Detox

What Does Detox Involve?

Detoxing from drugs is the first step to overcoming addiction to drugs. Withdrawing the body from harmful substances can be a tough process due to the dependency impacting the brain’s chemistry, making it hard to resist the cravings. Couple the intense cravings with withdrawal symptoms, and you can start to understand why so many individuals stay stuck in a life of dependency.

In the majority of in-patient rehab facilities, individuals will go through an intense detox that will typically last up to 10 days. Throughout this journey, medical supervision will be provided to monitor progress and determine whether any interventions are needed.

Why Are Some Drugs Harder to Detox From?

The main reason why some drugs are harder to detox is down to the severity of the withdrawal symptoms. Substances such as alcohol, benzodiazepines and opioids bring on more physical withdrawal symptoms, which can be harmful depending on how dependent the individual is on the substance. 

Some drugs have withdrawal symptoms that are mainly psychological, with Cannabis being the main example of this.

When it comes to the difficulty of the detox, this is not just based on the substance, the actual length of time that an individual has been added to the drug plays a big part as well. Having a long-standing addiction can mean the dependency is a lot greater and the body fights back more strongly when the substance starts to withdraw from the body.

Is Detox Dangerous?

If you try to detox at home without any medical supervision, then yes, detoxing from harmful substances, in particular, can be very dangerous. This is why most health professionals that you speak to will recommend that you undergo the treatment at a specialist centre.

Most of the centres we offer have 24-hour care in place, meaning that you will be monitored at all times during detox and will also have access to prescription drugs which can be given to you if the withdrawal symptoms become more severe.

How Long Does A Typical Detox Last?

A typical detox will last for up to 10 days; during these days, you will also receive one-to-one counselling to help support you through the programme. Once you have successfully completed a detox you will most likely be moved onto the latter stage of rehab which involves therapy sessions and more regular counselling to help heal your mind.