Is Detox Required To Attend Drug Rehab?
When to Consider Drug Detox
While many individuals with alcohol and drug addiction choose to go through detox programs, it is not necessary for every instance. Drug and alcohol detox is designed to remove physical dependence on substances before inpatient or outpatient rehab. Some people go through medically assisted detox to manage their withdrawal symptoms. Also, the detoxification process at a treatment center can ensure the patient will not relapse while going through drug or alcohol withdrawal.
There are several reasons why you may want to consider medication-assisted treatment detox at a treatment center. Certain drug addictions, including alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opiates, have very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and can be dangerous or even fatal if you detox at home. Under a medically supervised inpatient treatment detox, medical professionals will monitor your vitals around the clock to administer medication-assisted treatment to offset drug withdrawals and take the appropriate steps in a medical emergency. These more dangerous symptoms usually occur from severe drug addiction. Still, there is no way to predict severe symptoms with certainty, so a medically supervised inpatient treatment detox is recommended for this type of substance abuse.
You may also want to consider medication-assisted detox at a treatment center if you have attempted to stop using drugs and alcohol on your own and quickly relapsed. Addiction treatments, including detoxing from drugs in inpatient treatment, can help ensure you do not relapse by reducing withdrawal symptoms and by eliminating access to substances that may be tempting.
How Drug Detox Works
The drug detoxification process works by eliminating all toxic substances from your system to stop the physical dependence on substance abuse. When you check into a medically supervised detox, medical staff will complete a thorough physical and psychological assessment of you and create personalized detox programs that fit your drug or alcohol addiction needs. Once you start exhibiting symptoms from withdrawals from the detox process, they can begin to administer medications that will ease discomfort or give you prophylactic medications like benzodiazepines to prevent complications like seizures.
As your body learns to function without drugs or alcohol again, you will begin to feel better and will not need some or all the medications. You will also have around-the-clock support during the detoxification process. Research has shown supportive and compassionate care is just as crucial as medication-assisted treatment for successful addiction recovery. You can also detox at home through an outpatient treatment, where you visit the treatment center every few days to check in with medical professionals and pick up your medication-assisted treatment.
What to Expect During Drug Detox
Drug and alcohol detox can last anywhere from three to 14 days. How long the detox process will last depends on which substance was being abused, the severity of addiction, the presence of co-occurring disorders, and the person’s overall health. Symptoms from withdrawals can start within hours of last use and last about a week or two, with some more mild symptoms lingering for weeks or even months after. Each substance has its own withdrawal symptoms, but in general, you can expect some of the following symptoms:
- Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
- Increased heart rate or blood pressure
- Fever and chills
- Muscle and bone pain
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Unpleasant dreams and nightmares
- Sweating
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Paranoia and confusion
- Agitation
- Depression
- Extreme mood swings
- Intense cravings for the substance
The most severe withdrawal symptoms include:
- Seizures
- Delirium
- Hallucinations
Going to Drug Rehab at Novo Detox
At Novo Detox, we have helped many clients comfortably and safely go through the withdrawal process from various drugs and alcohol through our addiction recovery programs. Our luxury rehab offers around-the-clock care and a comprehensive addiction treatment plan tailored to your needs. Novo Detox’s advanced Bio-Genetic testing will use your DNA to select the safest and most effective medication for your body so you can successfully withdraw from substance abuse. Detoxing from drugs is just the first step in addiction recovery; you can easily transition into one drug rehab program that offers dual diagnosis treatment to treat the underlying causes of drug addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please give us a call at (844) 834-1777 today.
