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.
Get FREE Confidential Advice Regarding Drug Detox
Please speak to us for FREE and confidential advice regarding drug detoxification, whether it is you or a family member/friend. You are not alone.
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 initial rehab process that refers to the removal of toxins or substances from the body once consumption has ended. This could include drugs 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 during the withdrawal stage.
Undergoing Drug Detox As Part Of Addiction Treatment
Because drugs impact chemical reactions in the brain, withdrawal symptoms can occur during the detox process, although the exact symptoms that you experience will depend on the severity of your addiction and the kinds of drugs you are taking.
You may be offered medication to help ease withdrawal symptoms during the drug detox process such as Buprenorphine and Naltrexone which are extremely beneficial to help you manage drug withdrawal symptoms.
If you are addicted to opiate drugs such as codeine, hydrocodone or other 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 and they are often recommended by the medical professional in private drug rehab centres.
The early stages of a drug detox programme, especially the first two days, can be very challenging as your cravings and psychological symptoms will be at a high level. If a substance abuse disorder has existed for a certain length of time, the body craves drugs and struggles to cope without them as a result of built tolerance.
You will be offered medications to ease withdrawal symptoms, as you may feel generally unwell. Staff who are experienced professionals 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 such as cocaine.
Others, such as opiates, are extremely physically addictive and can result in physical 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 drug 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:
To find out more about the drug detox process and the drug addictions we treat, call a member of the admissions team at Action Rehab for information.
Drug Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms
It is very likely that you will experience a number of drug withdrawal symptoms during the detoxification process, and it is important that you know what to expect before you start.
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 can expect to experience withdrawal symptoms, however you may only experience a few. The symptoms you feel when undertaking a drug detox will depend on the substance you were previously taking and the severity of your drug addiction.
It is always important to undertake a drug detox in a controlled and safe environment which is medically assisted. This means that the most severe symptoms can be tackled by the medical team in rehab quickly and effectively, giving you the best shot at a successful recovery.
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 and the generally hard process of drug withdrawal.
Detoxing from drugs takes roughly up to 10 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 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 experienced when quitting drugs cold turkey can be very uncomfortable and even life-threatening in extreme cases.
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 are more than happy to help.
How Long Does Detox Take?
As touched on before, the length of time it takes to detox to quit drugs vary depending on several factors such as the severity of your drug use, along with your general health, the type of drug you were addicted to, weight, age, and mental health.
Generally, the length of time it takes to detox from drugs is roughly 8-10 days, however it can take longer to feel normal or completely recovered.
The withdrawal period can be extremely dangerous, which is why it is important to not rush the process and follow a medically proven and carefully monitored detox.
Ending drug abuse and recovering from drug addiction is a huge step to take towards long term recovery, and is best done with a medical team in residential rehab.
The most recommended length of rehab treatment is a 28 day+ stay, as this allows you to complete your detox and treat both your physical and mental health problems that have arisen during your substance abuse history.
To find out more about your treatment options, call a member of the team today on 0151 268 6992.
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 is less safe and home drug detox can be hard to recover from.
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.
How Much Does Private Rehab Cost?
The cost of residential rehab depends on the rehab facility 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 and accommodation.
For longer rehab programmes which are 28 days or more, the cost increases to around £8000 and more. This also includes addiction therapies which aim to treat any mental health problems and psychological effects that have arisen as result of substance use disorder.
Inpatient rehab programmes that last for 28 days or more aims to prevent relapse by offering free aftercare for a year once the treatment programme has ended.
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, and they may not realise that they have a physical dependence on drugs.
We offer family support to help you during this hard 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.
Our helpline can offer tips to address addiction with a loved one, provide guidance about staging a drug intervention, and answer any questions that you may have regarding rehab treatment.
Speak to us today for help.
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 find detox services suitable for you.
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. Olalekan Otulana - Doctor - Last Reviewed: 25/10/2022 1:00 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
Contact Us
Call Us