Physical dependence is a condition that occurs as a result of long-term drug or alcohol abuse. It usually takes some time to develop, depending on the potency of the drug in question. Dependence is also not limited to illicit drug abuse but can also occur in people who take prescription drugs like opioids or benzos for long periods or if they misuse these medications. While the withdrawals caused by dependence can make recovery difficult, an efficient and safe way to help these individuals begin healing is with medical detox for drugs and alcohol at our Northeast addictions treatment centers.
What Is Medical Detox?
A person who frequently abuses drugs or alcohol will eventually develop a physical dependence. Physical dependence refers to the body’s chronic need for a substance. This need is a result of a developed tolerance, which occurs when a person continues to use more substances to experience the same high they experienced when they first used drugs or drank excessively.
Not only can dependence be physical, but it can also be mental, as many people begin using drugs or alcohol to cope with mental illness or trauma. Physical dependence is also marked by various withdrawal symptoms, which range in severity and nature depending on the type of drug, how much the person has used or drank, and how long they’ve been addicted. These withdrawals are often uncomfortable and painful enough to cause relapse and make recovery difficult.
For this reason, it’s common for individuals with drug or alcohol dependence to continue using these substances long-term, eventually developing an addiction. In these cases, the individual can greatly benefit from the assistance of medical drug detox to recover.
Medical detox for drugs is a medically assisted treatment in which the patient slowly weans off of drugs or alcohol. As these substances are naturally flushed out of the person’s system, they may experience physical side effects called withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and can lead to complications without treatment.
Common detox symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Body aches and shaking
- Depression
- Excessive sweating
- Fevers
- Hallucinations
- Headaches
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Nausea and vomiting
These symptoms occur because the body is adjusting to the sudden lack of drugs or alcohol as well as changes in chemical levels that are accustomed to being overly stimulated or depressed. Complications concerning these symptoms are more likely to occur if the individual attempts to detox at home or quit cold turkey.
Medically assisted detox treatments, like the detox programs at Clearbrook Treatment Centers, are led by staff who are trained and licensed to administer appropriate medications to mitigate withdrawal symptoms. Medical detox is a valuable aspect of treating addiction because it offers patients 24-hour supervision and mitigates the severity of addiction cravings.
Finding Medical Detox Centers Near Me
So, how does detox work? At both Clearbrook Massachusetts and Clearbrook Pennsylvania, we understand that the detox process can be scary and uncomfortable. All the more reason to come to our drug rehabilitation facilities to get professional help with such a crucial process.
Medical detox for drugs and alcohol at both of our facilities provides 24-hour care and support to help patients safely get through the withdrawal phase of recovery. During this stage of substance abuse treatment, our doctors also administer detox drugs or medications as needed to offer relief to patients as they’re going through withdrawal.
Regardless of the location, patients will receive the safest form of medical detox at Clearbrook Treatment Centers. Before a detox, we conduct clinical assessments to collect all the information we need to create an addiction treatment plan that meets the patient’s needs. Following this evaluation, patients may then begin their treatment with detox for drug addiction or alcohol abuse.
Detox is only the first step to treating addiction. After patients complete a medical detox, they can then move on to our residential addiction treatment. This is an inpatient rehab program that separates patients from their everyday environments to prevent distractions and promote full recovery.
For more information about our medical drug detox centers or other levels of addiction treatment, contact Clearbrook Treatment Centers now.
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