What is Drug Detox?
Drug Detox is the process of clearing the body of drugs and alcohol. Detox not only rids the body of these chemicals, it is also a medical process for managing the withdrawal symptoms that occur when the body adjusts to not using drugs and alcohol.
The idea of detox can be a frightening one for many people. Rest assured that detoxing in a professional medical drug detox near West Palm Beach ensures your safety and comfort throughout the process. A medical drug detox program will provide clinical supervision to monitor your vitals and your comfort level. Medications can be prescribed to make the drug detox process much easier.
Ready to make a fresh start? Call 844-SOBER55 to speak with a treatment specialist today!
Drug Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms
Quitting using drugs is an incredible turning point in a person’s life, but it is not without its challenges. For many people, detox and withdrawal are the first challenges on this journey. Fortunately, medical detox programs like the one at The Healing Place make the process much more comfortable and ensure you stick with your goal to overcome drug addiction.
Factors that influence the withdrawal symptoms a person might experience include:
- The type of drug(s) they used
- How long they used drugs
- How much of the drug they used
- Method of drug use (smoking, snorting, injecting, etc)
- Underlying medical conditions
Although withdrawal symptoms will vary from patient to patient depending on the above factors, some of the most common drug detox symptoms include:
- Anxiety or nervousness
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Body aches
- Difficulty concentrating
The Dangers of Detoxing at Home
Detoxing at home without medical support can be extremely uncomfortable and even dangerous. Some drugs including alcohol and certain prescription drugs like benzodiazepines can have more severe side effects like seizures. It’s important to have medical supervision so that clinical staff can monitor your vital signs and prescribe medications to minimize your withdrawal symptoms.
When detoxing at home, people are also more likely to return to drug use. When the discomfort of withdrawal sets in, people are often driven back to their drug of choice just to find relief. If they haven’t used for a few days, the risk of overdose is also higher as their tolerance may be lower than it was the last time they used.
In a medical drug detox program, doctors are also able to slowly taper you off your drug of choice helping to make the entire detox process much gentler and easier.
How Long Does Detox Last?
How long detox lasts depends on a number of factors including which substance a person used and how dependent their body was on the drug. For most people, the drug detox process lasts about a week. It’s important to note, however, that withdrawal symptoms can sometimes persist for weeks or even months after detox. A condition called Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) occurs when mental and emotional withdrawal symptoms either persist or return months after detox is complete. These withdrawal symptoms won’t continue forever, and they are usually short-lived, but it’s important to be aware of them so that you know what you’re experiencing if PAWS happens to you.
The Process of Detoxing From Drugs and Alcohol
Although the process of detox will be different for each person, it can be helpful to have a general idea of what to expect. The process of drug detox is typically comprised of 3 distinct steps.
Step One: Evaluation
In this initial stage of detox, our clinical team with do a thorough assessment of your substance use disorder and any co-occurring mental or physical health concerns that need to be addressed. They will also measure the amount of drugs in your system and use this combined with the information you provide to determine how much medication to use during your drug detox. Your medical team will use all of the information gathered to create a comprehensive individualized treatment plan that’s tailored to your specific needs.
Step Two: Stabilization
The next step is to help you get stable through a combination of medications and therapy. The goal of stabilization is the ensure your safety. During the stabilization period withdrawal symptoms are closely monitored and doctors use detox medications to prevent any complications.
Step Three: Preparing to Enter Rehabilitation Treatment
During detox, you will begin to participate in therapy to explore and heal the underlying mental and emotional drivers behind your addiction. Detox alone cannot treat addiction, drug rehab is what brings about the kind of lasting fundamental changes required to stay clean and sober long term. The final stage of detox helps you prepare to enter inpatient drug rehab where you will focus on your lasting recovery from drug addiction. You will begin participating in a range of one-on-one and group counseling sessions, as well as holistic therapies designed to heal the lasting impacts of trauma on the mind and body.
The Healing Place Drug Detox – West Palm Beach
For West Palm Beach residents ready to take the first step towards a life that’s free from drug addiction, call The Healing Place today. Our medical detox program for drug and alcohol addiction ensures a safe and comfortable detox experience and lays the foundation for our effective drug rehab programs that follow. To learn more call (844) SOBER55 and speak with a treatment specialist anytime, day or night.
877-789-6707
