When it comes to treating addiction, detox is the first step. Once clients withdraw from their substance of choice, they may experience a number of detox symptoms. A high-quality rehab program can help break the cycle of addiction. Detox and rehab centers offer unique support for medical detox for drugs and alcohol.
What Is Medical Detox?
Medical detoxification for drugs and alcohol involves removing the presence of drugs from the body. Depending on the severity of detox symptoms, medical staff members may give medication to help ease withdrawal symptoms. Nurses and medical staff members help guide the process. Clients will safely detox from drugs and alcohol with the right care in a medical detox program.
At Santé Center for Healing, we offer several detox programs such as:
- Medication-assisted detox
- Alcohol detox
- Heroin detox
- Meth detox
- Opioid and opiate detox
What Are the Drug Detox Symptoms?
Withdrawal symptoms can vary based on the severity of the addiction and the type of addiction. Individuals may have physical or psychological symptoms. The length of the addiction and the individual’s physiological makeup can affect detox symptoms. However, for most individuals, physical withdrawal symptoms are the most challenging. Because these symptoms can be intense, when individuals attempt to self-detox or go ‘cold turkey,’ they fail and relapse. Some of the most common symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- Chills or sweats
- Depression and irritability
- Nausea
- Aching muscles or joints
- Mood swings and anxiety
Don’t Detox On Your Own
While some people may not experience intense withdrawal symptoms, it is unlikely that this will be the case for most. Thus, it’s vital to have professional, medically-supervised detox. Not only will this reduce the risk of relapse, but it will also reduce the risk of overdose.
When an individual detoxes for any amount of time, their body’s relationship to the drug alters. While still dependent, brain chemistry does alter meaning it needs less of the drug than it did before. However, there is no way for individuals to feel or know this. Thus, when they relapse to alleviate the pain or discomfort they are feeling from their withdrawal symptoms, they take a dosage they’re used to.
Unfortunately, this dosage is no longer the amount the body requires. The shock from the drug to the system can lead to severe consequences requiring hospitalization.
What Causes Withdrawal Detox Symptoms?
When people suffer an addiction, chasing a high soon becomes a distant memory. Instead, it becomes a process where the substance must be taken merely to feel normal. The body learns that it needs these drugs in order to not feel ill.
Over time, the body stops producing endorphins on its own. This becomes an issue when it’s time for detox. When someone starts to detox, the body no longer remembers how to make endorphins. Consequently, the individual experiences withdrawal symptoms.
It’s a difficult process because the body is forced to readjust to life without drugs or alcohol. At first, the body doesn’t like this and users suffer. At the peak of discomfort, some people give up on detox and return to substance use. Trying to detox on your own is considerably more different. Consequently, many people don’t successfully detox on their own. That’s why professional medical detox is so important.
Depending on the drug used and the severity of the addiction, detox varies. These symptoms may last for several days or even weeks. Having experts monitoring you and keeping you safe during this process in a professional medical detox center is highly recommended.
Getting Medical Detox Programs
Once someone realizes they have an addiction, all they have to do is get help. The right detox program can help with withdrawal symptoms and long-term recovery. Since many clients also have co-occurring illnesses, the best help is available in dual-diagnosis programs.
Depending on the rehab center, clients can get help through programs such as:
- Individualized therapy
- Intensive outpatient programs
- Nutritional support and therapy
- Trauma and group therapy
- Family support
- Transitional living
In the right program, clients also get help with long-term planning. They work to figure out what life will look like after rehab. These professional programs offer therapies like yoga, ropes courses, and art therapy. Each client is unique, so individualized treatment is important.
Recovery Begins With Medical Detox
You don’t have to view detox as an impossible task that you’re doomed to fail. It doesn’t have to be that way. Addiction does not have to control your life. With the right detox and rehab treatment, you’ll go on to have a healthy and happy life.
Isn’t it time to put addiction in your rearview mirror and look ahead to a brighter and better future? With our help, you can successfully overcome your addiction. To find out how Santé Center for Healing can help with your addiction recovery, call 866.238.3154 today.
