Detox for Drugs

Mitigating Withdrawal Symptoms During Drug Detox

Drug detox is a process of eliminating drugs and their toxic metabolites from the body. Medical drug detox is an important step in the recovery process as it helps clients suffering from substance abuse avoid the most intense withdrawal symptoms and prepare for the most important portion of addiction treatment.

Drug detox can be done through natural remedies during supervised medical treatment, depending on a person’s individual needs. Standard clinical procedures are still the most widely used form of medical drug detox, which entails the combination of benzodiazepines, antidepressants, blood pressure medication, and other prescriptions.

Our complete guide will provide an overview of what detox for drugs entails, why it is necessary, and some of the most effective standard and holistic options for battling withdrawal symptoms during substance abuse rehab!

Why Is Drug Detox a Necessary Part of Substance Abuse Recovery?

Drug detox is an important step for those looking to ease the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms during substance abuse recovery. It is a process that helps to reduce the physical and psychological effects of withdrawal from drugs and alcohol.

Detoxing can help individuals to better cope with the cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with addiction. The importance of medical detox cannot be overstated as it can help individuals to stay safe and healthy during their journey towards recovery. Medical data has proven time and time again that individuals in recovery that don’t have to deal with the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms have much higher success rates than those who don’t participate in drug detox.

It’s difficult to address the mental damage done by substance abuse if you’re constantly worried about staving off the physical withdrawal symptoms that haunt those in active drug addiction every day.

The Benefits of Drug Detox

The primary benefit of medical detox is its ability to provide individuals with a safe and controlled environment to help them overcome their physical addiction. Medical detox can also provide individuals with access to medical professionals who can offer tailored advice and support throughout the process.

Additionally, medications such as various forms of alcohol detox pills may be prescribed to help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings, making the process easier and more comfortable. Participating in detox for withdrawal symptoms under a controlled environment increases the odds of success tenfold, as not only are you more comfortable, but you have the immediate support of experts in the substance abuse field.

The Mental Aspect of the Detox Process

Drug detox can also provide individuals with the necessary support they need during this difficult time. Medical professionals who specialize in addiction medicine will be able to provide guidance and advice on how better to manage the physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal.

Additionally, drug detox centers offer a variety of therapies that can help individuals address any underlying issues that may have contributed to their addiction in the first place. This often takes place in the latter half of addiction treatment after the withdrawal symptoms are eliminated, but it’s certainly not completely absent during the detox process.

By understanding why drug detox is necessary, individuals in recovery can gain insight into their own journey toward recovery and make informed decisions about their health and well-being without being distracted by severe withdrawal symptoms.

Different Forms of Drug and Alcohol Detox

In a perfect world, every man and woman looking to achieve recovery would have immediate access to the best forms of medical detox, standard or holistic. However, this isn’t always the case, and some individuals are in a situation where they must make the best of their situation.

Medical detox isn’t always available, for whatever reason – but there are other professional options for drug and alcohol detox. There are also those who attempt the detox process at home, which is one of the most difficult achievements when you’re attempting to conquer drug abuse.

Some of the different types of drug detox procedures include a medical detox, an at-home medical detox program, a rapid opioid detoxification procedure, and a cold turkey at-home detox. One of the most dangerous forms of detox is at-home cold turkey detox, mostly because of the withdrawal symptoms associated with this practice.

The Cold Turkey Options for Drug Addiction

Cold turkey detox and withdrawal are the processes of abruptly stopping the use of drugs or alcohol without any medical supervision. This can be extremely risky for those looking to combat drug addiction, as it can lead to intense withdrawal symptoms that can be life-threatening.

It’s strongly suggested that individuals considering drug or alcohol detox contact professionals in the addiction treatment space to help with medically-assisted detox.

Medically Assisted Detox Addiction Treatment Programs

We touched on the medical drug detox process and what a quality detox program can provide to those who suffer from drug abuse. Some of the best addiction treatment facilities provide a top-notch detox program that will help you make it through detoxification with little to no feelings of withdrawal.

