Drug and alcohol use is one of the main problems many people around the world struggle with. Although everyone has a different journey once they accept medical help and start treating their substance abuse disorder, detoxification is a step every individual must go through.
This process is probably the most unpleasant and challenging part of substance abuse treatment, and it’s done by a professional medical drug and alcohol detox team. Nevertheless, it’s essential to know everything about detoxification if you or your loved one will be a part of it.
You can find out more about detox in this article, so please continue reading.
What Is Drug and Alcohol Detox?
Before we jump to anything else, it’s crucial to know what exactly drug and alcohol detox is.
Detox is the first step of every substance abuse therapy. So, no matter which rehab center or program people become part of, the first thing they need to do is go through detoxification, also known as withdrawal.
Namely, detox is a process where all the alcohol, drug, or any other abused substance traces are eliminated from the body. However, because the addicted body is used to having these substances, it starts rebelling once it doesn’t get a new dosage and fails to function correctly.
This marks the beginning of every rehab journey, and the detox ensures the progress goes as smooth and easy as possible.
Who Needs Drug and Alcohol Detox?
Anyone with a drug or alcohol abuse problem needs to consider withdrawal or detox. So, if you think you or someone else in your environment needs drug detox, it’s best to consult with a medical professional and seek help.
In short, anyone incapable of completing everyday tasks without substance abuse should participate in drug or alcohol detox. There are also different types of substance abuse treatment, so one should not worry if they think it won’t work.
The detox provides all individuals the medical stabilization much needed for entering active rehab. So, if you’re ready to make a change in your life and complete the rehab program, get ready to cleanse your body first to prepare for all the upcoming activities and objectives waiting for you in therapy.
The Detoxification Process
The detoxification process is a long, demanding, and complex one, and it isn’t something people can do by themselves. For these reasons, it’s strongly recommended for anyone willing to complete the detox search for professional medical staff that’ll keep a close eye on the entire process.
These are the essential steps of the detoxification process:
Evaluation
The first step of every detox is medical assessment and evaluation of the condition. The detox team consisting of medical professionals needs to closely examine the condition of the patient before coming up with a unique detox plan.
For instance, the staff needs to gather details about the patient’s medical history, general health condition, and details related to their addiction. Only when this step is complete can the patient progress to the second step.
Withdrawal
With a careful and gradual reduction of the substance in the patient’s body, the withdrawal symptoms will slowly start to appear. The withdrawal part of the detoxification process is different for everyone since each person experiences different symptoms, how severe they are, and how long they last.
General mental and physical health also plays a vital role in the withdrawal process, so not everyone can go through the Tennessee drug and alcohol detox with the same results.
Medication
Closely connected to the previous point, most individuals struggle to cope with the withdrawal symptoms, which is why they’re given prescribed medication. This step ensures withdrawal symptoms aren’t as severe and makes the entire detox process much more manageable. Depending on the side effects and withdrawal symptoms, each person gets a different medical prescription.
Support
Detox can’t be successful without constant love, care, and support. Only by offering around-the-clock support will the patients feel the strength to continue their journey and reach the end. Even when the detoxification is complete, support is something that needs to be part of the entire rehab process.
Side Effects of the Detoxification
As previously stated, detoxification causes various withdrawal symptoms. So, they can be said to be the side effects of the entire process, although they indicate progress. Nevertheless, some of the most frequent withdrawal symptoms are:
- shaking, trembling, and shivering
- nausea and vomiting
- sweating
- increased heart rate and blood pressure
- headaches
- insomnia
- anxiety and depression
- paranoia
- hallucinations
- seizures
Conclusion
To conclude, medical drug and alcohol detox is a necessary step for everyone starting their sobriety journey. Although the process is quite unpleasant and hard to complete, the results are worth it. If you are not sure if the substance has been completely eliminated from your body, you can do a saliva drug test to make sure you are safe.
With 24/7 medical support, withdrawal or detox symptoms can be much more bearable and easier to go through. Remember, once detoxification is finished, everything becomes easier, better, and more positive.