Top 5 Drug Detox Programs Offered At Rehab Clinics And How They Work

Do you have an addiction problem? If so, you are not alone. The sooner you seek treatment in rehab, the sooner you can improve your life. While you may not want to depend on drugs or alcohol, these substances are still addictive. 

Therefore, to overcome their impact, you need to sign up for rehab. Doing so will allow you to go through withdrawal safely and comfortably and give you the support you need to lead an addictive-free life.

Also, drug rehabilitation programs are not cut-and-dried therapies. They are customized to a patient’s treatment needs. As a result, the therapy you undergo is personalized to your addiction issue and the extent of the disease. For example, your treatment for an alcohol addiction is different from treatments indicated for addictive substances such as stimulants, suboxone, opioids, or benzodiazepine.

In addition, some drug rehab programs center their therapy on patients with dual diagnoses. This means the patient has an underlying psychological or medical condition that has led to their drug abuse. As a result they require therapy for both conditions.

Drug Rehab Detox: The 5 Primary Programs

Drug detoxification is the first step in any drug rehab and therapy program. For example, Indianapolis drug rehab presents 5 primary programs to address specific types of addictions and their withdrawal. These 5 areas cover alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepine (benzos), suboxone, and stimulant drugs.

1. Alcohol Rehab Detox

You should never attempt to recover from an addiction to alcohol yourself as withdrawal symptoms can be far-reaching, even debilitating and dangerous. By entering a rehab program, you can withdraw from alcohol use with the help of medical professionals.

Many people addicted to alcohol often ask, “What happens when I stop drinking?” “What can I expect?” 

What happens depends on the severity of the problem. Some minor symptoms may appear about 2 to 5 hours after you stop drinking. If you’re a lighter drinker, they’ll peak in a couple days. However, they can last as long as 7 days if you’re used to drinking more. While ongoing withdrawal symptoms are rare, they can still last up to a month in some cases.

How long your withdrawal lasts also depends on your weight and age. Therefore, younger patients are usually more resilient when it comes to withdrawal. However, that does not mean they should forego medical intervention. Again, a rehab program is the best and safest way to get over an addiction permanently.

More severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include cold sweats, a fast pulse, vomiting, nausea, shakiness, and anxiety. In some cases, people hallucinate. These experiences represent a condition, called the delirium tremens – a severe withdrawal response. Medical practitioners can reduce these effects with the administration of withdrawal medicines.

Therefore, going through alcohol detox is an important form of recovery as quitting cold-turkey is not a safe option. Medical support is offered so the support team can recognize and avert certain symptoms before they worsen. The use of withdrawal medications stabilizes patients and reduces the possibility of seizures and other unwanted side effects.

2. Opioid Addiction and Treatment

Opioid use disorder continues to be a prevailing problem in the U.S. Thankfully, you can receive treatment for the addiction and overcome your battle with the disease. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), approximately 2.5 million people have an opioid use disorder in the United States. Opioid deaths numbered close to 30,000 in 2014.

Opioid abuse  involves the misuse of certain prescription relievers, including heroin. Using the drugs opens up users to other health risks such as HIV or hepatitis. Therefore, enrolling in a recovery program is important for reducing these risks.

Withdrawal drugs used to ease opioid withdrawal include the administration of buprenorphine or methadone. These drugs are not given to substitute an opioid addiction for their use. Rather, the doses given during withdrawal do not cause the patient to get high. Instead, they are used to reduce cravings for opioid drugs. After detox, the brain circuitry heals so the patient can lead a normal drug-free life.

3. Detoxing from Benzodiazepine

A benzodiazepine detox typically lasts longer than other forms of detox. That is because medical practitioners treat patients so they gradually taper off the substance. You cannot take a “cold turkey,” do-it-yourself approach when you withdraw from benzodiazepine. Doing so is just as dangerous as detoxing from alcohol on your own. The only way to be successful is to receive medical support in an established durg recovery facility.

4. Suboxone Treatment Withdrawal

You can compare suboxone detox to what patients go through when withdrawing from a benzodiazepine addiction as they must taper off of the drug. In this case, patience is soon learned as you need time to withdraw and recuperate. The gradual tapering of the drug allows a patient to stop craving the drug safely and successfully. In turn, they are no longer dependent on the medicine.

5. Withdrawal from Stimulant Drugs

Stimulant drugs represent drugs,such as methamphetamine and cocaine. Medical practitioners who monitor stimulant detox withdrawals focus on relieving withdrawal symptoms that lead to psychological or physical discomfort or pain. 

Detox depends on the stimulant used, its strength, and the patient’s drug history, age, and health. Program administrators advocate the use of medicines that control and alleviate specific symptoms. Some of the medicines used include antipsychotic drugs to reduce symptoms related to paranoia, psychosis, and agitation.

It All Begins with Detox

An entire treatment plan for drug and/or alcohol addiction starts with detox. This initial part of a recovery program focuses on relieving physical withdrawal symptoms first. Both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation allow a patient to revise their behavior so they don’t relapse and drink again or resume drug use.

Redirect Your Life So You’re Moving in a More Positive Direction.

Do you feel your addiction is out of control? If so, the best course of action to take is to enroll in a detox/rehab alcohol and drug program. Doing so will improve your health and psychological outlook. Through detox and counseling, you can regain your confidence and take the steps needed that lead to a brighter and more productive future.