What Happens During Drug and Alcohol Detox?
Drug and alcohol addiction affects millions of Americans every year. The consequences of addiction can include health problems, job loss, family issues, legal troubles, and even death. If you or someone you love has a problem with drugs or alcohol, call us at Defining Wellness Centers today.
Detoxification is the process of withdrawing from substances such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, alcohol, and other addictive drugs. During detox, clients are monitored closely to ensure their safety and wellbeing. We believe that recovery is a learning process and a new way of life.
The essential part of any treatment program for substance use disorder is safety. This means there will be some medical supervision while clients withdraw from chemicals.
Inpatient Drug Rehab
After many years of research, researchers have developed an effective treatment model known as inpatient drug rehabilitation.
Inpatient treatments take place on a hospital level and usually last between 28 to 90 days. Clients can begin outpatient programs after they leave inpatient care. While living in rehab, clients will receive counseling, education, group therapy, medication management, and behavioral and life skills training to help them live sober.
If you or your loved one struggles with drug addiction and needs drug rehab, consider seeking help in an inpatient setting. There are different types of inpatient drug rehabs available, so choose wisely. Learn more about our options for inpatient treatment by contacting us at Defining Wellness Centers today. Our headquarters are in Brandon, Mississippi, and our service area includes Meridian and Jackson, Mississippi.
Outpatient Treatment Programs for Addiction Care
As we mentioned before, not all people who struggle with addiction find success through traditional, 12-step based residential rehabs. Some prefer the freedom and privacy offered by outpatient treatment programs. Depending on the client, outpatient treatment may be a better option than a residential facility.
In addition, there are several different types of outpatient programs for substance abuse recovery. These range from highly structured and medically supervised to simple AA meetings like those in local communities. Some examples of outpatient alcohol and drug programs include:
Transitional Housing
When leaving an intensive inpatient rehab environment where clients take medications, participate in counseling groups, and work on relapse prevention, transitional housing gives these individuals a chance to integrate back into the broader society. Since this type of program often only lasts 14 days, these clients don’t have time to recover fully, but they benefit from having their recovery support systems in place.
Methadone Maintenance
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a long-term opioid replacement therapy used to treat opiate addictions. Methadone is widely considered one of the safest medicines currently available for pain relief, and it helps prevent dangerous withdrawal symptoms. It’s recommended to start methadone gradually — typically over two weeks — so the body can get accustomed to it.
Mental Health Treatment
Even though substance abuse tends to dominate the public view of mental illness, there are many overlapping conditions. Mental illnesses tend to affect behavior and thought processes, also impacted by substance addiction. Many people suffering from mental disorders will turn to alcohol or other substances to cope with their emotional struggles, making mental health treatment extremely important when it comes to maintaining sobriety.
Daytime Recovery Support Groups
These meetings take place daily and give participants a chance to discuss issues throughout the day. This could be an opportunity for people to learn coping methods from others who have struggled with addiction problems. The group format allows clients to get peer support and motivation.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Meetings
AA meetings provide fellowship and community among recovering addicts. It’s important for someone trying to overcome a drug problem to maintain connections with important people in their life while undergoing rehabilitation.
Twelve-step fellowships offer both spiritual guidance and social support. People looking to overcome drugs and alcohol should attend an AA or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting as soon as possible after beginning rehab.
Relapse Prevention
Another aspect of recovery involves preventing further relapses. This includes learning skills to avoid triggers and practicing healthy habits for everyday living. People can use relapse logs or journals to track when and why they took another drink, pill, or joint.
They’re then able to modify their behaviors. For example, if a client realizes that they drink more than three alcoholic beverages on special occasions, they might write down every such activity on a calendar.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
During MI, counselors talk about the benefits of making lifestyle changes. People need the motivation to make positive choices to overcome any underlying causes, including genetic factors predisposing them to addiction. Counselors help clients identify obstacles standing in the way of progress and work together to overcome them.
How Long Does Detox Take in Rehab?
The length of stay at a rehab facility varies depending on treatment needs and how well the individual does during detox. However, most facilities require clients to stay from three to seven days, depending on the severity of the condition.
Detoxing medications usually begin during the first few hours or days of admission. Clients receive medications designed to block physical dependence. In general, this process takes one to three days. Once detoxification is complete, the client’s doctor can determine the next step in treatment.
Benefits of Detoxification
Detoxification helps individuals gain control over their emotions and thoughts. A period away from addictive substances provides healing time. Family members and loved ones also benefit because they don’t have to deal with the individual’s symptoms.
Some studies suggest that the sooner people enter into a program, the better the chances are for staying clean and sober. Treatment programs typically address all aspects of life — work, home, family, friends, and more. In some cases, it even addresses relationships with partners and children. Getting the right combination of medical care and counseling is essential for successful treatment.
