What is drug detox?
When I first started hearing people talk about drug detox, I was unsure of what they meant. I, however, only became aware of the phrase after a member of my family needed assistance due to drug misuse.
At that point, I desperately searched for a drug detox near me to assist me. During this difficult time, I came to understand what drug detox is—letting the body rid itself of drugs as a healthy way to handle withdrawal symptoms from drug addiction.
According to a brochure authored by a rehab facility offering detoxification near me, detox treatment is the first step in overcoming a substance use disorder.The institution confirms what I discovered during a conference that was organized by several detox centers in California, which is that a person’s brain can be altered by drug usage, making it challenging for them to operate normally when they are not using the substance. Detoxification gradually removes the substance from the addict's body.
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Types of drug detox
I was curious and wanted to persuade a loved one to enroll in a detox program near me, so I went to a community engagement event put on by several Los Angeles detox centers. It was at this event that I first became aware of the four types of detox during this engagement: medical detox, drug tapering, at-home detox, and cold turkey.
When undergoing medical detox, the patient must remain in the rehab center while having their withdrawal symptoms monitored closely. Drug tapering, on the other hand, involves the patient gradually using less and less of the drug they are addicted to, over time, under the supervision of a medical professional.
While cold turkey involves the patient immediately ceasing use of the drug to which they are addicted, at-home detox involves the patient going through the detox program while remaining at home.
What to expect during detox
I discovered that it's critical to inform patients who are struggling with drug addiction know what to expect during detox programs from the community interactions the drug rehab centers in Los Angeles planned. When the patients know what to expect, it enables individuals to strengthen their resolve to complete the process.
According to a drug detox center near me, the detoxification process can take anywhere from days to weeks. During this process, the addicted person’s body adjusts to life without the abused drug, which causes the individual to experience a series of side effects and withdrawal symptoms that could range from mild to severe.
Some of the side effects a patient may experience include changes in the brain, which affect mood and behaviors. This means that if the individual relies on the abused substance to feel normal, detoxification could cause physical and psychological side effects like such symptoms of psychosis as hallucinations or paranoia, erratic and unpredictable behavior, severe pain, and suicidal thoughts or actions.
Aside from the side effects, the patient may experience mild to severe withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms generally include anxiety, mood changes, trouble sleeping, feeling depressed, muscle aches, excessive sweating, feelings of restlessness, changes in blood pressure or heart rate, tremors, and hallucinations.
Dangers of improper detox
Leading California detox centers posit that an individual with a substance use disorder may have serious withdrawal effects if they try to quit the substance abruptly or on their own. The dangers of detox could range from physical to psychological symptoms.
California recovery centers have reported that addicts who experience severe psychological symptoms tend to want to harm themselves. That is why it is always better to work with a medical professional to develop a proper drug detox plan and have supervision during the process.
Some of the dangers of improper detox include psychosis, severe pain, suicidal thoughts or actions, and delirium tremens. Delirium tremens involves a person experiencing agitation, tremors, a fast heart rate, and high blood pressure.
Dangers of detoxing at home
Detoxing at home without the supervision of a medical professional is dangerous. That is because within 24–48 hours of detox, side effects like delirium tremens could be deadly unless medical supervision is available.
Leading California recovery centers posit that this period could be deadly, as it has been associated with a mortality rate of 37% when not treated.
How long detoxification lasts
How long drug detox takes usually depends on the substance used, the amount the individual uses, and the length of time the substance has been used. It could also depend on the affected individual’s physical and mental state at the time they start the detox.
According to a leading detox program near me, people who are highly motivated to begin the detox process generally tend to handle the detox symptoms better than people who are reluctant to quit the substance they are addicted to.
Need help with an effective detox program?
The first step to recovering from a substance use disorder and leading a healthier life is detox. It can be challenging to sustain this lifestyle after detox and avoid relapsing into old substance use patterns. So that you can continue to receive support for recovery following detox, you need to check into an addiction treatment facility for your detox.
At LA Valley Recovery, you can be helped through a number of therapies to address underlying conditions or reasons that may have caused you to use the abused substances in the first place. Get help byclicking here to fill out a contact form or calling 844-777-5287 to speak to one of their articulatedrug detoxprogram experts.