8 Things You Should Know About Detox

Cleansing the body before beginning substance-specific addiction treatment is an important step in the recovery process.

Cleansing the body before beginning substance-specific addiction treatment is an important step in the recovery process. Addiction recovery is often made more challenging by withdrawals and cravings. Medical detox treatments are centered on helping patients safely get through this phase of recovery to achieve long-term recovery. If you aren't familiar with this process, our Christian drug rehab is sharing 8 things you should know about detox.

What Is a Medically Monitored Detox?

A medically monitored detox is a form of treatment that helps patients slowly and safely wean off of drugs and alcohol. This form of detoxification is different from other detox treatments because it includes medical professionals who may administer medication to patients as needed. The purpose of a medically monitored detox is to treat uncomfortable and painful withdrawal symptoms and addiction cravings.

When a person stops using drugs or alcohol after a long period of substance abuse, their body may act out and they may exhibit physical and behavioral symptoms called withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and even painful. The severity of these symptoms is dependent on the duration of the person’s addiction and the substance in question.

Some common withdrawal symptoms that may occur during detox include:

• Irritability
• Headache
• Fever
• Chills and shakes
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue and exhaustion
• Stomach pains and digestive issues
• Muscle aches and pains
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Nausea and vomiting

Another common symptom of withdrawal is also addiction cravings. Quitting drugs and alcohol after a long period of substance abuse often causes addiction cravings. By being in a supervised form of treatment that includes medical assistance for withdrawal symptoms, clients can also learn how to cope with addiction cravings in a medically assisted detox.

At Faith in Recovery, we offer a medically monitored detox in Pompano Beach that has helped numerous patients quit drugs and alcohol and take the first step towards recovery. This is an essential phase in treating addiction that increases patients’ likelihood of long-lasting sobriety.

8 Important Things You Should Know About Detox

The idea of a drug or alcohol detox can be terrifying to a person who’s struggled with addiction for a long time. Below we’ve listed what you should know about detox for drugs and alcohol that can make the idea of this treatment less intimidating.

Medically monitored detox is the first step in addiction treatment

Most if not all people who go to an addiction treatment center begin their programs with medical detox. Detox programs require that patients are completely abstaining from drugs and alcohol, which is required for any form of addiction treatment. Detox treatments also focus on the physical symptoms of quitting substance abuse that would otherwise make rehab programs difficult. By first treating the body’s immediate reactions to a lack of drugs and alcohol, the patient’s chances of completing their rehab program and staying sober increase.

Medical detox is big on comfort

Medical detox is not just focused on helping patients detox, but it also prioritizes comfort. As a faith-based drug rehab, we understand that this process is mentally and physically difficult. Not only can symptoms be painful, but they can also be psychologically disturbing to the individual. Also, if the person happens to relapse following treatment, they may be less likely to return for more help if they had a horrible experience the first time. Professional medical detox centers like ours focus just as much on patient comfort as they do on treating addiction.

Detox isn’t the same for everyone

Everyone’s body is different and therefore the discomfort and longevity of withdrawal symptoms may vary. Withdrawal symptoms may also depend on the substance the individual is detoxing from. For example, alcohol and opioids are among the most difficult substances to detox from because they’re both extremely addictive. While no one should expect to have the same detox experience as someone else, a medical detox does increase the likelihood of a safe withdrawal process.

Detox should be followed by treatment, therapy, or both

Although detox is the first step in addiction treatment, it isn’t the last. In order to increase the person’s chances of staying sober, medical detox should always be followed by addiction treatment or therapy. At our Christian addiction treatment center, we offer various levels of care that patients may be placed in depending on the success of their detox treatment and which substance they’re addicted to. Detox has to be supported by a rehab program or addiction therapy to give the individual the best chance of long-lasting sobriety.

Detox should be administered by medical professionals

An alcohol or drug detox should always be done under the care of medical professionals. Detoxing at home is dangerous and increases the likelihood of physical complications. Detoxing without medical assistance increases the risk of relapse, overdose, and physical repercussions that could land you in the emergency room. As the saying goes, do not try this at home.

Chances of overdose increase if relapse occurs after detox

One of the most important things you should know about drug detox is that the chances of overdose increase if a relapse occurs after the person has undergone a medical detox. Detox reduces the tolerance a person has developed to drugs or alcohol through years of substance abuse. If a person who’s undergone detox begins using drugs or drinking again, a dose that they were once used to can now be fatal.

Duration of detox is different for everyone

How long withdrawal symptoms last during detox can also vary depending on how long the person engaged in substance abuse as well as the substance in question. The opioid withdrawal timeline may be different for a person who’s abused them for five years compared to a person who’s abused them for a year. However, the detox withdrawal timeline also depends on whether the person has used other substances as well.

Medical detox programs prioritize a patient’s privacy

In professional medical detox programs, a patient’s privacy is also prioritized. The psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms a person experiences in detox can cause them to do and say things they normally wouldn’t. The last thing medical detox centers should do is expose any behaviors the patient may feel embarrassed or ashamed about. At our Christian rehab center, whatever happens in detox stays in detox.

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A medically monitored detox is only the first step to treating addiction. If you or a loved one is battling addiction, Faith in Recovery offers medical detox as well as various addiction programs that cover different types of substance abuse disorders. To learn more about our treatments and facility, call us now at 888-280-4763.