WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DETOX

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Posy Logan
7 years ago
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1 So I made it. I m on the other side. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DETOX My body has purged itself. Sure, it took help from staff, some vitamin shots, detox drugs and a lot of sickness to make the symptoms taper off, but it s done. That hell is behind me. But what now? Who am I? I don t feel like myself. A thick fog has lifted, and I m seeing everything for the first time again. My energy will come back. So will my mood. I look forward to regular sleep. Still, I feel hopeful. For the first time in, like, ever. My detox experience I got through it, and my body is clean. More hard work is waiting, but I m ready. I m ready to meet the healthy me.

2 Detoxification is the starting point for the recovery process. During detox, the drugs or alcohol in your system are purged. WHAT IS DETOX? Detoxification is the starting point for the recovery process. During detox, the drugs or alcohol in your system are purged. Typically, the detox process takes 7 days. During that time, you re given detox medications to help make you comfortable and ease withdrawal symptoms. The health risks associated with withdrawal are very real, and in some cases, deadly. Medical detox provides you with a safe environment, where you don t have to worry about such risks or dangers. Detox is not fun. I m not going to lie. But you learn from feeling all those things. You need to feel it to get to a better place. The good news is they make it as manageable as it can be.

3 Support can make the difference between staying clean and relapse. MEDICAL DETOX VS. DETOXING AT HOME Many people who have gone through the process favor medical detox, because of the support you receive from the structure of the medical program, as well as the use of detox medications to help reduce the effects of withdrawal. Some people do attempt detox at home, although it s important to understand that withdrawal symptoms for various drugs can be dangerous. It s also more difficult to detox at home if you are experiencing other mental issues, such as anxiety or depression.

4 As you go through a detox program, you will experience withdrawal symptoms. That s the reality. WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS These can range anywhere from moderate to severe, depending on your history and health condition. Withdrawal can manifest itself in the body through symptoms like involuntary body movements, an upset stomach, headaches, sleep disturbances, muscle cramps, and bone aches. In severe cases, withdrawal symptoms may include fever, confusion, hallucinations or seizures. Withdrawal symptoms in a medical detox program are managed through the use of various medications. When your body is cleansing itself from all the abuse, it s nice to know you ve got help. Simple things like a comfortable bed with crisp, clean sheets. Even a hand to hold. That stuff makes all the difference.

5 Opiates/Opioids MEDICATIONS USED DURING DRUG DETOX The Recovery Village uses Suboxone for opiate detox. Other detox drugs used for opiates are Methadone and Naltrexone. These drugs are used to taper the patient off their usual dose slowly over a period of time. Stimulants Currently, there are no approved pharmaceuticals for detox from stimulants. However, drugs like Benzodiazepine, including Valium, Librium, and Diazepam, may be used to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Drugs like Desipramine, Fenfluramine, and Phentermine are sometimes used in combination during detox to help alleviate anxiety and depression. Alcohol Detox The primary detox drugs used at The Recovery Village for alcohol detox are Lorazepam (Ativan) and Chlordiazepoxide (Librium). These are short and long-acting Benzodiazepines (benzos), that assist with alcohol withdrawal. At other drug detox centers, Diazepam (Valium), Chlordiazepoxide (Librium), and Clonazepam (Klonopin) may also be used. Gabapentin may also be used during alcohol withdrawal for its anti-anxiety effects. Because convulsions can be a common side effect of withdrawal, anti-seizure medications such as Carbamazepine (Tegretol) and Divalproex Sodium (Depakote) may also be used in detox. Benzo Detox The Recovery Village uses Klonopin (Clonazepam) for benzo detox. To help with withdrawals, The Recovery Village may also use Depraco to help with Benzo and Diazepam withdrawals and Gabapentin for its anti-anxiety effects.

6 Stopping the use of a drug cold turkey is not a suggested strategy. TAPERING OFF Don t just watch a bunch of detox videos from people who ve been there. Listen to what they say about coming out of it how that s when you first see a glimmer of hope. That s when recovery finally starts to seem possible. As mentioned before, stopping the use of a drug cold turkey is not a suggested strategy. In a medical setting, tapering off a drug means introducing a schedule where you take less of the drug each day, until you are drug free. This can greatly reduce your withdrawal symptoms, but should be performed under the supervision of a doctor and experienced staff in a medical detox program.

7 Medical Detox TYPES OF DETOX At-Home Detox Detoxing at home can be dangerous. In addition, you are likely to suffer from other issues related to your detox, such as depression or anxiety. The isolation of at-home detox can make these secondary issues harder to work through, reducing the effectiveness of your detox program. Stopping Cold Turkey Doctors, nurses and other qualified staff assist patients to cope with withdrawal symptoms in medical detox. Because these withdrawal symptoms can drive people to drug or alcohol use, and can even be life-threatening, medical detox can be highly effective. Inpatient vs. Outpatient With an inpatient drug detox program, you re going to check into a facility and stay for a certain length of time. With an outpatient program, you will live at home but check in with an addiction specialist each day, coming into the detox center to participate in programs like individual or group counseling. Stopping cold turkey is not an effective form of detox. It is not safe in a variety of ways. Your level of risk will depend on your personal history of abuse as well as your physical condition. If you have existing medical or psychological issues, stopping cold turkey can make withdrawal symptoms deadly.

8 The length of time you stay in detox will depend on what types of drugs you re detoxing from. DURATION OF DETOX Some drugs are cleared from the body faster than others. With The Recovery Village, detox lasts for seven days, while other programs can be as short as three days. Please consider that although you may have completed detox, withdrawal symptoms may still continue. Short-Term Sometimes called rapid detox, short-term programs may work for you if withdrawal symptoms are minimal or non-existent, such as with drugs like LSD. Long-Term Longer detox programs offer additional support and allow for a safe transition from drug use to detox to a rehab program.

9 Detox is only the first step in recovery. DUAL DIAGNOSIS While your body may be free from the influence of drugs or alcohol, you must still deal with issues associated with addiction as well as any other co-occurring disorders you may be experiencing, such as anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder. You don t finish with detox and feel reborn. But every day after gets better easier. That s your body and mind healing.

10 Most detox programs will have you participate in counseling. COUNSELING Most detox programs will have you participate in individual counseling as part of your detox process. This allows you to begin identifying triggers, patterns, and behaviors that contribute to addiction. Group and family therapy are also offered to those ready to participate in a group setting. In some instances, because detox can be intense, group therapy is delayed until the person is through with detox. Why would I try to do this alone? Alone is what got me here. The whole point of accepting you have a problem and getting better is to reach out for help.

11 It s time to start. It s time to take a big step in being free of substance abuse. To learn more, ask questions, or start your recovery story, contact us today therecoveryvillage.com Further Reading Learn about our Medical Detox Program at therecoveryvillage.com/treatment-program/medical-detox/ More on Drug Detox therecoveryvillage.com/drug-detox Choosing a Drug Treatment Program therecoveryvillage.com/recovery-blog/how-to-choose-the-best-drug-rehab-center-for-your-fresh-start

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