Drug Detox - The First Step to Recovery

Drug Detox - The First Step to Recovery

When you’re a heavy user of drugs, you need a safe and effective way to detoxify. This will help you kick the habit and reduce your risk of relapse.

There are many different kinds of drug detox, including outpatient and inpatient programs. The best one for you depends on your specific needs and goals.

Medically Assisted Detox

Detox is a crucial step in recovery from drug or alcohol abuse. This is because it helps a person to overcome the physical and psychological dependence on a substance and gain independence from the addiction.

Medically Assisted Detox (MAD) is a treatment option that uses medication to help reduce withdrawal symptoms. This can significantly improve the comfort of a patient going through detox.

Often, this is not a necessary component of detox, but it can be helpful for patients who experience extremely uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and are at risk of relapse.

Medication Assisted Treatment is an alternative treatment option that uses FDA-approved medications to help manage opioid and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These medications are used in conjunction with therapy and counseling to keep the brain chemistry balanced so that a patient can focus on recovery and accomplish their goals.

When a person goes through medically assisted detox, they receive round-the-clock medical assistance to reduce uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and allow them to concentrate on recovery and sobriety. This can have an enormous positive impact on a patient’s recovery and future success.

Inpatient Detox

Drug detox is an important first step in a patient’s treatment for addiction. It can be done in a variety of settings with lower or higher levels of medical oversight, depending on the type of substance used and the severity of withdrawal symptoms.

During inpatient detox, patients live in a residential care center with medical and substance abuse professionals on-site. They receive round-the-clock care and monitoring, as well as medication if needed to manage withdrawal symptoms.

When you enter a residential detox program, you’ll have an initial intake assessment to discuss your needs and what you hope to get out of the treatment process. Your treatment team will then develop a plan for both your detox and any follow-up programs you may need to maintain sobriety.

While inpatient detox can be stressful and overwhelming, it’s a safe place to begin your journey toward recovery. It can help you overcome your fears about unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, prepare you for other stages of rehab, and provide a foundation for ongoing success.

Outpatient Detox

A drug detox is a safe, affordable and effective medically supervised treatment option for those struggling with alcohol or drug abuse. It can help people overcome withdrawal symptoms and prepare them for addiction treatment in the future.

During outpatient detox, patients attend therapy sessions at a treatment facility that is separate from their home. This allows for more freedom to work or maintain a normal lifestyle outside of the program.

There are several different types of outpatient detox treatment options available, and each is tailored to meet the individual’s needs. Some centers also offer medication-assisted detox to ease withdrawal symptoms, including benzodiazepines (chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, lorazepam), clonidine, and anti-nausea and anti-diarrheal drugs.

Depending on the type of drug you’ve been using, outpatient detox can last anywhere from 3 to 10 days. This varies by the amount and type of substance that you’ve used, your length of time using it, and how severe your withdrawal symptoms are.

At-Home Detox

Drug detox, or detoxification, is the process of removing toxic substances from your body to help you stop using drugs. This process can be difficult and challenging, but it is the first step to recovery from addiction.

Inpatient programs at rehab facilities provide round the clock medical monitoring to help you stay safe during detoxification and withdrawal. This includes the use of medications to minimize withdrawal symptoms and to help you wean off your drug.

The risk of a dangerous relapse increases when you detox at home, which is why most addiction treatment professionals recommend inpatient or outpatient detox options.

When you detox at home, it is important to have emotional support and motivation from close friends and family. Without them, you may struggle to cope with the stress of completing the detox program on your own and might relapse soon afterward.