This is done through standard practices via medications like benzos and antidepressants (short-term only), although many facilities are beginning to incorporate holistic forms of therapy during the detox portion of addiction treatment.

Some of the holistic options include acupuncture, equine therapy, and amino acid replacement therapy. Amino acid therapy replaces the vital building blocks that promote the natural release of GABA, Dopamine, Serotonin, and Endorphins, all vital parts of the brain’s daily activity and certainly the recovery process.

Rapid Detox: High Risk and Low Reward

Rapid detox for drug and alcohol withdrawal is an increasingly popular practice that’s come under scrutiny recently as a remedy for drug abuse.

Naturally, drug and alcohol withdrawal has to take its course during detox. Professionals in any clinical environment can do everything within their power to help ease the discomfort during this time, but there’s nothing that can shorten the process – at least not in the standard forms of care or even holistic care.

However, many people suffering from opioid withdrawal are offered a detoxification process that promises to put them to sleep, and after waking, the withdrawal symptoms have magically passed. This idea of a “miracle” or “magic” cure seems suspect from the beginning and, to many, wasn’t considered healthy.

After some time of using this treatment, certain data and use cases are coming to light, proving the dangers of this practice.

A Brief History of Rapid Detox Methods

Rapid detox was developed in the 1980s and created as a means for those with substance abuse challenges to achieve recovery and conquer detox without experiencing the painful symptoms of withdrawal. During the process, clients are completely sedated using a general anesthetic while given an opiate blocker to forcefully push the body into detox.

After the process is complete, clients are offered medication-assisted treatments in the form of Suboxone or Vivitrol to continue to stave off long-term cravings. There are several problems associated with this form of treatment.

Let’s first start with the initial dangers of rapid detox.

Physical Dangers of Rapid Detox

During any period of detoxification, the body goes through a certain level of trauma as the body expels the substance in question from the body. Regardless of whether the client is conscious or not, the body still goes through this process.

The danger here is that when someone is awake and alert and experiences a symptom such as vomiting, they can mitigate the dangers involved and avoid an event that could lead to suffocation. There are documented cases of death from asphyxiation during this fast detox program.

These clients vomited while unconscious, which is a normal side effect of detox. However, they weren’t able to naturally deflect the dangers of this and died from choking.

In addition to these dangers, documented cases exist highlighting deaths related to general trauma to the vital areas of the body. Heart attacks and other complications have taken place as a result of these procedures, as the body isn’t equipped or prepared to be forced into such a rapid onset of intense symptoms.

Aside from these physical dangers, there are also mental pitfalls associated as well.

Mental Dangers of Rapidly Detoxing

While undergoing these procedures, many clients have had an increase in the severity of their mental health disorders. Suicidal thoughts and attempts have occurred post-treatment. The body might make it through the detox, but the mind hasn’t had time to catch up to what’s gone on.

This can end up being an extremely traumatic experience mentally. In addition, many clients are using these rapid procedures as a miracle cure and not addressing the true causes of addiction.

It seems that a fair amount of users schedule these procedures and don’t continue to some form of treatment afterward. Using this as a miracle cure and not a stepping stone into a professional treatment program is a surefire way to experience the pitfalls of relapse.

Without the proper addiction treatment services, it’s difficult for any user to address the true driving forces of addiction. This seems to be another classic case of treating the symptom but not the disease itself, serving as only a temporary band-aid to the true problem at hand.

At-Home Medical Detox Programs

There are also at-home medical detox programs available to many individuals looking to enter recovery. This isn’t the at-home cold turkey process mentioned earlier, but instead, an option where a licensed medical professional enters the private residence of a client and administers the medical detox regimen in a more intimate setting.

This can be an extremely beneficial service to those who aren’t able to leave their home for whatever reason or just prefer a more private environment and security of taking on the recovery journey in a place where they feel more secure.

