What is Medically-Assisted Detox?
Medically-assisted detox is the safest, most comfortable way to get sober from substance abuse. Some of the medications include Suboxone, Vivitrol, Buprenorphine, sleep aids, anxiety medication, nausea medication and more. These medications can be used for a number of reasons in medically-assisted detox including:
- Slowly tapering an individual off of drugs
- Easing uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms
- Curbing intense cravings
- Blocking the body from becoming high or drunk
- Treat underlying issues
Medically-Assisted Detox is the Perfect First Step
Quitting cold-turkey from drugs and/or alcohol is virtually impossible, and this is because one of the hallmarks of addiction is the inability to stop or slow use. By taking advantage of medication to help you quit, a medically-assisted detox is the perfect first step on your road to recovery.
Treatment for addiction is often stressful and emotionally-charged as you explore suppressed feelings and look in the mirror at ways to improve yourself. Detox doesn’t have to be stressful; it can be one of the more comforting parts of addiction treatment. By knowing you are in good hands and able to overcome that tough first week or two, you will be better able to face therapy head-on.
The Safest Way to Get Sober
Simply put: detox is extremely uncomfortable and difficult to get through without medical assistance. This is because the body goes through painful withdrawal symptoms as the substances are leaving the system. Some of these withdrawal symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Uncontrollable yawning
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Seizures
- Changes in appetite
- Decreased sex drive
- Clammy skin
- Dilated pupils
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Weight loss or gain
- Muscle aches
There are many factors that contribute to how people feel while detoxing. Some of them include:
- Substance. Detox withdrawal symptoms can be different depending on the substance that the individual was addicted to. Alcohol withdrawal can be markedly different than opioid withdrawal, and each of them has different needs.
- Length of addiction. An individual who has been addicted to opioids for 10 years will have a much different detox process than someone who has been addicted for 6 months because of dependency and tolerance levels.
- The severity of addiction. Dosage levels can impact how someone feels during detox, as well. The more an individual takes, the more their body is dependent and, ultimately, there is more of it in their system.
- Everyone is different. Simply put, everyone reacts to detox differently. If two people are on one boat, one may get seasick while the other does not. During detox, someone may experience all symptoms while another may only experience a few.
Around-the-Clock Medical Care
One of the reasons that medically-assisted detox is the safest way to get sober is because there is around-the-clock medical care for every need. If an individual should experience a seizure in the middle of the night, medical professionals are on-hand to take immediate action. This is especially important for alcohol detox since some symptoms can cause coma or death.
Treatment for Underlying Conditions
One of the many reasons that people begin using substances is to self-medicate. Whether diagnosed or undiagnosed, people are just looking to feel better and escape an underlying condition. Whether that condition is chronic pain, anxiety or depression, substances can numb these things — yet ultimately make them worse.
When in medically-assisted detox, individuals can speak to medical professionals about their symptoms and receive other treatments to help aid these underlying conditions. Without medically-assisted detox, it may have never been uncovered otherwise.
A Closed, Safe Environment
By checking into a facility for addiction and detox, you are eliminating all outside triggers and focusing only on yourself. You don’t have to worry about friends coming by to tempt you, your boss stressing you out with a new deadline, or engaging in more volatile arguments with your spouse. Your only focus is on yourself.
Extra Insurance for Relapse Prevention
An estimated 60% of people recovering from addiction will deal with some form of relapse. This is especially true in the first 90 days after treatment, where relapse rates are the highest. Medically-assisted detox offers certain medications that actually prevent a person from becoming high or drunk, even if they use. In addition, there are also medications available to block a person from experiencing cravings. Both of these things are extra insurance in early recovery to prevent relapse at the most sensitive time.
About Channel Islands Rehab
The faster and more comfortable a person is detoxed from substances, the faster and more comfortable they will be able to begin behavioral and holistic therapy. Time is of the essence since most relapses occur in the first 90 days of recovery, so the sooner a person is able to learn how to manage their triggers, the better. If an individual is feeling horrible throughout the detox process, they may give up and return to substances. However, if an individual is comfortable and looked after throughout detox, they will be more willing to stay in treatment and start off recovery right.
The Channel Island Rehab Total Immersion Method is not an out-of-the-box approach to addiction treatment, like many other rehabs. It is unique in that it involves specifically around you and your individual, unique needs. No two people’s journeys are the same at Channel Islands Rehab, allowing for the best chances for long-term success.
Complementing these vital treatments and therapies is our powerful, unwavering ring of support. Through these collaborative efforts, we help you to uncover the underlying issues of your addiction. Our ultimate goal is for you to leave the facility strong and confident, with a practical plan for lasting recovery.
At Channel Islands Rehab Treatment Center, we work to make your residential stay pleasant and stress-free. Our beautiful, calming home, located only one-half block from the ocean, gives you an opportunity to relax and reassess your direction in life. The facility overlooks the harbor, providing the most appealing of settings for reconnecting with yourself.
For more information, visit channelislandsrehab.com
