Thanks to withdrawal, overcoming an addiction isn’t something you can accomplish through quitting substances cold turkey or relying on sheer willpower. Getting help from a detox facility is often the first step in sobriety and establishes the foundation for the rest of your recovery. Whether it’s an alcohol detox, opioid detox, or a marijuana detox, this initial process is that important. And how you go about detoxing is just as critical, as some ways of doing it can be helpful and productive, while others can be downright dangerous.
Understanding Withdrawal
So why isn’t stopping an addiction as simple as getting better at self-discipline and making healthier choices? If only it were that easy. When you become addicted to drugs or alcohol, your substance abuse affects you physically and mentally. Your brain and body become chemically dependent on your substance of choice, so much that trying to stop using throws everything off.
This is where withdrawal enters the picture. The National Institutes of Health defines withdrawal as the physical and mental symptoms you experience when you suddenly stop or reduce your use of an addictive substance. Some common withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Delirium
- Hallucinations
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Paranoia
- Intense substance cravings
- Inability to concentrate
- High temperatures and chills
- Exhaustion
- Shivering
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea
- Increased heart rate
The specific withdrawal symptoms you experience, as well as their severity and duration, are dependent on a variety of factors. The addicted substance itself, how long you’ve been using, and your frequency of use can all influence your personal withdrawal experience. Regardless, withdrawal can lead you to struggle with relapse, ending your attempt to quit drugs or alcohol before they get off the ground. No matter how noble your intentions are, experiencing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms can lead you to turn back to addictive substances just to find relief. Thankfully however, detox centers provide a way out.
What is Medical Detox?
If you’re trying to overcome addiction, getting detox treatment is often the first step. That’s because removing the presence of drugs or alcohol from your system is initially required to begin the recovery journey, enabling you to heal. In order to do this, you need to stop using. As mentioned above, withdrawal symptoms will usually follow. However, a medically-supervised detox will make your withdrawal experience not only safe, but more manageable.
So what is a medical detox, exactly? Occurring at a professional detox center, a medical detox encompasses a set of interventions involved in managing acute intoxication and withdrawal, according to Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment. Meant to minimize the physical harm associated with substance abuse, a detox program helps you clear any substance toxins from your body. Common detox programs may include:
- Marijuana detox
- Opioid detox
- Benzodiazepine detox
- Alcohol detox
Therapists, clinical staff, nurses, and a physician typically make up the team that manages the medical detoxification process. While each detox facility may vary their approach to a degree, every detox program process includes the following general steps:
- Evaluation: testing for the presence of a substance in your body, as well as screening for any co-occurring disorders such as depression, PTSD, or anxiety
- Stabilization: assisting you through addiction withdrawal symptoms to achieve a medically stable, substance-free state
- Transition into treatment: preparing you to enter into an addiction treatment program once detox is complete
When you partner with a medically-supervised detox program, you’re choosing the safe option for managing your withdrawal. Knowing that withdrawal symptoms (especially early in the process) can get intense, an experienced medical team will manage your entire detoxification. You are closely monitored at each stage of detox to keep you physically and mentally safe as you navigate this initiate phase of addiction treatment.
Medication-Assisted Treatment at a Detox Program
One key aspect of the medical detox is medically assisted treatment. As mentioned earlier, the withdrawal symptoms you can experience when quitting an addictive substance can be unpleasant and incredibly difficult to endure. They can sometimes be so severe that you’re willing to throw your sobriety goals out the window, leading to relapse.
