Addiction is a chronic disease caused by the long-term use of drugs leading to dependency. When the body becomes dependent on a substance, medical detox may be needed and withdrawal can cause physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms. The physical dependence on a substance is likely to occur when one:
- Uses substance regularly in large amounts
- Uses a substance over an extended period
- Requires increasing quantities of the drug substance to achieve the usual effect
- Craves substance when they do not have access to it
Medical detoxification or medical detox provides a safer environment for withdrawal from drugs and alcohol under the supervision of licensed medical professionals.
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Drugs that majorly require medically assisted detox
- Alcohol: It inhibits the regular activity of the nervous system. In case of addiction, if withdrawn from alcohol, it can be life-threatening. Delirium tremens are among the most dangerous forms of alcohol withdrawal and can be fatal without intervention.
- Prescription drugs: Prescription medications can be misused to achieve a high.
- Stimulants: These are non-prescription drugs such as cocaine, meth, and amphetamines.
- Synthetic drugs: The euphoric, psychedelic, or psychoactive effects of these drugs may be habitually misused. The issue is that most of these chemicals are unregulated, made in illicit laboratories, and often imported from China or other nations. These medications might have unproven and unforeseeable adverse effects.
- Â Benzodiazepines: Also called benzos are medication sedatives used to treat anxiety and ongoing seizures. They have similar withdrawal symptoms like alcohol; thus, medical assistance is required.
Physical withdrawals are a severe medical issue. It’s not a sign of weakness as others view it, but it is best to undergo the detox process under medical supervision to overcome it.
If you are diagnosed you have a problem with drug or alcohol abuse, a medical detoxification program can help you begin a healthier life. Detox care centers such as https://www.gallusdetox.com/ can help you come out of addiction.
There is a wide range of withdrawal symptoms an individual may experience during detox, including:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Nausea and vomiting
- Insomnia
- Hallucinations
- Fatigue
- Shaking and sweating
Although medical detox procedures can help you reduce withdrawal severity, they won’t help you avoid all these symptoms.
What to expect during medical detox
To ensure that a patient’s needs are met, they undergo a comprehensive evaluation where medics screen for:
- Medical conditions
- Risk for withdrawal
- Drug and alcohol disorders
- Psychological contributing factors
Medications used in detox
They include:
- Methadone:Â It is highly effective in the prevention of opioid withdrawal symptoms.
- Naltrexone:Â Used for both opioid and alcohol disorders, acting as a blocking agent.
- Vivitrol:Â An injectable form of naltrexone utilized in the treatment of opioid and alcohol disorders.
How long does medical detox take?
Duration of medical detoxification varies from one person to another depending on many factors, including:
- The severity of withdrawal symptoms
- Type of substance abused
- Co-occurring disorders
- Length of your addiction
A good and effective detox and rehabilitation center should be able to address both the physical and psychological aspects of your addiction. Detox tackles the biological effects of addiction, but it is just a component of a larger treatment program that addresses emotional, spiritual, and behavioral aspects of addiction.
Looking for a medical detox center?
It can be quite a task to find the right detox center that will cater to your specific needs. Reputable detoxification centers should:
- Be licensed and accredited by the state that they are located
- Have professional and experienced staff
- Provide top-notch detox services
If you or your friend or family member is struggling with addiction to opioids, stimulants, alcohol, or any other drug, remember recovery is within your reach. Medical detox is a jump starter and the first step in a longer process of addiction recovery and detox centers are always ready to help.