How Is a Medically Induced Drug Detox Treatment Administered?
For many people suffering from addiction, trying to quit cold turkey is almost certainly doomed to fail. Why? Because many substances can cause painful, uncomfortable, or even potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms, and the urge to use drugs or alcohol again to deal with the withdrawal symptoms can become overwhelming.
Sadly, many people who try to quit on their own will soon relapse, returning to the clutches of addiction. That’s why it’s so important to understand the full scope of how addiction treatment works, including how is a medically induced drug detox treatment administered to get through this pivotal period.
Several drugs require a medical detox, which is the first step of treatment that helps patients slowly and effectively wean off substances in a controlled environment along with medical support, monitoring, and medication. At WhiteSands Treatment’s network of drug and alcohol addiction treatment facilities in Florida, our team of experts can help you or your loved one safely recover from addiction and get the professional help you need to avoid relapses and future struggles.
Many patients will start their time with us in a medically assisted detox program before continuing with inpatient or outpatient addiction rehab services, helping them stabilize and get through withdrawal symptoms and be ready to work on the mental aspects of addiction. Let’s explore how medical detox works and why it can be a crucial first step toward a life without drugs or alcohol.
How Is a Medical Detox for Addiction Administered?
Before you call WhiteSands Treatment’s drug detox in Plant City, you might wonder how this all works and how is a medically induced drug detox treatment administered. The answer is it depends on several factors, including the substance someone is addicted to, their past substance use history, and other medical conditions.
A 2014 article in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology defines detoxification as a process to safely discontinue using an addictive substance that usually lasts for several days to a few weeks. Often, medications are used during this process to wean the user off a substance or help them get through withdrawal symptoms.
Detox can be especially important for those who are addicted to opioids, such as heroin, and treatment programs will often include giving a prescription substitute opioid to stabilize. Methadone is a well-known substitute opioid, usually prescribed as an oral liquid. Another commonly prescribed substitute is buprenorphine, which is available in tablets, patches, or injectables.
For those who are addicted to alcohol, medications can include thiamine supplements to avoid Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, while other medications can help prevent relapse in formerly heavy drinkers. Benzodiazepines can help reduce the risk of severe withdrawal or seizures as someone weans off alcohol.
What Are the Three Essential Components of Detoxification?
Medical detox for addiction can vary considerably from patient to patient, depending on their unique needs, medical issues, substance use history, and especially which substance they are detoxing from. However, there are some common elements inherent in all detox programs.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says there are three essential components of detoxification:
- Evaluation
- Stabilization
- Getting patients ready to enter substance abuse treatment
A panel of experts outlined the basics of detox in the 1990s, emphasizing that detoxification is not complete substance abuse treatment on its own. Instead, it’s a starting point for comprehensive addiction treatment programs.
Detox can happen in a wide variety of settings, and the level of intensity can vary as well. Ultimately, a detox program needs to be tailored to the individual patient’s needs to ensure they receive adequate medical support, monitoring, medication, and assistance as they get through withdrawal symptoms.
Why Is Supervision Important During Withdrawal?
Because of the vital role of medical detox in starting addiction treatment, most rehab programs will begin with detox, including specialized offerings like drug detoxification for older adults. But why is detox so important and why shouldn’t people get through withdrawal on their own at home?
Sometimes, trying to quit on your own can be extremely dangerous. Alcohol, for example, can be hazardous to suddenly stop on your own, with heavy drinkers at risk of things like seizures, hallucinations, and even fatal problems without medical supervision and treatment.
A World Health Organization publication from 2009 says some substances can cause withdrawal symptoms that last for several days or even a few weeks. Methadone withdrawal symptoms, for example, can last for up to 20 days, with symptoms including things like nausea, vomiting, insomnia, sweating, and muscle cramps.
During detox, patients can receive medical assistance to ensure they’re drinking enough water and also receive medications that can help them get through withdrawal. Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can continue eight weeks or even longer after the last dose, leading to things like anxiety, insomnia, agitation, poor memory, and muscle aches.
What Happens After a Typical Medical Detox for Addiction?
So, you now understand the main question of this blog: How is a medically induced drug detox treatment administered? Let’s next explain what typically happens after a medical detox for addiction.
At WhiteSands Treatment, a medication-assisted detox program will typically last for five to seven days. During this time, patients are stabilized and assisted through withdrawal from addictive substances. After completing detox, they’re ready to begin an inpatient treatment program that will focus on addressing the full scope of addiction, including mental aspects that can quickly lead to relapse if not dealt with now.
It’s important to understand that medical detox, by itself, is not addiction treatment. Instead, it’s a crucial and brief first step toward stability and physical health that prepares patients to be truly ready to start a drug or alcohol rehab program.
Learn More About Medically Induced Drug Detox Treatment at WhiteSands
Medically induced drug detox treatment is just one part of what we offer at WhiteSands Treatment. Our comprehensive range of addiction treatment programs is designed to help patients get through withdrawal, stabilize, and gain the strength they’ll need to focus on their recovery with individual and group therapy, skills training, alternative treatments, and more.
Together, we can help you or your loved one safely and more comfortably quit using substances and work on addressing the physical and mental aspects of addiction. Long-lasting recovery from addiction is a crucial step on the path to a brighter, better future. Get started today by calling us at 877-855-3470.
External Sources
- PubMed Central – Pharmacological Strategies for Detoxification
- National Library of Medicine – Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment
- National Library of Medicine – Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings
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.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
