What is Detox?
Detoxification, or detox, is the process of allowing the body to eliminate the build-up of drugs, chemicals, or alcohol. When someone stops using drugs or alcohol, the goal of a drug and alcohol detox center is to safely treat withdrawal symptoms.
Everyone's experience with detox is unique and depends on many factors such as the drug that was used and the length of time that it was abused. Detox medications assist in keeping former users at ease as the drugs depart their bodies. More significantly, going "cold turkey" can be fatal, especially when it comes to alcohol, thus medically supervised detox is a necessity. S2L Recovery has medical professionals as well as a 24-hour nursing staff on duty to help patients manage withdrawal symptoms as comfortably as possible. Detox should always be followed up with a treatment program.
Importance of Detoxing
Getting the current drugs or alcohol out of your system is crucial before starting addiction therapy. After the last usage, many drugs stay in the body for days or weeks. Drug withdrawal is a physiological response to the sudden quitting and/or slowing of use of a substance to which the body has grown dependent on. The various types of withdrawal manifestations may involve combinations of physical, mental and emotional symptoms. Some of these symptoms include tremors, sweating, irritability, fatigue, hunger or loss of appetite, muscle pain, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, depression, anxiety, confusion, paranoia and in severe cases seizures or stroke. This is why it is imperative that an individual be under the supervision of a licensed medical professional during the detoxification process. Additionally, being under a doctor's supervision guarantees adherence to the detoxification and treatment plan.
What To Expect From S2L Recovery
It can take days or months to get through withdrawal symptoms for most drugs. The length of withdrawal depends on a number of factors, including:
- Type of substance the user abuses
- Duration an addiction has lasted
- The severity of the addiction
- Method of abuse (snorting, smoking, injecting, or swallowing)
- The amount of a substance the user takes at one time
- Family history
- Genetic makeup
- Medical condition
- Underlying mental health conditions
Our promise to you is that every individual will be treated with love, respect and without judgment. Our physician and nurses will tailor a treatment plan that is appropriate and personalized for you.
Drug Detox
Depending on the drug or drugs that the user is abusing, a drug detox program's particular details will vary. This is why it's crucial to have a personalized addiction treatment plan. Most of the time, the detoxification process takes a few days to one week. The doctors and nurses will use a variety of medications to help the individual safely wean off of the substance that was being abused. In some instances, a short course of suboxone or methadone may be needed.
Alcohol Detox
The risk for misuse is increased by the fact that alcohol abuse is so common in the United States. Alcohol detoxification can be the most difficult because withdrawal symptoms like delirium tremens can be fatal. Delirium Tremens (DT’s) is a rare but very serious reaction to alcohol withdrawal that causes profound confusion, visual hallucinations, high blood pressure, increased heart rate , agitation and even cardiovascular collapse. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, most individuals going through alcohol detox will be finished in four to seven days.
After Detox
After completing a detox program, it is very important that the individual in recovery transitions to a treatment center to complete the recovery process. The general public has a widespread misunderstanding that drug and alcohol addiction are mainly related to physical cravings for the substance. Since only a very minor portion of the recovery process involves physical withdrawal, ongoing care is always required to restore the brain and mental health.
Typically, the patient needs therapy and group support programs to learn coping mechanisms for temptation and difficulties that don't include drug use. Both outpatient clinics and residential treatment facilities are viable options for providing this therapy and support. Detoxification is unlikely to result in long-lasting changes without subsequent therapy, and the user is more likely to relapse soon after the initial detox. However, participation in a treatment program can vastly improve the odds that the detoxification will lead to a permanent cessation of drug and/or alcohol use. Contact us at 888-241-8546 for more information.
Enroll in the Drug and Alcohol Detox Center at S2L Recovery
One of the most typical entry points for people who want to stop using drugs and alcohol is a detox. There can be a lot of anxiety surrounding the detoxification process. At S2L Recovery, we will provide you with high-quality care from medical professionals and most importantly meet you where you are in the recovery process so that together we can meet your needs. Stop letting addiction control how you live. Our proven therapies can help you conquer substance abuse for good. We would love to help you find freedom from addiction and the hold that it has on your life! Call S2L Recovery at 888-241-8546 and take the first step towards the life you were meant to live.