Detoxification is a critical step in alcohol and substance abuse treatment. It is meant to clean the body of traces of alcohol and other drugs that the individual has used. Detox aims to help deal with withdrawal symptoms when the person stops using drugs and starts treatment.
If you decide to abstain from alcohol and other drugs and fail to manage the withdrawal symptoms, they are likely to worsen and pose a health risk. They make a person uncomfortable and lead to advanced health complications such as nausea and seizures.
When planning to quit substance use, it is wise to seek assistance from a detox center near me. However, read here first to understand what you expect and how long you stay at the center during the detox process.
What Is a Detox Center?
After being assessed by an addiction professional or psychiatrist, they may refer you to a detoxification center. It is a medically managed place where professionals will take you through alcohol and substance detoxification before starting actual addiction treatment.
Usually, detox uses medications to manage drug withdrawal symptoms. Considering several factors that include the extent of substance in your body, you may need to attend outpatient or residential detox. A doctor will examine you to determine your detoxification needs. Take a look at the factors that determine your period of stay in a detox center.
How Long Substance Abuse Has Been Going On
Addiction patients who have used alcohol and other substances for a long time may face severe withdrawal symptoms. Some of these symptoms may lead to death if not properly managed. Such individuals may have to be in the detox center for two weeks or longer. When you visit a detox center near me, the medical experts will want to know for how long you have been using the drugs.
The Type of Drugs
Some drugs require a longer and keener detox than others. A drug like Benzodiazepines takes a longer time in the body, which necessitates a longer detoxification time. The patients will stay in the detox center near me under full-time medical supervision. The patients may have to stay in the center for two weeks. On the contrary, withdrawal symptoms for cocaine are psychosocial, meaning there is no need for medication-assisted detox; therefore, the detox period is shorter.
Opioids, especially heroin, are the most uncomfortable to detox and require a physician’s monitoring.
The Patient’s Medical History
Co-occurring disorders and other pre-existing medical conditions can significantly impact the effectiveness of the detox. The professionals in the detox center near me should be aware of any underlying conditions to adjust the detoxification.
They need to know the difference between signs and symptoms of the patient’s health condition and withdrawal symptoms to act promptly in case of an emergency. In addition, the detoxification environment should be accommodating to the patient’s medical condition to allow keen monitoring. The most common medical problems in alcohol and substance addiction patients include cardiovascular complications, liver problems, and pulmonary disease. If you have a medical history that demands close observation during detox, you may be in the detox center for longer.
A Final Thought
Finding a detox center near me can be a life-saving step when struggling with alcohol and substance use disorder and is willing to quit; getting professional-assisted detoxification can help manage painful and dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
