When you undertake a drug detox because of an addiction, you undertake a medically-assisted process in which drugs are cleansed and flushed out of your body.
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GET IN TOUCH TODAYWhat is Drug Detox?
To recover from drug addiction, an individual may be required to undergo drug rehab treatment. This treatment usually comes in two stages: a drug detox. Drug detox is the process that refers to the removal of “toxins” or substances from the body. This could include drug or alcohol substances. It is essential to go through the detox stage of treatment under the supervision of an addiction expert to reduce any potential risks of the withdrawal stage.
Undergoing Drug Detox As Part Of Addiction Treatment
Because drugs impact chemical reactions in the brain, withdrawal symptoms can occur, although this will depend on the severity of your addiction and the kinds of drugs you are taking.
You may be offered medications such as Buprenorphine and Naltrexone to ease withdrawal symptoms.
In the example of being addicted to opiate drugs, a partial opiate called Subutex may be administered to combat severe withdrawal symptoms related to muscular cramps and spasms.
It is possible to undergo drug detox without additional medications, but this can prove more difficult and uncomfortable.
The early stages of a drug detox programme, especially the first two days, can be very challenging as your cravings will be at a high level as your body craves drugs and struggles to cope without them.
You will be offered medications to ease withdrawal symptoms, as you may feel generally unwell. Staff will monitor you closely, especially when you first begin a detox, to see how your body reacts to treatment.
Some drugs are only psychologically addictive, meaning that you will not experience any physical withdrawal symptoms.
Others, such as opiates, are physically addictive and can result in withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, nausea, headaches, shakes and sweats.
You can undertake a drug detox in an inpatient or outpatient setting. As an inpatient, you will be admitted to a rehab clinic where you will live during your treatment.
The benefit to this is that you will receive continuous compassion, support and care from the staff at the rehab centre. It also offers an opportunity to break free from your previous living situation, which will likely limit temptation.
An outpatient detox programme means that you will continue living at home while receiving treatment at certain times when you can travel to a rehab clinic.
This method is less successful than inpatient therapy because patients are not removed from their original drug-taking environment, making cravings harder to deal with.
Drug Detox Programmes Typically Provided During Rehab
Most residential drug detox clinics will offer treatment for most addictive substances.
Detox programmes typically offered include:
Drug Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms
Common withdrawal symptoms associated with a drug detox include:
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Agitation
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Feeling cold
- Sweats
- Shaking
- Watery eyes and nose
- Feeling sick
- Cravings (for drugs)
- Bone or joint pain
- Stomach and digestive issues
You may find that you experience only some of these symptoms. The symptoms you feel when undertaking a drug detox will depend on the substance you were previously taking.
It is always important to undertake a drug detox in a controlled and safe environment.
What Happens When I Detox From Opiate Drugs?
If you are addicted to an opiate drug such as heroin, it is essential to consider detoxing in an inpatient, medically-controlled environment.
As part of an opiate drug detox, opiate substitutes such as buprenorphine are administered to help patients cope with painful withdrawal symptoms.
The detox should last up to 14 days, although this will depend on the severity of your addiction. In some cases, heroin addicts receive doses of methadone before being detoxed off of it.
This can be a lengthy process, depending on how much you are dependent on the drug.
What Are My Drug Detox Options?
There are three main routes a person can take in pursuing a drug detox:
The cold turkey method: This is where a person suddenly stops taking drugs, removing them from their system rapidly, without taking any medications to ease their withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms using this method can be very uncomfortable and even life-threatening in extreme cases.
The short-term drug detox: This method involves a stint in rehab for up to a week, following a medically assessed detox programme. After this, most people leave rehab without following the entire rehabilitation programme.
Long-term detox: This method is more effective and can last anywhere from 2 weeks to 28 days. A patient typically follows a detox under medical supervision before entering rehabilitation therapy to help them tackle the emotional and psychological issues related to their addiction.
If you need help deciding on the type of medical detox you require, then get in touch with Action Rehab. Whether you want to recover from drugs or alcohol addiction, our friendly team are more than happy to help.
Drug Detox At Home
Many people have fears or concerns about checking into a residential rehab facility, preferring to have a home drug detox instead.
Generally speaking, many doctors and medical professionals advise against home detoxing and going ‘cold turkey’ and will not prescribe medications that will allow you to detox from home.
Doing a drug detox from home can be very dangerous because of the impact of withdrawal symptoms on your body. If the symptoms are severe, you are more likely to take more significant amounts of drugs to ease the symptoms, further increasing your risk of overdose.
The benefits of drug detox in a controlled medical facility include:
- Personalised medical care
- Safe and comforting surroundings
- Assisted detox and rehabilitation programmes
- Mindfulness activities
- Family therapy
- Personal 1:1 counselling
- Self-care and drug awareness workshops
- Increased chance of successful detox and recovery
- Aftercare plan
We will always advise an inpatient detox programme, as this will help reduce the risks of health problems occurring and deal with any physical and mental side effects.
Learning More About The Types Of Drug Detox Treatment Programmes
Most drug detox treatment plans will vary, but our friendly team have built up strong relationships with inpatient and outpatient treatment centres, who have experience dealing with all types of substances.
Whether you are thinking of entering a private rehab clinic yourself for drug detox or are reading this because you are concerned about the welfare of someone you love, we can help at Action Rehab.
We work with drug rehab clinics across the UK to help patients find detox and rehab services for drug addiction. Get in touch with us today to see how we can find detox services suitable for you.
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John Gillen - Author - Last Updated: 16th November 2017
John is a leading expert in addiction recovery and has been pioneering new techniques such as NAD+ for over 10 years. He’s committed to providing the best treatment options available throughout Europe, including ongoing research into therapies like laser therapy to help people heal from their problems.
Dr. Olalekan Otulana - Doctor - Last Reviewed: 13/04/2022 3:00 pm
Dr. Olalekan Otulana MBChB, DRCOG, MRCGP, DFSRH, FRSPH, MBA (Cantab)
Dr. Otulana is a highly experienced GP specializing in drug detoxification and mental health issues which often coexist alongside drug misuse.
He helps people who struggle with substance abuse by providing medical treatment to help them recover from their addictions while also managing any withdrawal symptoms that may occur when quitting an addictive substance.
Very experienced in helping patients through the detoxification stage of rehab both as inpatients and outpatients treated through community care.
Dr Otulana is a recognised healthcare services professional who also holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from Cambridge University Judge Business School
