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The first priority of a detox is to help patients stop using drugs and alcohol safely.
At Allure Detox, our top priority is ensuring the health and safety of every patient throughout the detox process. This commitment is fundamental to providing a trustworthy and effective treatment environment with patient safety forming the cornerstone of our comprehensive care model. Without these safeguards in place, detox cannot serve its essential role in the recovery journey.
What is Detox?
Medical detox for drugs and alcohol is a clinically supervised process designed to safely manage the physical symptoms of withdrawal while clearing the body of substances. It typically involves the use of medications to ease discomfort, stabilize the individual, and prevent complications such as seizures or severe dehydration. This process is overseen by our healthcare professionals who provide round-the-clock monitoring to ensure the patient’s safety and comfort. Medical detox serves as the critical first step in the recovery journey, creating a solid foundation for further treatment by helping patients manage withdrawal symptoms in a controlled and supportive environment.
Why Detoxing Alone (Home Detox Treatment) is a Bad Idea
Although it’s possible to survive detoxing from certain substances alone “cold turkey,” it’s risky. In most cases, accepting help with the detox process is the best option, and it’s more comfortable, and more importantly, safer. If a patient attempts to undergo a detox alone, they could end up facing a medical emergency.
But drug detox isn’t just uncomfortable. When physically dependent on a substance, the withdrawal symptoms can actually cause life-threatening medical conditions. Some of the more severe withdrawal symptoms brought about by drugs and alcohol can include:
- Tremors or seizures
- Insomnia
- Nausea or vomiting
- Anxiety, cravings, depression, or extreme mood swings
- Headaches
- Muscle cramps
- Delirium tremens
Even if the detox process doesn’t cause the most serious of the above symptoms, it can still be an incredibly undesirable process to manage on your own. When a patient finds the detox and withdrawal symptoms to be too overwhelming, they’re much more likely to give up and return to drugs and alcohol. Relapses after periods of sobriety almost always come with an increased risk of overdose – especially for those who abuse opioids such as heroin or fentanyl. Choosing medical detox will help you stay healthy and give you the best chance at long-term success.
Medical Detox vs. Addiction Treatment
These two concepts go hand in hand, yet they’re also quite different. Alcohol and drug detoxification focuses on removing the substance from the body and addressing withdrawal symptoms, while addiction treatment focuses on the root causes of the addiction itself, which can be very complex to navigate. Although detox is a crucial first step to the recovery process, it will be hard for most people to maintain long-term sobriety without additional treatment programs (such as inpatient rehab or medication assisted treatment) from medical professionals and experienced behavioral health clinicians.
The Stages of Medical Detox Treatment
1. Assessment
When the patient arrives at the detox center, the medical team will assess their condition. This involves taking a complete look at the patient’s medical history, physical condition, and mental health issues. The assessment phase will help the recovery team design a comprehensive medical detox plan for the patient, ensuring they get the best possible medical care.
2. Stabilization
For a period that usually lasts between three days and two weeks, the patient will be detoxing and stabilizing. This is the phase in which specific medical detoxification protocols are taking place based on the patient’s usage history. If needed, the patient will receive medication to ease the withdrawal symptoms during this time.
3. Recovery
After detoxification is complete, the patient is ready to begin the actual work of recovery. If they choose to do so, our team will help to provide a treatment plan including therapy, a 12-step program if desired, and an inpatient or outpatient rehab schedule.
Common Medications Used During Detox
Benzodiazepines
This particular class of drugs can helps to ease some of the severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures. These medications can also help balance anxiety in the early stages of alcohol detox. However, because these can also be habit-forming, they are only used sparingly and under strict medical supervision.
Antidepressants
In detox and early recovery, the patient’s brain chemistry is in chaos, and it takes time to rebalance brain chemistry after a period of substance abuse. During this stage, it’s easy for the patient to go into a downward spiral due to feeling terrible. Antidepressants can help them remain even-keeled as they prepare for a long-term drug rehab program.
Non-narcotic Agonists
This type of drug decreases adrenaline surges and other detox symptoms. Most of these medications are also used for other conditions, such as hypertension.
Narcotic Analgesics
All opioid drugs are narcotic analgesics, but methadone is the opioid drug most commonly used in recovery. Although using an opioid drug to recover from opioid addiction may seem counterintuitive, methadone has been a standard treatment for decades. Methadone’s euphoric effects are much milder than other opioid drugs, such as heroin or oxycontin. It binds to opioid receptors in the brain, effectively blocking both withdrawal symptoms and the euphoric effects of other opioid drugs. The patient is then able to wean off the methadone as they continue with the recovery process.
Opioid Blocking Agents
This type of medication (suboxone/buprenorphine) also helps with opioid withdrawal. A person must abstain from all other opioid use for at least seven days to receive this type of medication in treatment. This is due to the potential interactions of these drugs. Naltrexone is an example of an opioid-blocking agent to help stop drug use.
Why Choose Our Medical Detox in Florida?
Our patients choose medical detox because it provides a structured, medically supervised environment that supports them in safely withdrawing from substances while continuing to engage in their daily lives. This approach promotes healing and helps patients learn to live without drugs or alcohol. Research shows that a medically managed detox increases the likelihood of long-term recovery. We are dedicated to helping you and your family regain control of your lives and our compassionate care is tailored to each individual’s specific needs.
Ambulatory Detox with On-site Monitoring
This is an outpatient option that involves visiting a physician’s office or recovery center at regular intervals. During the visits, nurses will monitor the patient for a few hours at a time.
Ambulatory Detox without On-site Monitoring
This is like the above option, but nurses won’t monitor the patient. Both of these options are best for those who aren’t undergoing the type of detox that might be dangerous.
Clinically Managed Residential Detox
This is an inpatient, supervised detox option. It’s ideal for people struggling with substances that are highly addictive but don’t necessarily require medical detox interventions. The patient receives constant emotional support, but medical oversight is minimized.
Medically Monitored Inpatient Detox
This is another residential treatment option that offers medical detox support. Due to using support medications in a rehabilitation setting, the patient will have more restrictions than other detox types. The patient will experience supervision at all hours of the day, and the team will be ready to address any issues with withdrawal.
Medically Managed Intensive Inpatient Detox
This is the most intensive level of medical detox. It’s suitable for people suffering from severe substance use disorder involving the most dangerous physically addictive substances. The medical team will manage the patient’s withdrawal in an acute care inpatient setting.
The Benefits of Detoxing in a Home-Like Setting
Entering recovery takes great courage. The patient knows they’re about to go through many challenges. During difficult times, it’s natural to want comfort. For this reason, many patients mistakenly convince themselves they’d be better off detoxing at home. Our team understands the importance of a comforting setting. Our residential detox center in West Palm Beach, Florida, offers just that. The little details come together from the hardwood floors to the lush surrounding gardens to create a lovely home-like setting.
Get Help Today from Allure Detox
If you or someone you love is suffering from substance use disorder, the road ahead may seem daunting. Please remember you’re not alone. Our team is dedicated to helping every patient achieve lasting recovery. Providing comprehensive addiction treatment – including medical detox – empowers patients to believe in a better tomorrow. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
