Drug detox can seem scary. Your mind can conjure unpleasant images that make you hesitant to seek addiction treatment. If you’ve experienced withdrawal symptoms when using drugs, you may assume that the experience will be similar during detox. The truth is that detox isn’t something you should fear. Addiction professionals have the tools to get you through the process safely and with as little discomfort as possible. For more information about drug detox services, please contact BoardPrep Recovery today at 866.796.4720.
What is Drug Detox?
Drug detox is a process that removes the drugs you are addicted to from your body. This process is often the first step in recovery because we need to address the physical addiction before tackling mental issues related to addiction. When your body is dependent on a drug, you experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it. These symptoms can be severe. However, detox provides ways to avoid or treat the most uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
Do You Need Professional Detox Services?
Some drugs are known to cause severe withdrawal symptoms that medical professionals should monitor and treat. However, detox is often the best place to start, no matter your drug of choice. Any substance will cause some form of dependence with long-term use. It creates changes in the brain that become apparent when you stop taking the drug.
It’s challenging to fight physical and mental addiction at the same time. The good news is that you don’t have to. Once your body is stabilized and free from drugs or alcohol, it becomes much easier to work on recovery’s emotional and psychological aspects.
Drug and alcohol detox is essential for:
- Alcohol
- Stimulants
- Opiates
- Benzodiazepines
- Marijuana
Drug Detox Evaluation
When you enter a drug detox, the process starts with an evaluation. You will be asked about your drug use, including how often, how frequently, and how much you used. You will also be asked about polydrug use. You’ll need to give a medical history. You’ll also be assessed by a medical professional to determine overall health and any health problems that could be a problem during the detox process.
Deciding How to Detox
Once you’ve completed an assessment at a drug and alcohol detox, your addiction treatment team will speak with you about your options. They will take into consideration your drug use history, medical history, and any current medical or mental health conditions, as well as your preferences.
Most people choose to detox with medical assistance. This process can include comfort medication to ease withdrawal symptoms. You may also require medication to treat mental health conditions that co-occur with addiction.
Medication-assisted detox, or MAT, usually refers to an opiate detox where you are given medication to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine, commonly known as Suboxone, and methadone are medications that the FDA has approved to help prevent withdrawal symptoms. These drugs act on the opiate receptors in the brain in a way that doesn’t cause the high that opiates do, so they have lower abuse potential. Over time you can wean off the medication slowly.
Some programs do a rapid detox. In this treatment method, medical professionals will put you into a medically induced coma while the drugs are removed from your body. You are unconscious for the worst part of the detox process. You may still experience some withdrawal symptoms after the procedure, but they will be milder than attempting to detox at home.
How Long Does Detox Last?
How long detox lasts will depend on many personal factors. In most cases, the drug detox process takes 7-10 days. The first few days are the most difficult, and most people begin to feel better around day 4 or 5.
Detox at Broadprep is the First Step
If you need addiction treatment in Tampa, FL, Broadprep Recovery can provide the treatment you need to overcome addiction. You can begin with a drug detox and then move on to working on other aspects of your recovery. Our programs are highly individualized to give you the treatment you need to stay clean and sober. Contact us today at 866.796.4720, or contact us online to start your recovery.
