Medical monitoring is essential during the initial phase of addiction therapy. It is also known as detox or medication-assisted addiction treatment. With relapse rates for drug and alcohol usage between 40% and 60%,
the need for proper treatment is pivotal.
Read on to learn more about a detox procedure, from expectations and side effects to why a drug detox program might be the best course of treatment for a drug addict.
What is Drug Detox?
Detoxification from drugs refers to the body’s natural process of eliminating drug-caused chemicals from the system. It is the first step in the long recovery process and is monitored and completed within a medically supervised and secure rehabilitation center. Drug detox can occur at a designated facility whether the patient has been admitted there or is just visiting for treatment purposes.
Drug detoxification aims to make the withdrawal experience as safe and comfortable as possible. At the same time, the treatment reduces the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Drug detox programs that include medical supervision and the assistance of experts have the best success ratio compared to seeking other forms of treatment.
Drug Detox Side Effects
During a drug detox, there may be different withdrawal symptoms and side effects the patient will experience. A few factors can also determine the intensity and duration of such side effects. Here are the most common withdrawal symptoms of a drug detox.
- Mental health changes. The chemical makeup of a person’s brain is profoundly altered by medication. For this reason, their use can quickly become habit-forming. The brain will have trouble recovering during detox since the drug’s impact during addiction has been deeply embedded in the user’s brain processes. The brain of a detox patient is expected to go into disarray. In serious cases, a chemical imbalance can lead to symptoms like anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies.
- Drug cravings. Intense drug cravings can happen during detox as the brain attempts to restore drug-free equilibrium. Both the actual desire and the preoccupation with drugs can escalate during detox. This side effect is challenging to overcome without the help of a mediator, so being admitted to a detox center is strongly suggested.
- Physical withdrawal symptoms. Constipation, migraines, muscular spasms, stomach aches, sweating, and other physical withdrawal symptoms can manifest during detox. Here, the patient’s physiological dependence on the drugs can amplify these already severe symptoms. Medical detox can alleviate the discomfort, which can fade within a few days of the last use.
Detox: How Long Does It Last?
While detoxification programs can help people cleanse effectively, they are not risk-free. In a typical 5-day detox program, patients will go through the following steps:
- Evaluation. This includes the patient’s current health status and the degree to which their substance abuse has affected their well-being. A treatment strategy will also be presented here.
- Stabilization. This stage refers to the process of completing detox safely and minimizing withdrawal symptoms by the use of approved therapies and drugs.
- Therapy preparation. The phase consists of planning for treatment and talking to doctors about the expectations.
Choose Reliable Drug Detox Programs in Ventura
Ar Altitude Recovery, we put huge effort into ensuring that every patient who walks through our doors benefits from our designated detox program.
Our Ventura drug detox program at our Camarillo treatment center includes holistic and scientifically-proven practices that help eradicate the need for drugs and ensure the continued development and improvement of those affected.
Trust our supportive drug detox program to provide you with all medical and expert support needed. Contact us today to learn more!