What Should I Consider When Looking for a Rehab Facility?
When searching for rehabs, be sure to ask questions and find out what kind of staff each facility has. An experienced group of professionals who know the steps to treat substance abuse issues successfully is crucial. Check references and check previous clients’ experiences before signing up for treatment. You want to be in good hands.
Treatment facilities should feature qualified staff, safe environments, comfortable surroundings, and a diverse array of therapies. There must be 24-hour supervision, and doctors should monitor every aspect of recovery. It is best if those responsible for monitoring the client’s recovery contact the treating physicians.
There should also be several opportunities for support outside of immediate treatment. This allows the client to spend quality time with others rather than become isolated.
You have probably heard stories about people going to drug rehab centers across America looking for help and healing. If you are thinking about enrolling in an alcohol or drug rehab center and live in the Meridian, Brandon, or Jackson, Mississippi areas, be sure to rteach out to Defining Wellness Centers.
Risks Related to Detox
Some withdrawal symptoms can become so severe that death may occur. These are serious risks taken very seriously by any hospital providing detoxification.
Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to extreme pain or seizures. For this reason, most hospitals require a signed release form from the client before beginning detox procedures.
In some cases, the client may not voluntarily reveal the amount of drug or alcohol consumed due to anxiety. Medical personnel at the hospital or rehabilitation facility may obtain urine samples to confirm the client’s substance use level.
Additionally, blood tests can be necessary to measure levels of certain medications ingested to ascertain whether the client is being truthful. When such tests prove inconclusive, your specialist might perform additional verification measures to get accurate readings. These measures may include taking hair follicles, skin swabs, or fingernails to test for traces of the drug.
After the client enters the treatment center, there will still be more testing to determine how much alcohol or drugs are being used. This process includes asking clients questions regarding the amount of alcohol and drug usage and reviewing physical signs such as bruising and swelling. Afterward, the doctor will prescribe the proper dosage based on the results.
Most studies report that the risk of liver disease is usually high among people using methadone continuously for five years. Methadone dependence was defined as having used it repeatedly in the past year.
Although a person’s daily dose of methadone does not appear to affect their risk of developing liver problems, the length of time spent injecting the drug seems to be associated with an increased risk of liver damage.
The likelihood of developing hepatitis C increases with higher doses over more extended periods of exposure. Other factors leading to liver disease included the history of heavy drinking, hepatitis B virus infection, and HIV infection.
Things to Avoid after Detox
Here are some things to avoid after detoxification.
1. Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol has been shown to impair memory and judgment, leading to accidents. So, if you feel like consuming alcohol again, don’t do it until you recover entirely because the brain needs time to repair itself.
2. Smoking
Smoking leads to many health issues and triggers withdrawal symptoms when someone quits cold turkey. It’s best to quit smoking gradually instead of doing the hard way out. Make sure to talk to your physician before trying to quit smoking.
3. Drugs
Drug abuse can cause severe medical complications, including heart attacks, strokes, hypertension, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney failure, mental illness, malnutrition, depression, suicide attempts, and death. If you’re concerned about becoming addicted to drugs or relapsing to drug abuse, speak to your physician right away.
4. Unhealthy Diet
Eating a poor diet will only make matters worse. Eating healthy means choosing foods that give you energy while supplying all vital vitamins and minerals. Don’t eat junk food, sugary items, or fatty foods, and don’t drink beverages containing caffeine or alcohol.
Eat whole-grain bread, cereals, fruits, and vegetables. A balanced diet with lean meats, fish, poultry, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, fresh vegetables, and fruit keeps you full and well-nourished. Learn to love veggies, salads, and fruit juices.
5. Stress
It doesn’t matter what kind of job you are working in or whether you work or stay home — stress makes everything worse. You must learn how to manage stress better.
Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Understand why you are stressed, and take positive steps to address those reasons. Try to get enough sleep every night. Exercise regularly, either indoors or outdoors.
If it helps, consider keeping a journal about stressful events and feelings, then analyze them. Read books, write, call friends, listen to music, watch movies, play sports, or relax for an hour each day. Remember, the worst thing you can do is nothing at all.
Stay Strong and Sober
Detox is crucial to start the process of recovery to fight alcohol and drug dependency. However, you must take your time and choose a reputable rehab center in your area.
With the proper care, you will remove the toxic levels of substances from the body and help the body heal from its effects. Follow these tips mentioned above to prepare for detox and keep yourself safe during this period.
Stay strong and remember, there is the hope of attaining your sober life. For more details on medical detox, reach out to us at Defining Wellness Centers. We are based in Brandon, Mississippi, and our service area includes Meridian and Jackson, Mississippi.
