Hacienda Paradiso are experts at treating pathological gambling addiction. Our unique and highly individualized programme of recovery equips you with the tools to break the cycle of addiction. We will create a unique treatment plan to heal the symptoms and address your own specific root-causes.

Gambling addiction often coexists with other addictions or mental health issues so it’s imperative to assess any dual diagnosis concerns that may have previously been undiagnosed.

Gaming Addiction

Video game addiction is a very real mental health condition impacting many millions of people around the world, across all ages. The most addicting games include Fortnite, League of Legends, PUBG, Minecraft and other household names. This is because video games are designed to be addictive.

Gaming addicts may experience significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning. Gaming disorder is a process addiction and help is available from the team at Hacienda Paradiso. The friendly, non-judgmental therapeutic help develop a healthy relationship with technology and devise ways to ensure long term recovery and remission from video game addiction.

Sex Addiction

Dr Ruth Arenas leads our award-winning residential sex and love addiction clinic. Hacienda Paradiso is the only treatment center in Europe to separate love and sex addiction. While we recognize the similarities, we identify and treat each as standalone unique issues that may be triggering compounded emotional distress.

Dr Ruth is one of the Worlds foremost authorities in compulsive sexual disorder and hypersexuality. Residential treatment at Hacienda Paradiso boosts self-esteem and rebuilds mechanisms to increase resilience. Our World Class professionals help clients achieve freedom from destructive, compulsive and obsessive behaviors.

Prescription Medication Addiction

If you or a loved one has developed a prescription drug addiction, help is available. At Hacienda Paradiso our prescription drug addiction treatment is focused on complete and lasting long-term recovery. Our approach is non-judgmental and highly therapeutic. Our medical experts and clinicians will design a treatment plan specific for your situation, and the nature of your prescription drug addiction.

The exact treatment depends on the specific prescription medications, while at same time identifying and addressing the issues and reasons underlying the addiction.

DNA Testing for Addiction

The clinical team at Hacienda Paradiso are able to use cutting edge DNA testing to identify which drugs would be safer and more effective for use in a client’s recovery. As one of the only treatment clinics in Europe to offer DNA testing the team are able to quickly find which medically assisted treatment works best in each unique and individual case. This groundbreaking approach reduces the potential for uncomfortable side effects and greatly speeds a client’s recovery.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS)

Transcranial direct current stimulation is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. TDCS is successfully used in the treatment of depression, PTSD, anxiety and other persistent psychological issues. Transcranial direct current stimulation at Hacienda Paradiso is particularly successful when a client presents with treatment resistant depression.