A well-executed medical detox helps to begin the healing from addiction and substance abuse. Most people with substance use disorder or addiction need to undergo a detoxification process to experience treatment with a clear mind and a body free of addictive substances. Completing a medical detox at a treatment facility with medical professionals
Residential detox, also known as inpatient detox, is a type of drug and alcohol detox program that provides 24/7 medical supervision and support in a residential treatment center. This type of program is designed for individuals who require a safe and supportive environment to overcome their substance use disorder.
Medical detox programs offer a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment, addressing both physical and emotional struggles. By providing a warm and supportive environment, residential detox programs reduce the risk of relapse and set individuals up for success in their recovery journey.
What Does Residential Detox Look Like?
One of the goals of a medically supervised detox is to address withdrawal symptoms while the body is weaned off alcohol or drugs. It is not uncommon for people to try to stop withdrawal symptoms by going back to taking substances because of painful or distressing withdrawal symptoms. Having medical staff on standby to assist can make a huge difference, whether they’re addiction specialists or registered nurses. They can administer medication to help ease symptoms or provide quality care if there’s a sudden medical emergency.
Once admitted into a medical detox program, the first step is to get comfortable and settled in the new environment. A comprehensive assessment is usually conducted soon after arriving to evaluate the individual’s physical and emotional state. A drug test is conducted to see how much of any substances are present. Medical professionals then provide monitoring to see what unpredictable symptoms may develop and treat any expected reactions.
People undergoing detox are monitored for any illnesses or sudden developments to ensure a safe detox process. Substance abuse and addiction can increase the risk of a wide range of other physical and mental illnesses that are related to a lifestyle that involves substances. There are also the toxic effects of the substances themselves that need to be addressed during a detox.
When alcohol or drug use stops, many different physical and emotional symptoms can occur. Certain detox medications can reduce these symptoms, which makes it easier to concentrate on treatment and recovery. It can also drastically reduce the rate of relapse for the first few weeks of addiction recovery.
Detox is not a standalone cure for addiction. It doesn’t treat the underlying causes of substance use, and is only one tool used for successful relapse prevention. Detoxification is not enough to help with full recovery. It alone without continued substance use treatment generally leads to relapse.
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Common Medications For Detox
While undergoing medical detox, healthcare staff monitor vital signs to ensure safe withdrawal management. The body handles eliminating alcohol, opiates, and other drugs in different ways. Medical professionals will follow guidelines that address the substances taken before admission into the detox program.
Alcohol can produce intense withdrawal symptoms, especially if the person is healing from a severe addiction. Alcohol detoxification symptoms can include:
- Delirium
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Body temperature, pulse, and blood pressure disturbances
- Seizures
Medications used to treat alcohol withdrawal syndrome include:
- Acamprosate: Acamprosate helps lessen symptoms connected to long-lasting withdrawal, such as sleeplessness, anxiety, restlessness, and a general sense of feeling ill or unhappy. This drug has been found to be effective in treating severe addiction.
- Anti-Seizure Drugs: Specific anti-seizure drugs may also be used during alcohol detox for people who have a history (or high risk) of experiencing convulsions while undergoing detoxification.
- Prescribed Medications: Medications commonly used to treat withdrawal symptoms from alcohol include benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium). Benzodiazepines can reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms and help prevent alcohol withdrawal seizures, and a medical professional may choose to prescribe these to ease symptoms.
Withdrawal from benzodiazepine drugs carries many of the same risks and symptoms as alcohol withdrawal. Medical complications of benzodiazepine withdrawal can include seizures and delirium. Many people who started taking benzodiazepines did so to treat anxiety. During benzodiazepine withdrawal, their symptoms or panic attacks may re-emerge. Elderly people may have special risks while undergoing withdrawal, such as delirium, falls, and heart attacks.
