Drug Detoxification: Symptoms, Treatment & Expert Advice
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Get in Touch TodayWhat is a Drug Detox?
To recover from drug addiction, often the solution is a drug detox treatment; this initial rehab process starts once consumption has come to a halt and addresses the physicality of drug addiction.
This is because while the drugs are still in the bodily system, the person suffering from addiction will struggle to combat the psychological part of the addiction.
Without addressing the physical and mental aspects of drug addiction, there will be little room for success in sustaining a clean lifestyle. Both of these stages of drug detox treatment are incredibly difficult, which is why most people don’t undergo this process alone and seek supervision from professionals equipped to assist the suffering individual on this journey to sobriety.
What to Expect from a Drug Rehab Clinic
Since drugs impact chemical reactions in the brain, withdrawal symptoms can occur during detoxification. However, the specific symptoms you experience will depend on the addiction severity and the drugs taken.
Thus, you may be offered medication to help ease withdrawal symptoms during drug detox treatment; these medications can include the likes of Buprenorphine and Naltrexone.
If you are addicted to opiate drugs such as codeine, hydrocodone or similar drugs, there are ways to combat this. One option is a partial opiate called Subutex, which can be administered to combat severe withdrawal symptoms such as muscle cramps and spasms.
Though undergoing drug detox without additional medications is possible, it can prove more difficult and uncomfortable. This is why medical professional often recommends the aforementioned medications in rehab for drug addicts.
The Early Stages of Drug Detox Treatment
It is challenging during the first period of a drug detox programme, especially the first two days. Cravings and psychological symptoms will be at an all-time high, particularly if substance abuse has been active for an extended period.
The body will begin to crave drugs and, thus, struggle to cope without them due to previously built tolerance.
While medication can help with this, experienced professionals will monitor you closely. This will be prevalent when you first begin a detox to see how your body initially reacts to treatment.
What is Drug Withdrawal?
Drug withdrawal is an umbrella term for a collection of symptoms that can vary dramatically in what they are and how severe they can be.
This can be intimidating for anybody trying to drug detox, but preparing by knowing what to expect could ease the fear of the unknown.
The first thing to know is that different drug addictions present various withdrawal symptoms. Drugs such as opiates are extremely physically addictive, and when stopping, symptoms include but are not limited to:
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Shakes
- Sweats
You will likely experience a number of drug withdrawal symptoms during the detoxification process, so it could be helpful to know some others aside from the aforementioned opiate symptoms.
Below, you can find a list of common withdrawal symptoms when detoxing from various kinds of drugs:
- 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
The list can be lengthy, and it is no secret that the initial withdrawal period is unpleasant, but coping with it can become more manageable when you have the proper assistance and support around you.
Why Choose Drug Detox Clinics?
While the intent to detox from drugs is a huge step in itself, it may be easy to underestimate how much assistance it requires.
That being said, it is essential to consider undertaking drug detox treatment in the right setting.
You can opt for a drug detox in either an inpatient (residential stay) or outpatient (clinic visits) setting; both are significant steps in the right direction, but deciding which route to take can be tricky if you don’t know what to expect in either circumstance.
With that in mind, an inpatient private drug rehab clinic is among the popular options to consider when going through a detox due to the facilities and staff available throughout the process.
Undertaking a drug detox in a controlled and safe environment can drastically improve the experience and make for a more manageable detoxification process. The medical teams in private drug detox clinics can tackle even the most severe symptoms, giving the user the best shot at overcoming drug addiction for good.
Aside from the help inside the clinic, a residential inpatient rehab offers the opportunity to limit temptation since the physical environment can provide shelter away from the triggers that make detoxing alone so difficult, as well as that, you can expect the following benefits:
- 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
On the other hand though, an outpatient detox programme requires at-home living while receiving treatment at scheduled times at a clinic. This can arguably result in a more unsuccessful detox completion since being within the same environment where drugs are easily accessible makes resisting temptation much more difficult, particularly when cravings hit during withdrawal.
Drug Detox Programmes Typically Provided During Rehab
Most residential drug detox clinics will offer treatment for most addictive substances, including but not limited to:
To learn more about the drug detox process and the drug addictions we treat, call a member of the admissions team at Action Rehab for information today.
What Happens When I Detox From Opiate Drugs?
If you are addicted to an opiate drug such as heroin, you must consider detoxing in an inpatient, medically-controlled environment.
As part of opiate drug detox, opiate substitutes such as buprenorphine can be administered to help patients cope with painful withdrawal symptoms.
Detoxing from drugs takes roughly ten days, although the length of detox will depend on the severity of your addiction. In some cases, heroin addicts receive doses of methadone before detoxing.
This can be a lengthy process, depending on how severe your drug abuse was, but a medically assisted detox is the best way to recover.
What Are the Drug Detox Options?
The short-term drug detox: This method involves a rapid drug detox 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 starting rehabilitation therapy during an extensive drug rehab programme 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 is more than happy to help you find out more about your treatment options; call a team member today on 0151 268 6992 for more information,
Drug Detox at Home
Many people have fears or concerns about checking into a residential rehab facility, preferring to have a home detox instead.
Generally speaking, many doctors and medical professionals advise against home drug detox and going ‘cold turkey’ as it can be dangerous, and relapsing is likely to be more prevalent.
If the symptoms are severe during withdrawal, the likelihood of taking more significant amounts of drugs to ease the symptoms increases, further escalating the risk of overdose.
How Much Does Private Rehab Cost?
The cost of residential rehab depends on the drug detox clinic you choose to detox in, how long your treatment programme is and your needs.
You can expect the cost of a detox-only programme, which typically lasts 10 days, to be around £3000 and over. This involves the cost of:
- Medication
- medical detox
- Nutritional meals
- Accommodation
For more extended programmes, which are 28 days or more, the cost of drug rehab (UK) increases to around £8000+. This also includes addiction therapies that aim to treat any mental health problems and psychological effects resulting from substance use disorder.
Inpatient rehab programmes that last for 28 days or more aim to prevent relapse by offering free aftercare for a year once the treatment programme has ended. If you require more information, you can find out more about the cost of rehab by calling our admissions team today.
Start the Drug Detox Process for a Family Member
Witnessing a family member or loved one struggle with addiction is extremely hard, especially if they’re unaware that they have a physical dependence on drugs.
We offer family support to help you during this complex process. The stress of addiction on loved ones can lead to mental health struggles and often feelings of helplessness, which is why we offer support and advice to guide you.
Learn More About 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 help can find suitable drug detox clinics.
FAQ's
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. Pamela Young - Doctor - Last Reviewed: 25/10/2022 1:00 pm
Dr. Pamela Young MBChB, DRCOG, MRCGP, DFSRH, FRSPH, MBA (Cantab)
Dr. Young is a highly experienced GP specializing in drug detoxification and mental health issues which often coexist alongside drug misuse.
She 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 Young is a recognised healthcare services professional who also holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from Cambridge University Judge Business School.
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