Detoxing from drugs and alcohol is a process that takes time. It involves much more than just stopping the use of the substance in question.
Your body must readjust itself after being exposed to an addictive substance, which can take days, weeks, or longer depending on how long it’s been since your last hit.
Detoxing is a necessary step before you can begin recovery treatment for addiction; it helps prepare your mind and body for further therapy by getting rid of any chemicals that may still be lingering in your system after years of drug abuse.
What Is Drug Detox?
Drug detox is the process of removing drugs from your body. It can be done in a medical setting or at home depending on whether you have been prescribed medication.
Drug detox is not a cure for addiction, but it can be an important step toward recovery if you begin using drugs again after going through drug detox.
How Does It Work?
Drug detox is a process that helps the body rid itself of harmful toxins. This can be done in a medical setting, or under the supervision of a doctor who will provide medications and other treatments to help your body eliminate these substances from your system. You may also be given nutritional supplements or prescription medication to help stabilize your body’s reaction to withdrawal.
The detox process can either take place as an outpatient procedure (you’re discharged after 3-5 days) or inpatient (you stay in the facility for two weeks or more). The length depends on many factors including your overall health condition, whether you have any underlying conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, and how much alcohol or drugs have been consumed per day over time—among other things.
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Side Effects of Drug Detox
Side effects of detoxing from drugs can vary depending on the drug being detoxed from, but they often include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and chills. For example:
- A person who has been abusing marijuana may experience side effects like paranoia or anxiety during withdrawal; these symptoms are known as “paranoia syndrome.”
- A person who has been abusing opioids (for example heroin) may experience gastrointestinal discomfort including abdominal cramps and nausea; this symptom is often referred to as “opiate withdrawal syndrome.”
What Are the Risks?
- Overdose: This is a serious risk, and it can happen because you no longer tolerate the drug.
- Infection: You might be at risk of getting an infection if you use drugs intravenously—this means that you use needles to inject drugs straight into your bloodstream (called IV drug use).
- Seizure: Your brain and nervous system need time to recover from drug abuse. They may not be fully functional when you stop using drugs, which increases your chance of experiencing seizures during detoxification.
- Heart attack and stroke: When people have been on drugs for many years and suddenly stop taking them, they may experience sudden withdrawal symptoms that put stress on their hearts or cause blood vessels in their brains to rupture due to lack of oxygenation flow. Both conditions lead directly or indirectly (through cardiac arrest) to death.
Withdrawal Symptoms
The physical symptoms of drug withdrawal are the most common and can be severe. They include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal cramps
- Sweating
- Diarrhea or constipation (or both)
- Muscle aches and pains
- insomnia
The psychological symptoms of drug withdrawal are also common, including:
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Irritability or aggression toward others
Some people may experience hallucinations or delusions when they stop using a substance they have been addicted to.
Medications Used for Drug Detox
Medications used to help with withdrawal symptoms include:
- Clonidine (Catapres) helps reduce some of the more severe physical symptoms of withdrawal such as muscle contractions and sweating while under sedation during the first 30 days after quitting drugs.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine considers clonidine safe enough for self-medication by patients who have been using opioids long-term but not on their own without supervision by a doctor or nurse practitioner trained in treating substance use disorders.
- Buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction, helps reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms. It is given via an injection into the bloodstream or can be taken orally in pill form. It’s effective for about eight days before another injection is needed. Side effects may include dizziness, constipation, and nausea.
Withdrawal from buprenorphine can be extremely painful and dangerous, so it’s best for patients to start treatment with medical supervision at a detox facility where they can access medical care 24/7 if needed.
Benefits Of Professional Medical Detox Programs
The benefits of professional medical detox programs are numerous. First, they have more resources available to them and the staff is better trained to deal with withdrawal symptoms.
Second, their programs have been shown to be more effective than at-home detox in both the short- and long term.
Third, they are less expensive than at-home detox treatment because they don’t require any out-of-pocket expenses (such as replacing supplies or paying for treatment not covered by insurance). These benefits make it clear why most people would choose to go through a professional medical detox program over an at-home one.
Detoxing should be done in a medical setting to avoid complications.
It’s also important to note that detoxing from drugs should be done in a medical setting to avoid complications. This can be expensive and time-consuming, but it’s necessary for the sake of your health.
As you can see, withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous and life-threatening. Don’t go through this alone.
Conclusion
Whether you want to quit marijuana, alcohol, or another substance, it’s important to know the risks of detoxing at home before doing so.
Drug detox is a process that can be dangerous without proper medical treatment.
If you’re thinking about detoxing from drugs and feel overwhelmed by this information, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. A detox center can provide support and resources during this difficult time.