Do you or a loved one struggle with drugs or alcohol? Have you tried to stop on your own, but have had no success? Having an addiction comes with many hardships. One of the many is losing the ability to choose.
Once a person’s body forms a physical dependence to drugs or alcohol, it becomes very difficult for that individual to stop using all on their own. While they may want to, and have the best intentions on stopping, their addiction gets the best of them.
That is why it is imperative to seek the help of addictions and medical professionals who are skilled in treating substance use disorders, and trained in supervising a medical detox.
Attempting to detox on your own or “cold turkey” is not only painful, but it can be life threatening.
Here’s what you need to know about a medical detox, and why it is so important.
Understanding A Medical Detox
So what exactly goes into a medical detox and why is it necessary for someone who is struggling with addiction?
The purpose of a medical detox is to assist a patient in safely removing substances from their body that they have been abusing for an extended period of time. Those substances can include alcohol, heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and other various drugs. This is a crucial and necessary first step in the recovery process. Without it, those seeking to stop abusing drugs and alcohol often fail to remain abstinent.
During a medical detox, a trained medical team will oversee a patient in a controlled environment, with the use of various methods, including the utilization of specific medications. These methods are utilized to safely assist the patient in managing their acute physical symptoms of withdrawal.
Considering that each patient and their background is unique, a medical detox protocol must be customized to fit the individual. What may be beneficial for one person, could be potentially dangerous for another. Thus a thorough assessment of the patient’s drug use history, medical history, and psychological history will be taken upon admission into a qualified rehab center.
Withdrawal Symptoms of Various Drugs
During a medical detox, there are various signs and symptoms that the medical staff will monitor and treat. While some withdrawal symptoms are universal, each drug can have its own set of symptoms to be aware of.
Alcohol
While alcohol is legal for consumption, it has some of the most dangerous withdrawal symptoms. They can include nausea, vomiting, anxiety, sweating, insomnia, loss of appetite, convulsions, seizures, tremors, hallucinations, and death.
Heroin & Opiates
Withdrawal symptoms for heroin and prescription opiates can include vomiting, diarrhea, restless legs, muscle & joint pain, sweating, insomnia, anxiety, body chills, sneezing, loss of appetite, and irritability.
Suboxone, which is often used to treat opioid addiction, can have similar withdrawal symptoms when abused or used for extended periods of time.
Cocaine & Crack Cocaine
Withdrawal symptoms for cocaine and crack cocaine include, depression, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, paranoia, agitation, and loss of appetite.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin are prescribed to treat anxiety. Nevertheless, when a patient stops taking their medication abruptly, they can experience withdrawal. Similar to alcohol, some symptoms can be fatal when not properly supervised.
Those symptoms can include, anxiety, irritability, sweating, insomnia, panic, muscle pain, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, tremors, and seizures.
Methamphetamines
Methamphetamines, such as crystal meth, can have a variety of withdrawal symptoms.
Some include, severe depression, anxiety, lack of energy, hallucinations, sleep disturbances, intense cravings and obsessions.
Marijuana
Although it is a common belief that marijuana does not cause withdrawal symptoms, that is simply not the case.
After prolonged use, a marijuana user can experience agitation, loss of appetite, obsessions and cravings, anxiety, and insomnia during a state of withdrawal.
Synthetic Drugs (Synthetic Marijuana, Bath Salts, Flakka)
Withdrawal symptoms can include fatigue, anxiety, irritability, nausea and vomiting, excessive sweating, suicidal thoughts/actions, violent behavior.
Quitting Cold Turkey
While your disease may have you believe that it is possible to quit on your own, attempting to detox “cold turkey” is strongly advised against. Not only is it often ineffective, but it can be extremely dangerous and life threatening in certain circumstances.
Detoxing from alcohol can lead to grand mal seizures, hallucinations, and gastric bleeds, while detoxing from particular prescription drugs can pose similar health consequences. Withdrawal symptoms can vary depending upon the person, and only increase in severity with greater levels of use and abuse history.
Under the supervision of trained medical professionals, these potentially fatal symptoms can be monitored and treated accordingly.
If you are considering to detox on your own, please reconsider your options. There are plenty of qualified treatment centers available that would be more than happy to assist you in this time of need. There is no shame in asking for help. Many have come before you that have felt the same, and they were only able to achieve lasting sobriety through the help of others.
A Medical Detox at Clearbrook
If you or someone you love is currently experiencing any of the symptoms we have discussed, it is imperative to seek help immediately from a drug and alcohol facility that offers a full medical detox.
Here at Clearbrook Treatment Centers, we can provide you or your loved one with the utmost care and highest quality of medical and clinical services available. From the moment you call us and walk through our doors, your care and wellbeing becomes our number one priority.
At the time of admission, you will meet with our highly trained medical personnel, in our new 22-bed state-of-the-art detox unit. After completing a full assessment and screening, our trusted doctors will be able to devise comprehensive and customized treatment protocols. These protocols are created to offer you the best chance toward lasting recovery, and ease the discomforts of withdrawal. When necessary, our medical team will also prescribe medications that have proven to effectively aid in the detox process.
Once you have completed a full medical detox and have been cleared by our doctors, you will begin the next step in your recovery process through our rehabilitation phase of treatment.
Contact Clearbrook Today
Are you or a loved one struggling with a drug or alcohol problem? If so, we can help.
With 45 years of experience, Clearbrook Treatment Centers can provide you or your loved with the highest quality of addiction treatment services. From a full medical detox, to residential clinical services and aftercare programming, you will be offered a full continuum of care.
Through this process, you will have all of the necessary tools to achieve lasting sobriety.
Please contact our Admission Specialists today and get on the road to recovery.
