The Importance of a Medical Detox Facility for Substance Use

When you’re battling a drug or alcohol addiction, ridding your body of the substance can be one of the most difficult parts of the process. Many treatment programs begin with a detox plan. A detox plan is crucial to get all of the substances out of your body so you can begin to learn how to go on without being dependent on using them. While some people think they can detox on their own, the side effects can be debilitating. This is why using a medical detox facility is the best route if you want to be successful in overcoming your addiction.

What Happens During Detox?

During a detox program, the body clears itself of the drugs that have taken it over. This process can lead to serious physiological effects, which is one of the many reasons why a detox facility is often recommended. While detox is a key step in overcoming addiction and leading a sober life, it’s not the only component. ^[1]

To be successful, a detox program should be followed by a comprehensive drug addiction treatment program. During this type of program, people can begin to understand what lead to their addiction and learn ways to avoid those triggers. Therapy and holistic approaches are often components of the process.

How Different Substances Affect You During Detox and How a Medical Detox Facility Can Help

When people stop taking their drug of choice, their bodies can react negatively. They became so used to getting the drug that when the body no longer receives it, withdrawal symptoms can begin. While everyone will react differently, some common withdrawal symptoms include:

• Psychosis
• Delirium
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

The type of drug can also determine how the body is impacted during detox and when you’ll begin to feel the effects. Here’s a quick breakdown of the typical timeframe of when people begin experiencing symptoms of withdrawal and how the body can be affected. Working with a medical detox facility is often the safest way to mitigate the symptoms of withdrawal.

Heroin & Opioids

• Withdrawal symptoms begin 12 hours after the last dose and can peak within 1-2 days.
• These symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, anxiety, insomnia, muscle cramps, and diarrhea. ^[2]
• It’s recommended that patients drink 2-3 liters of water daily to replace lost fluids as well as take vitamin B & C supplements.
• Sometimes medication is prescribed for severe symptoms that persist.

Methadone

• Withdrawal starts within 1-2 days and peaks after 2 days.
• Withdrawal symptoms can include tiredness, anxiety, excessive sweating, restlessness, and watery eyes. ^[3] While these symptoms may feel like the flu, they last longer and can become more intense.
• Other symptoms can be more severe and can last longer than a week. These include vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, depression, and muscle aches and pains.

Cocaine

• Withdrawal starts a few hours after the last dose and peaks in a few days.
• People often experience a “crash” once they stop using the drug and have a strong craving for more of it. ^[4]
• Withdrawal symptoms can include fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and paranoia.
• Unlike other drugs, there are usually no physical symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea.

Alcohol

• Withdrawal starts about 8-48 hours after the last drink and peaks within three days.
• There are many different withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, nausea, vomiting, headache, irritability, insomnia, and high blood pressure.
• Some people have more serious symptoms including seizures, hallucinations, and agitation.

As you can see, withdrawal symptoms with any drug can be serious and even painful. This is why it’s important to have supervision as you go through the detox process. When you choose a medical detox facility, you will receive care and support around the clock.. When people try to do it alone at home, they may be putting themselves at risk if their symptoms worsen. They may not know what to do as their symptoms get worse. Having trained medical staff nearby who are experienced with the detox process can prevent a potentially dangerous emergency.

Medical Detox Facility at Spring Gardens Recovery

At Spring Gardens Recovery, we offer a safe and effective way for people to go through the detox process. Our staff is trained to look for the withdrawal symptoms and knows how to deal with them when they arise.

Besides taking care of people from a medical standpoint, our team also offers counseling so that people can better understand their addictions and how to overcome them.

If you would like to begin the detox process in a medical detox facility with care and continued support, call us today or reach out to us online. Let us help you get on the path to recovery so you can live the sober life you deserve.

Sources:

1. Types of Treatment Programs | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/drug-addiction-treatment-in-united-states/types-treatment-programs

2. Withdrawal Management – Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/

3. Methadone Withdrawal Symptoms and Treatments (healthline.com), https://www.healthline.com/health/going-through-methadone-withdrawal#symptoms

4. Cocaine withdrawal: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000947.htm

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