What Is Medical Detox for Alcohol and Drug Addiction?

Everything You Need to Know About Medical Detox

When it comes to getting clean and staying sober, good intentions are not enough. From legal drugs like alcohol and prescription pain medications to illicit substances like cocaine and heroin, drugs take a powerful hold on the people who use them, and breaking the chains of those dependencies is not an easy thing to do.

If you are suffering from any form of a substance use disorder, the chances are good that you have tried to stop a time or two. Maybe you went cold turkey, only to fall back into your use when the worst of the withdrawal symptoms began. Perhaps you tried the slow taper method, but your lack of medical training made that approach ineffective. If you are ready to abandon these DIY attempts at detox, we invite you to learn what is medical detox, and it can get you clean and keep you drug and alcohol-free for life.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, call WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab today at 877.969.1993 to learn how we can help.

What Is Detox?

When you have been using substances like drugs and alcohol, detox is your body’s attempt to heal, but what is medical detox? When you stop using drugs or alcohol all at once, you may experience a variety of painful and even dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Without the proper medical support, your recovery could be over before it begins.

Detox can be uncomfortable, but it does not have to be debilitating, not when you have professional help and guidance by your side, keeping you safe, comfortable, and supported every step along the way.

Medical Detox vs. Going Cold Turkey

There are many approaches to getting off drugs or quitting drinking, but not all of them are equally effective; in fact, some are not effective at all. If you have ever tried to stop using drugs or alcohol all at once – the cold turkey method – you probably know just how inefficient the process can be.

Medical detox is different since it’s designed with the comfort, safety, and support of the addict and alcoholic in mind. Through the use of specific prescription medications, our staff can keep you safe and comfortable throughout the entire process, giving your body the time it needs to heal and setting you up for success throughout the rest of your rehab journey.

What Happens in Medical Detox?

It is essential to know what to expect from the medical detox process, and the more you know, the more comfortable you will be with this practical approach to achieving sobriety. When you work with WhiteSands, your journey to a better life will begin with a thorough medical examination, one designed to gauge the current state of your physical, mental and emotional health.

Armed with this information, we will develop a customized form of medical detox just for you, one that is aided by the use of specific prescription medications and one that has been carefully devised with your ultimate comfort and safety in mind. Guided by these parameters, your detox journey will begin, and before you know it, you will be on the road to recovery.

How Long Does Medical Detox Take?

Going through detox can be a daunting journey, but the good news is that it will be over rather quickly. Compared to the years you have spent abusing alcohol and drugs, your time in detox will happen in the blink of an eye, especially if our expert medical staff guides your journey.

The amount of time you will spend in medical detox will depend on several factors, including:

• How long you have been using drugs
• The severity of your addiction
• Your physical health and well being
• Your height and weight
• Genetic factors

For the most part, you can expect your withdrawal symptoms to peak within a few days of your last use, and the bulk of your discomfort should be gone within a week or so. Remember that you may still experience cravings, sometimes intense ones, weeks or months after detox, so it is important to follow up your initial efforts with quality rehab, coping skills, and a solid relapse prevention strategy for drug or alcohol addiction.

What Happens During Medical Detox?

The medical detox process will depend mainly on the kinds of drugs you have been using and your addiction’s depths, but rest assured you will be carefully monitored every step along the way.

After a thorough evaluation of your physical and mental health, we will design a course of medical rehab just for you, one that is designed to support you through this challenging journey. Our goal is to keep you safe, comfortable, and supported so that you can take the next step on the road to recovery with confidence.

What Happens After Medical Detox

What happens after detox will be just as important, if not more so, than what happens during the medical detox process itself. Detox will give your body time to heal, but you will still need to develop coping skills and create a personalized relapse prevention strategy to stay clean once you leave our facility.

Why Choose WhiteSands Medical Detox

When you are struggling with substance use disorder, you cannot afford to leave your recovery to just anyone, and when you work with WhiteSands, you will not have to. Our medical staff is all board-certified, with years of experience in addiction science’s growing field, and our medical detox efforts are guided by the latest findings, all with an eye to what works best.

If you are ready to get better and stay clean, we encourage you to contact us today. Your journey to a better life begins with a single phone call, so pick up that phone today and take that first critical step today.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.