To withdraw from drugs and alcohol, a detoxification process must be worked through. Heavily advocated as a rehab treatment option, drug and/or alcohol detox programmes are safe to complete and highly effective.
Best to complete through medically assisted services, detoxification helps to eliminate toxins from the body. Withdrawal is essential to get clean, overcome cravings and detach from drugs and alcohol, possible to achieve through the elimination phase.
Following a detox timeline, the process can be worked through with comfort and reassurance in mind through private rehab. Lone attempts or home detox kits should be avoided, due to the complexity and invasiveness of detoxification. Instead through rehab, a straightforward and safe process can be expected.
Here’s what to expect when undergoing a drug or alcohol detox through private rehab, arrangeable here at Addiction Advocates. Further treatment will also be available to work through drug and/or alcohol problems.
What is detoxification?
Detoxification is a medical treatment, recommended to alleviate the physical cravings, urges and actions linked to addiction. It helps the body withdraw, by eliminating toxins and foreign substances. Drugs and alcohol are both toxins, which damage and control internal systems and functions. Eliminating them from the body helps to kickstart recovery and provides the chance to stabilise, post-consumption.
A drug and/or detox will also be a starting point to improving health and wellbeing. As addiction symptoms can become deeply ingrained, and can even amount to co-occurring disorders, detoxification helps to remove the source. By doing so, improved health and wellbeing can be aimed for, by diminishing symptoms.
Whilst following a cold turkey approach has similar intentions, cutting off all exposure and consumption can be difficult to work through. Instead, through a detoxification process, steps are in place to control and support withdrawal.
Here’s what to expect when undergoing a drug or alcohol detox, best completed through a medically assisted detoxification service.
What happens during a medically assisted detox?
A medically assisted detox means that full medical observations and recommendations will be present throughout the process. 24/7 support and care will be provided, to make sure that detoxing is safe and purposeful. An assessment will also take place, prior to withdrawal, to ensure that clients are fit for detoxification.
By eliminating drugs, alcohol and their effects on the body, withdrawal symptoms are expected. Physical withdrawal symptoms can include nausea, headaches, shakes, intense cravings, dizziness, vomiting, high temperature, flu-like symptoms, insomnia, and heart palpitations. Psychological withdrawal symptoms can include irritability, depression, extreme mood swings, short-term memory loss, panic attacks, confusion, and hallucinations.
The withdrawal process can be manageable for some people. Yet severe withdrawal symptoms, such as delirium tremens, can develop, depending on drug choice, method, and individual metabolisms, making it an unmanageable process. With medical assistance, replacement drugs and additional treatments can be included, reducing the risks of discomfort and ill-health.
A pain-free, comfortable, and successful withdrawal process is expected through detoxification. Getting clean and reaching the initial point of sobriety will be possible through completing a detox.
How long does detox take?
There are a number of factors that can impact the expected timeline of a detox. The average detoxification process can be completed and benefitted from through a 7–10-day process.
Yet the drug of choice, method of consumption and some personal factors, such as wellbeing and rate of metabolism can impact the length of a programme.
Some people will respond really well and will be able to cope with withdrawal symptoms. Others may struggle some more, experiencing obstacles along the way. Whilst a professional, medically assisted detox can reduce possible delays, detoxification is a process that cannot be fully controlled and will play out differently for every person.
The consensus is that detoxification is a necessity and will most likely be followed by additional addiction treatment services.
Importance of detoxification
To overcome an addiction, there are two key parts to the recovery process. Detoxification is the first which helps the body, whilst rehabilitation helps the mind. Detoxing is therefore very important to recover the body, restore optimal functionality, and help a user get clean.
Detoxification is a progressive treatment that helps to break the cycle of consumption. Without a process in place, cravings can remain, as can the urge to consume drugs or alcohol. An effective process will withdraw and disengage the body, whilst offering support.
Undergoing a drug or alcohol detox is also important as it’s essential to be prepared and sober to benefit from therapy. Being under the influence can distort outlooks, can result in irrational decisions and can impact the ability to open up. Getting clean, prior to additional treatment sessions will help to improve the effects and response of therapy, relapse prevention planning and aftercare.
Although it can be difficult to consider and/or complete a drug or alcohol detox, due to the prospect of withdrawal symptoms and complete detachment, it will help strengthen recovery. A medically assisted detoxification will also offer the right tools to reach the other side with improved wellbeing.
Knowing what to expect when undergoing a drug or alcohol detox, and its importance will help to tackle the process easier. With the end goal of sobriety, detoxing is the right way to achieve your goals.
Post-detox treatment
Additional treatments will be required to overcome drug and alcohol problems/abuse/addiction. To treat the emotional and mental symptoms and responses, talking therapies and management sessions will be recommended. This step of the process is recognised as rehabilitation.
Through drug rehab or alcohol rehab, a treatment programme can be devised to begin post-detox, ready to treat the psychology behind addiction. Education and planning will also take place through an average recovery programme, increasing awareness and mindfulness of triggers, relapse, and long-term recovery.
At Addiction Advocates, we can help you find the right rehab clinic to complete detox from. If appropriate, additional treatments can also be recommended to offer a comprehensive recovery process.
Reach out for more information on what to expect when undergoing a drug or alcohol detox, specific to your drug of choice and method. Whilst every process will differ, detoxing will be beneficial.
