Medical Detoxification Before Rehab

Inquiring or agreeing to treatment is an important first step in the road towards recovery.

If you've never been to a rehabilitation center for alcohol or drugs prior to now, different thoughts and preconceptions probably come to mind. You may think of what you have seen in movies or television shows, and images of people going through difficult withdrawal. Medical detox is one of the most crucial aspects of recovering.

Medical detox is a safety and comfort precaution that can be employed prior to rehabilitation. Although medical detox may not be required prior to treatment, it can still be a good idea.

What exactly is Medical Detox?

Medical detox refers to the process in which drugs or alcohol are removed safely from your body. This procedure is typically used in conjunction with medication to help the process be more relaxed. It is conducted in a medical facility with doctors and nurses present 24/7. Many people are hesitant to seek recovery and treatment because they fear difficult withdrawal. It is due to the fact that they have never attempted to stop using their drug-of-choice on their own and have felt the full effects of withdrawal symptoms. Medical detox may help lessen withdrawal symptoms. In addition to comfort medical detox ensures the safety and security of a controlled and safe end to substance abuse.

substances-most-often-responsible-for-detox-admissionsDetox from substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines can be a very dangerous withdrawal process and can lead to severe seizures and cardiac arrest. When a Intensive Outpatient Program in California, doctors will apply a tapering medicine to lower the chances of the body developing adverse reactions after an abrupt end to drug use. When benzodiazepines and alcohol are combined an additional benzodiazepine will likely be prescribed to treat seizures purposed. The patient is removed from the drug slowly rather than the cold turkey method, which lessens symptoms and increases the safety. Other drugs can be utilized to aid in sleep, anxiety, depression or even cravings.

While withdrawal from opiates isn't typically life-threatening, it could be extremely painful and very difficult to stop using the drug. In the case of medical detox like the case of alcohol or benzodiazepines taper is used. The taper, typically buprenorphine (Suboxone or Subutex), decreases symptoms of opiate withdrawal and cravings. There are many advantages of buprenorphine detox and evidence suggests it has much better success rates than people who do it on their own.

Medical detox may also involve the possibility of Vivitrol or Naltrexone being prescribed. These medications block the brain's pleasure and opioid receptors. They reduce cravings and block opioids' effects. They also help prevent overdose if one were to be relapsed.

How Detox Works

Discussing with the doctor about medical detox may take between 3 and 10 days, based on the person's drug-use history. The first step is to perform an assessment to determine how long the detox is required and what amount of medication is needed. The detoxification program for medical use can be modified or decreased based upon the body's reactions.

A detox that is medically supervised may uncover additional conditions that are not available to those who attempt to detox by themselves. Medical professionals can determine the need for additional medications. Users who are addicted to active substances run the danger of developing liver diseases or other diseases that are communicable, such as HIV and Hepatitis C. A detox program will help to identify these problems and create a treatment plan. Avoiding a medically-assisted detox may let viruses and diseases go undetected and leading them to progress. If not treated liver disease, HIV, and Hepatitis B can lead to death.

A patient can be transferred to inpatient rehab after the detox process. Some treatment centers have detox facilities on site. Detox centers are also available in their own right, however they should be transferred to a treatment center after the detox. One should always plan further treatment after detox.

The Benefits

Medical detox can be a safe and comfortable way to increase your odds of a successful recovery. The root cause of the medical issue can be addressed, both physical and mental. The National Alliance on Mental Illness, (NAMI), estimates that 53% of those with substance abuse disorders also suffer from a severe mental illness such as major depression Schizophrenia or Bipolar disorder. An Inpatient drug rehab in California mental health evaluation could be performed by doctors. A therapist will be assigned to every patient. Inpatient rehabilitation may be more effective when a custom treatment plan is developed prior to the inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation. This can allow the patient to reap the maximum benefits of the treatment process.

There is a lot of evidence to support detox, but it's not enough. NIDA states that it is crucial to remember that detox is only the first step in the process of treatment. NIDA has created a diagram that outlines the essential elements of an effective treatment. Notice the inclusion of medical services. Medical detox isn't only an idea. Medical detox is nearly always necessary in order to have an efficient treatment experience.