Detoxing is always the first step in addiction recovery. Until you’ve detoxed, you won’t have the presence of mind to fully commit to other aspects of your treatment. Moreover, without detoxing, many people convince themselves that they can slowly wean off of drugs or alcohol, or that they can find other ways to manage their addictions rather than addressing them head-on. As with all forms of addiction treatment, there’s no single way of detoxing that works best for every individual.
Statistically, some detox methods work better than others, and some rarely work at all. Finding the right method and support services for your needs requires a good look at the type and amount of substances you’ve been using, the length of your addiction, and your history of failed recovery attempts. For some people and substances, detoxing alone can be downright dangerous. Going “cold turkey” is one method that countless people have tried before. This entails stopping drug or alcohol use outright, and then attempting to weather the symptoms of withdrawal alone at home. There are many natural remedies and detox support products that people can use to this end, but absent of qualified medical supervision, going “cold turkey” is never really safe. Self-weaning off of drugs or alcohol is another common, self-managed detox strategy.
The idea of weaning off of substances certainly seams like a more comfortable way to go, but weaning strategies are in direct opposition to the very nature of addiction. After all, if addicts had the ability to consciously limit or abstain from substance use, they wouldn’t be dealing with addiction. Currently, one of the most effective ways to detox is by receiving medically assisted treatment. With this method, patients abstain completely from drugs and alcohol just as they would when going “cold turkey”, but they are also constantly monitored by seasoned medical professionals. More importantly, various medications and other medical interventions are employed to limit the side effects of withdrawal, and to expedite the removal of toxins from the body.
Understanding and Evaluating Your Options in Drug Detox
As you learn more about your options in professional addiction treatment, you’ll find that there’s a vast array of programs, methodologies, and treatment types currently offered. For instance, at many natural and holistic detox centers, all of the interventions that are used for alleviating withdrawal symptoms are natural or nature-based.
These services are ideal for anyone who’s at risk developing dependencies on interventive treatment medications, and who’s interested in getting an absolutely drug-free, fresh start. After the first and most intense hours of detoxing are complete, holistic and natural treatment centers offer various in-house, guided therapies such as yoga, meditation, and art therapy for reducing the symptoms of both primary and secondary withdrawal.
Some natural detox facilities additionally offer nutrient-rich IV infusions that shorten the duration of withdrawal, and facilitate a more rapid return to good general health. Medication assisted detox is generally the best choice for anyone who’s addicted to opiates, alcohol, or other substances that cause extreme physiological distress whenever abstinence is prolonged. For certain substances, withdrawal symptoms can include serious events such as hallucinations, heart palpitations, short-term decreases in memory and cognitive functioning, and seizures.
The goal of medication assisted treatment (MAT) is to make detox as safe and as comfortable as it can possibly be. With the right support, people can break powerful dependencies on drugs without losing hope, becoming physically overwhelmed, or suffering lasting or even potentially permanent physical harm. With MAT, patients are routinely checked for significant changes in their:
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Respiration
- Body temperature
or other vital signs. Whenever any of these vital signs undergo extreme fluctuations, medication is used to restore balance and normal functioning. Other medications used in these treatments support the filter organs and other organ systems so that the body becomes more adept in cleansing itself. Various vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients can also be administered via IV infusion. IV therapies are also used to keep patients fully hydrated throughout the duration of detox. For those addicted to opiates, there are even options in rapid detox.
Rapid detox centers are committed to making the withdrawal process as short as it can be, even as they take measures to ensure the safety and well-being of patients. Given the incredibly challenging and often incredibly painful nature of opiate detox, these services are intended to give patients the benefit of limited discomfort, and the ability to quickly move on to other aspects of their recoveries. If you’ve been living with substance use disorder and are ready to take the first and most important step towards recovery, we can help. Call us today at 833-364-0736.