Accepting or asking to go to treatment is an important first step in the road towards recovery.

If you've never been to rehab for alcohol or drug addiction before, different ideas and assumptions are likely to come into your the forefront. Many people think about the things they've seen on television or in movies and the painful withdrawals that these people suffer through. Medical detox is one of the most crucial stages of recovery.

Medical detox provides comfort and safety and is usually a prerequisite prior to actual rehabilitation. Even if medical detox may not be necessary before treatment, it could be a good idea.

What Is Medical Detox?

Medical detox refers to the procedure by which drugs or alcohol are completely removed from your body. It is usually used in conjunction with medication to make the process more relaxing. The procedure takes place in a hospital setting with doctors and nurses on site 24 hours a day. The fear of painful withdrawals is the main reason for many to avoid treatment and recovery. It is because they only have ever attempted to stop using the substance of their choice by themselves and felt the full effects of withdrawal-related symptoms. It is important to know that withdrawal symptoms can be greatly reduced in medical detox. Medical detox is a safe and comfortable process that assures that addiction is stopped safely and properly.

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. The tapering medicine is administered by doctors to reduce the risk of having adverse reactions from abrupt discontinuation of substance use. A second benzodiazepine, which is most likely to be prescribed to treat seizures, will most likely be administered in conjunction with alcohol and benzodiazepines. The patient is taken off the drug gradually, as opposed to cold turkey, which decreases symptoms and improves security. Other medications may be used to aid in sleep, anxiety, depression and even cravings.

Though opiate withdrawal is rarely life-threatening, the process on one's alone can be extremely difficult and painful. It can also be difficult to stay abstinent. A taper is utilized in medical detox situations, as with alcohol or benzodiazepines. This taper, which is typically buprenorphine (Suboxone or Subutex) reduces the symptoms of opiate withdrawal and cravings. There are numerous benefits to buprenorphine detox. Evidence indicates that it has significantly more success than those who have quit on their own.

Medical detox could also include the possibility of Vivitrol or Naltrexone being prescribed. These medications block opioids and pleasure receptors within the brain. They reduce cravings, and block the effects of opioids completely. They also help prevent overdoses in the event of a have a relapse.

How does detox work?

Medical detox, depending on a person's past drug-use habits, can last anywhere from 3 to 10 days. The initial phase is an evaluation where doctors will determine the length of detox and the amount of medicine should be taken. The medical detox program may be modified or decreased based upon the body's reactions.

A medically-supervised detox may reveal additional diagnoses unavailable to someone attempting to detox on by themselves. Medical staff can help determine the need for additional medications. Patients who are addicted to active drugs put themselves at risk of developing liver disease and other infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C. A detox program can help identify these problems and create a treatment strategy. Skipping a medically-assisted detox can let viruses and diseases go undetected and leading them to progress. Left untreated, liver dysfunction, HIV and Hepatitis C could be fatal.

A patient may be transferred to inpatient rehab after the detox process. Some treatment centers have detox facilities on site. There are detox centers which can be utilized independently. The patient should be transferred to one after detox. It is recommended to plan for further treatment after the detox.

The Benefits

Alongside security and comfort medical detox improves the likelihood of a successful recovery. The root cause of the medical issue can be treated, both physical and mental. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) up to 53% of patients suffering from a substance abuse disorder may also suffer from an additional serious mental health condition such as major depression, Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder. The drug detox in California doctors are able to assess a person mentally, and typically a therapist is assigned to each patient. Inpatient rehabilitation can be more effective if a custom treatment plan is developed prior to the inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation. This allows a person to benefit the most from their treatment.

Although there is significant evidence that detox is crucial however, there is equally evidence that detox alone is not sufficient. NIDA says that detox is just one aspect of the treatment procedure. Below is a diagram created by NIDA which outlines the elements of effective treatment. It is interesting to see the inclusion of medical services. Medical detox is much more than a suggestion. It is usually thought to be essential for a successful treatment experience.