Detoxification is necessary before a person gets on the road to recovery. A fair amount of addictive substances are developed in the body during the abuse. Patients need to throw out all those substances to recover.
In most cases, the addict abuses drugs or alcohol for several years. Detoxification of these substances is the foundation of any recovery program.
But, if the process of detox is mishandled, it can make the situation worse. A drug rehab Orange County knows how to deal with this. They begin with medically supervised detox to yield the best outcomes.
Detox is viewed as the most critical and vulnerable stage for anyone who is trying to achieve the long-lasting sobriety. The long and short-term goals of the addiction recovery process depend heavily on how carefully you undergo the detoxification.
What Is Detox?
The process of allowing the body to remove the addictive substances in it is called detox or detoxification. Detox under medical assistance helps patients deal with withdrawal symptoms effectively.
The experience of detox can be different for all. It depends on what drug was used and how long the person was using it.
While the drugs leaving the body can be painful, the medication provides relief during this time. The detox can take months or even years. The following factors are responsible for how long the body shows withdrawal symptoms:
- Amount of substance taken per dose
- Medical condition
- Family history
- Duration of addiction
- Genetic makeup
- Abuse method (smoking, snorting, swallowing, or injecting)
- The severity of the addiction
- Mental health
- Types of substances
No matter how easy it looks, do not try to undergo the process of detox on your own. Have a word with professionals to get the medically assisted detox.
Is It Okay To Undergo Detox At Home?
Home detox can be dangerous. Quitting drugs or alcohol without the right medical assistance (also known as “Cold Turkey”) can result in severe dehydration or worse, seizures.
Inpatient and outpatient detoxification programs are run to avoid such needless challenges. Outpatient detox is ideal for mild addiction cases. People with extreme addiction should seek detox from inpatient programs as it includes 24-hour medical assistance.
Complete Detoxification Process
This process is customized to the needs of an individual. Mostly, it includes 3 steps as following:
Evaluation
This is done to check if the patient has any mental or physical issues. Plus, a team of medical professionals test a patient’s blood to determine the amount of drugs present in the body. It is necessary to decide the medications.
Stabilization
This involves several therapies that help to stabilize the patient. Such psychological and medical therapies prevent patients from the pain associated with withdrawal symptoms. Sometimes, this stage also requires medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms and other complications.
Treatment Preparation
This is the final step that prepares the patient for the upcoming treatment plan. Doctors help them with all the information so that they know what to expect after detox.
Final Words
Detox is not a complete treatment. It is only the first part. Therefore, just the detox is never sufficient for the full recovery from drugs or alcohol addiction. Patients must work on the psychological aspect of the addiction.
Options like support groups, inpatient rehab, counseling are ideal to accomplish your goals and complete your journey to recovery.
Achieve sobriety with our addiction care experts. Call us and get help for your loved ones.