What is medical detox treatment?

Are you struggling with a serious drug or alcohol problem or both and want to become clean and sober? Are you afraid of what will happen if you abruptly stop using the drug of choice or drinking alcohol? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may want to consider entering a medically supervised detox treatment program. A medically supervised detox is designed to help people with severe addiction problems, get through the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and prepare to face long-term addiction treatment in a rehab center.

What are withdrawal symptoms?

Withdrawal symptoms occur when somebody stops drinking alcohol or taking drugs and has a physical addiction to the substance. The body develops a tolerance and requires the substance of choice to feel normal and when the person does not use or drink, the body will react by going through withdrawal symptoms, which can be physically uncomfortable and sometimes, life threatening. The symptoms of drug or alcohol withdrawal are intense the first 2-3 days after the person stops drinking or using drugs and some individuals need to be enrolled into a detox treatment program to get through the process. If someone tries to detox without professional supervision, often the cravings for the drug of choice or alcohol will be so strong, the person will rush back to using to make the urges stop.

How can someone know if they need a medically supervised detox treatment program?

Entering an addiction treatment center when dealing with a severe addiction or alcoholism problem is not a good idea. Within a short period of time, the person will have intense cravings, become uncomfortable from withdrawal symptoms and will be driven by the uncontrollable compulsion to abuse the substance of choice. A person will more than likely require professional detox treatment if addicted to alcohol, opiates, heroin, opioid medications, or benzodiazepines. The physical withdrawal from benzodiazepines, heroin or alcohol can be very dangerous, and if somebody stops using or drinking, it can cause convulsions, delirium tremens, an irregular heartbeat and respiratory or cardiac complications. All of these withdrawal symptoms can be fatal if not treated properly, so entering a supervised detox program to be safe and supervised while getting clean, is something to think about.

Are medications used during the detoxification process?

After a complete medical examination by a health care professional at the detox treatment center, a person may receive small doses of medication to alleviate withdrawal discomfort. Some of the medications which may be used include benzodiazepines medications and anti-convulsants. Whether or not a person is prescribed medications is dependent upon the recommendation of treatment specialists and if it fits in with the addiction treatment plan or not.

What is the first step to healing and recovery from addiction and alcoholism?

The very first step to healing and recovery is to admit to having a problem with alcohol or drugs, which has gotten out of control. After addressing your problem honestly, the next phase of healing is to go into a medically supervised detox treatment program. Once you have opened up about your problem with addiction, you will feel an immediate sense of relief and a surge of hope, because you will find out there are other options to consider, other than living while being mired down in an addiction for the rest of your life.

Why should somebody enter a detox treatment program and then a treatment center for addiction?

You cannot possibly live your whole life being stuck in the abyss of drug and alcohol addiction feeling isolated and helpless. There is no normalcy, no peace, no respite and no hope for those that do not seek addiction treatment. Through making the decision to get professional treatment for an addiction, you have done a positive thing and one which will allow you to come full circle and experience the happiness and joy of a clean and sober life.