Many individuals—some estimate 10% of those over the age of 12 in the United States annually—need help with getting off of alcohol and drugs. Withdrawal can be very difficult for most individuals. Fortunately, detox centers can greatly help people struggling with addiction. Any reputable detox center has professionals who know how to ease the symptoms of withdrawal, and they help you get back onto your feet again.
What is Detox?
Detoxing is the first step in getting off of a drug. Detox is a medically supervised period of withdrawal. It usually lasts anywhere from a few days to a week or longer. The period of time in which detox takes place depends upon a variety of factors, including the type and severity of the addiction. To emphasize, detox is not a be-all and end-all treatment in itself, but rather preparation for treatment.
Upon settling into a facility, you will receive a complete physical exam to identify any underlying conditions, such as malnutrition and dehydration, that should be treated during detox from drugs. You might be given medications to help deal with withdrawal symptoms and cravings, which can be strong. Alcohol detox is the most likely type of detox to require additional medications.
For alcohol addiction recovery, there are three FDA-approved medications used:
- Disulfiram
- Naltrexone
- Acamprosate
Disulfiram is prescribed once someone returns home after treatment. It works by causing unpleasant side effects when even small amounts of alcohol are consumed. The side effects can last at least an hour, deterring one from drinking.
Naltrexone helps control alcohol cravings. These medications are some of the more common ones to be combined at any given time to assist an individual with getting through detox.
Acamprosate, used during the detox process, helps reset some of the chemicals in the brain that may have been altered during alcohol abuse. By stabilizing the brain’s chemicals, the drug can help lessen the symptoms of withdrawal.
Other drug detox medications include methadone, suboxone and buprenorphine. Individuals given detox medications are usually under close supervision to help prevent against any adverse reactions. Along with medications targeted to help with withdrawal symptoms, you may be provided with nutritional supplements and over-the-counter pain relievers to address bodily aches and other maladies.
How Does A Detox Center Help You?
Detoxing is a serious matter that can cause a number of symptoms within 12 hours of your last use of the drug. Symptoms include agitation, anxiety, muscle aches, panic attacks, insomnia, sweating, trembling, cramping, nausea, difficulty breathing, vomiting, increased heart rate and chills. Therefore, it’s advisable to not try detoxing on your own. Doing so can be very dangerous.
Detoxing can help an addict’s recovery by providing support. For example, an individual will usually be assigned a counselor or case manager. For this addict, an in-depth treatment plan that identifies and addresses problems and goals will be created and covered. There are generally support groups that meet on a regular basis. They can help addicts identify and share struggles, problems and goals in a safe environment.
How To Choose The Right Detox Center For You
There are many things that you will want to consider when choosing the right detox program. Factors to consider include:
- The program’s quality
- The training and education of the facility’s staff
- Its location
- Its rate of success
- The types of services offered
Some other very important things that you may want to consider include whether you can bring electronics with you, whether your insurance covers the facility, whether your dietary preferences can be accommodated, and the length of the average treatment stay.
In terms of the nature of your stay, most detox centers offer both inpatient and outpatient services. Outpatient services encompass staying in a medical facility during the day, while returning home every night. They are best for individuals who are suffering from one addiction, can handle themselves, and need to cut down on costs. Outpatient services allow one to keep employment, while along maintaining social relationships. For many individuals, they are more ideal.
Inpatient services, as you may guess, involve a 24/7, around-the-clock stay at the treatment facility. While they are less flexible, they minimize the risk of relapse since one cannot give into temptations.
What To Expect From Staying At A Detox Center
When you first visit a detox center, you will be asked a battery of questions about your past, including any drug use. You will want to answer any questions completely honestly as this will help the medical professionals with devising a plan for your unique needs. As previously mentioned, you will usually go through a physical, and then treatment, after this period of time.
Outpatient care is what you will most likely do, unless your addiction is very serious. Most individuals are able to cope fine after outpatient care. If you are addicted to multiple drugs and have a serious problem, inpatient care may be necessary.
What Happens After You Finish Your Detox Program
After you finish a detox program, there is still a lot you can do in terms of making sure you don’t relapse. For starters, many facilities require that former patients join a self-help group after the end of the program to ensure that well-being is maintained. Many highly suggest an extended inpatient rehab.
Relapse prevention training is also common as it helps make individuals aware of the habits and situations making them more prone to a relapse. Life skills training is essential because it teaches management of frustration, anger and stress, along with goal setting, employment skills, free-time management, social and communication skills, and time and money management skills.
Assignments that require introspection are key. Writing about one’s experiences and recovery is very important when trying to maintain a state of soberness. During and after the process of detox, recovering addicts need to always be aware of the perils of addiction, or they will live in denial, not acknowledging the path they went down—or could again go down.
You don’t want to trust your recovery to chance. Ultimately, professional drug detox centers within reputable facilities are the most effective way to overcome addiction.