Consequently, detox centers will utilize medications during your withdrawal to help manage cravings and reduce (or even prevent) withdrawal symptoms. Whether it’s medication assisted treatment for alcohol or medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, using safe and effective medications under the supervision of clinical professionals is always the goal. These medications are also taken only for a limited time so you don’t develop dependence. Some of the medications utilized during a medical detox may include:
- Naltrexone
- Methadone
- Sublocade
- Suboxone
- Vivitrol
Myths and Misconceptions About Detox Centers and Withdrawal
Getting proper help for addiction can often be stymied by misinformation and myths that surround withdrawal and detoxification. If you’re exploring addiction treatment options for yourself or your loved one, it’s important to separate myth from fact. That’s why we’re addressing some typical misconceptions you may encounter along the way so you can ensure you’re getting the right addiction treatment and doing detox the right way:
Myth #1: A Quick Fix
When you consider quitting your addiction, stopping your substance use sounds simple on paper. But as we’ve mentioned before, withdrawal can complicate matters. However, even if you are aware of the possibility of withdrawal, you may be tempted to think it’s something you can overcome in a matter of hours, or even within a day.
However, the belief that removing a substance’s toxins from your body is a quick fix is just a myth. Withdrawal is a process that takes time. It’s not like checking into an overnight motel and getting back onto the road the next day. Your detox and withdrawal timeline will vary, depending on a number of specifics:
- The substance you abused
- How you ingested the substance
- The presence of other substances
- Frequency of use
- Amount used
- The presence of mental health disorders
- Your medical history
- Your age
- Any prescribed medications you may be taking
So how long do alcohol withdrawal symptoms last, for example? Those struggling with alcohol addiction can experience acute withdrawal symptoms within the first six to 24 hours of the last drink, shares the Cleveland Clinic. Severe symptoms will peak in the first one to three days, while certain withdrawal symptoms may last for weeks. Detox experiences with other substances may range from a few days to a few weeks as well.
Myth #2: Do-It-Yourself Detox
If you think you can power through withdrawal symptoms on your own, you may believe you can detox yourself at home. However, this is a common misconception, and also a very dangerous one at that. Depending on your substance, addiction duration, and other factors, certain withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
Without the supervision of a medical professional at a detox facility, you’re putting your life at risk when severe withdrawal arises. Alcohol and benzodiazepine addiction can both be particularly dangerous to detox from on your own, sometimes leading to death in certain cases when done alone.
Because withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant — and may last for days or weeks — you could also be tempted to revert back to your substance to cope. Not only does this lead to relapse, but you also may take more of your substance than normal out of desperation. When this happens, your body, adjusting to the absence of your substance, may not be able to handle this sudden increase of it, leading to an overdose. However, a detox program keeps you safe and supervised, ensuring you don’t revert back to substances during the process.
Myth #3: Detox is All You Need
You may think that addiction is all about your physical symptoms and equate sobriety to your body’s physical absence of the addictive substance. However, addiction is so much more than that; it affects your body, mind, and spirit. Not only can your brain develop a chemical dependency on the dopamine your addiction provides, but your substance abuse may also be rooted in unresolved past trauma. That means a comprehensive addiction treatment program, utilizing trauma-informed care and evidence-based therapies, is necessary to long-term sobriety. While detox is a foundational step toward recovery, it is not a standalone addiction cure-all.
The Detox Treatment Process at Defining Wellness Centers
At Defining Wellness Centers in Mississippi, we take a comprehensive, holistic approach to addiction recovery, starting with our medical detox program. Our experienced medical team can help you safely navigate even the most severe withdrawal symptoms, whether you’re struggling with opioid addiction, alcohol addiction, or some other substance abuse. If you think you may have developed a physical dependence on substances, we can help you overcome your addiction and reclaim your life.
Our detox treatment process starts with a thorough medical assessment. Screening for your underlying risk of withdrawal, medical conditions, co-occurring disorders, and addiction history, we customize your detox plan to your needs. From there, we provide medication that counteracts most of your withdrawal symptoms while offering 24/7 support to help you successfully navigate your detox and withdrawal.
Once your detox is complete, our addiction treatment programs provide a full continuum of care — from inpatient treatment to outpatient rehab and aftercare — so you can achieve long-term sobriety and lasting wellness. If you’re ready to start your recovery journey on the right foot, call our team today.