Medications used in benzodiazepine detox may include:
- Switching to another benzodiazepine
- Switching to another benzodiazepine with a long half-life, such as chlordiazepoxide
- Phenobarbital may be used to prevent seizures
While there are no specific drugs used to aid with stimulant detox, there are still medical hazards that medical professionals can help abate. People who are no longer taking stimulants can fall into intense bouts of depression. They can also develop profound negative thoughts and emotions, which can increase the danger of suicidal ideation or suicide. Since these medical dangers can be significant, it’s recommended that stimulant withdrawal take place within a supervised detox environment.
Symptoms of stimulants withdrawal can include:
- Cardiac complications
- Seizures
- Brain bleeds
Many people enter into treatment after developing problems regarding addiction to more than one substance. In these cases, a reputable and effective detox program will be even more essential to ensuring that that person detoxes safely and without adverse effects. The medical professionals will usually prioritize detoxification treatment according to the severity of withdrawal. The most serious withdrawal symptoms, especially those that can be fatal, will be treated first. Other medications may be used to treat mental health conditions (such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD) that may be contributing to the addiction.
What are the Benefits of Detox?
One of the important benefits of medically assisted detox is that there is around-the-clock monitoring in case anything goes awry. In addition to medical care, therapeutic support is provided to address emotional and psychological needs. Withdrawal symptoms can quickly develop. By having experienced and trained staff on hand 24/7 to deal with symptoms right away, detox can be calmer and more successful.
In addition, residential detox offers a medically safe environment for detoxing. A stay in a treatment facility can help eliminate the distractions and temptations that the outside world can bring. Medically-assisted detox helps to protect people who may experience severe withdrawal symptoms. Without any temptation to use substances or influences that may tempt a person to relapse, it’s easier to concentrate on the healing process.
The Dangers of Home Detox in the Recovery Process
Attempting a home detox can become dangerous very quickly. Supervised inpatient detox allows medications to be dispensed to address withdrawal symptoms as they take place, and in a way that allows immediate response. Home detox carries potential for great medical risks and an inability to react quickly, which can produce incredible damage to a person’s health. Depending on the substance, detox without medical professionals present can potentially result in death.
How Long Does Detox Take?
Detox duration will vary from person to person and depend on a range of factors. The severity of the substance abuse, how long the person has been struggling with substance abuse, and the amount of the substance consumed can help determine the length of stay. The average stay in a medically assisted detox program is about 5 to 14 days.
Once detox is completed, it’s important to enter an addiction treatment program. Without treatment, it’s highly likely that relapse will occur. If a person enters treatment immediately after detox, they are much more likely to remain substance-free.
Therapies Used in a Residential Detox Treatment Center
During and after a detox, a range of evidence based therapies are administered to the person to help them prepare for recovery. They can be used as a comprehensive approach to detox, which then continues when that person eventually enters an addiction treatment program.
These may include:
- Group therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Therapy for trauma
- Support groups
These therapies are designed to change negative thoughts and beliefs connected to stopping drugs or alcohol. These therapies also provide education about dependence and addiction. Also, cognitive and behavioral therapies are provided that help reduce anxiety and stress as well as to enhance sleep during detox.
Contact 449 For Information on Medical Detox
If you or a loved one is suffering from alcohol or drug abuse, it’s important to have a detox scheduled as soon as possible. It’s essential for ensuring safety during the detoxification of addictive substances, and can be the first step toward a healthy recovery.
Contact us at 449 Recovery about taking the first steps to a drug- or alcohol-free life. With the right help, a sober life is possible.
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- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery
- https://www.drugs.com/mtm/lofexidine.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64116/
- https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh22-1/44-46.pdf
Dr. Warren Taff MD, graduated from the University of Birmingham, England School of Medicine, with a BA from Rutgers University. He then went on to UCLA School of Public Health in Los Angeles Health and Human Services and received an MPH. He also attended an internship in internal medicine, with the Veterans Administration. Dr. Taff’s residency includes General Psychiatry at USC, with elective residencies at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia, and Royal College of Psychiatry. Board certifications include American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Taff has extensive experience in both psychiatry and addiction medicine, extending from 1979 to present. He has held professional titles that include Chief of Staff and Medical Directorship in both hospitals and private sectors.