This form of treatment is much higher in cost, and many insurance companies would most likely fail to provide full coverage for these services. However, it’s certainly a viable and healthy option for clients with the means to satisfy the financial requirements of agencies who provide these services.

Preparing for Medically Assisted Detox at a Rehab

Most individuals who achieve success and conquer their addictions ultimately end up doing so by entering medical detox at a rehab treatment facility. This is the most practical and effective solution for beginning the treatment process.

However, many first-time participants in a rehab facility or detox program understandably have reservations and experience anxiety regarding their attendance. This is a natural feeling, as you’re attempting to take a step away from something you’ve used as a security mechanism for what’s most likely been several years or even decades.

However, at the facilities referred to by Rehabs Of Armerica, you can rest assured that you’re in the hands of some of the most highly esteemed substance abuse professionals worldwide. To help calm your reservations and ease your fears, there are several ways that you can help prepare yourself for any medical detox, making the transition from home to detox and then detox to inpatient rehab much smoother.

Recommendations and Preparations for Those Entering Detox

If you’re entering detox, there are several steps you can take to prepare yourself for a much smoother transition. Consider taking the following actions before taking the next step in your recovery journey.

• Prepare yourself mentally and physically by tapering down. It’s never a bad idea to prepare by lowering your normal dose of whatever your drug of choice is. The lower dose that you’re on when entering detox, the smoother the process is likely to be, making it much easier to keep your symptoms under control and get you ushered into the actual treatment portion of rehab. This doesn’t need to be a drastic change. If you have a week’s notice before entering detox, cut your dose by a small portion each day. On the last day before preparing to enter the facility, cut your entire dose in half. You’re chances of experiencing the most intense feelings of withdrawal are much lower, as you’ll be entering an environment where relief and professional services are available to you right away.
• Enter detox in full-blown withdrawal. This might sound frightening, but it’s actually a wise idea and ultimately works in your favor. If you’re already in full-blown withdrawal when entering a detox facility and the day or hours before entering (assuming you don’t have access to your drug of choice), you’re likely to be far more willing to enter the program so you can experience relief. In addition, if you’re body is already in the throws of withdrawal, physicians can prescribe you a much wider course of relief options than if you still had opioids or opiates in your system. For example, if the doctor decides to put you on a short-course, quick-taper Suboxone regimen, you won’t be able to begin this therapy until your body has fully expelled all traces of opioids.
• Don’t overthink what you’re about to experience. Overthinking the situation is likely to cause higher levels of anxiety. Instead of allowing the “what-ifs” and “maybes” to conquer your thoughts, think of detox as an exciting opportunity to begin that next step in your life. Embrace the opportunity to immerse yourself in an environment full of caring, licensed clinical practitioners and addiction specialists who have your best interests at heart. These people chose this career voluntarily. Naturally, they’re going to be passionate about your recovery. If you can match this passion, your chances of success are much higher, allowing you to walk away with an enriching and life-altering experience for the better.
• Prepare your support structure now. Prepare your family and immediate support system for what you’ll be going through and how things might be when you return from treatment. The sooner this is tackled, the more prepared everybody will be to make adjustments.

Get Help with Detox for Drugs Nationwide Now!

At Rehabs Of Armerica, our team is made up of men and women who are passionate about helping you experience a life-changing treatment program. Every day we refer to top facilities nationwide that are matched precisely to clients’ needs for lasting success and recovery.

For a confidential consultation and to get options for treatment within minutes, reach out now and begin putting withdrawals in your past for good!

Edward P.

Edward lives and works in South Florida and has been a part of its recovery community for many years. With a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts, he works to help Find Addiction Rehabs as both a writer and marketer. Edward loves to share his passion for the field through writing about addiction topics, effective treatment for addiction, and behavioral health as a whole. Alongside personal experience, Edward has deep connections to the mental health treatment industry, having worked as a medical office manager for a psychiatric consortium for many years.