Drugs and alcohol all require you to detox. While this first step is painful, everyone must take it to begin the healing process.
Can I safely detox from alcohol or drugs at home?
Detoxing at home is not recommended. There is a range of symptoms you will feel based on drug type and frequency of use. But every detox, no matter the substance, will feel incredibly painful.
With substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines, there is a chance of detox becoming fatal. If you suffer from substance addiction, such as a benzo addiction or alcoholism, you should not detox at home. Instead, detox in a medical environment where professionals can watch your vitals and provide 24-7 care to make sure that you can safely get through the detox.
What are the risks or dangers of detoxing from opioids or alcohol?
No matter what you are suffering from, always seek professional help when detoxing. Most detox symptoms are incredibly hard to manage on your own, with alcohol and benzo detox symptoms leading to death in some cases.
Opioids have detox symptoms, including:
- Insomnia
- Shaking
- Anxiety
- Loss of appetite
- Irritable bowels
Guilt, coupled with these symptoms, will increase the risk of relapse. Trying to detox on your own is highly dangerous for these reasons. Being in a supportive, professional environment will allow you to manage symptoms and leave the 7-day detox period ready for the next step.
What medications are used to help with detox symptoms?
There are a plethora of medications that are used to treat all the various detox symptoms. Detox centers primarily use MAT services, or medically assisted treatment.
These treatments can include:
- Suboxone
- Subutex
- Methadone
- Sublocade shots
When it comes to alcohol and Benzos, clonidine and lithium are commonly used. Trazodone is used for regulating sleep, and Seroquel for mood stabilizing. With so many different ways to treat detox symptoms through medication, it’s important that you let professionals be the ones to handle them.
Is detox the same as full addiction treatment or recovery?
Detox and full addiction treatment recovery are two separate things. In order to have a lasting recovery, the first step is to discontinue the use of drugs and alcohol. That’s what detox is for. It gives addicts the ability to remove the drugs and remove the behaviors that are associated directly with using drugs.
After detox, the addiction treatment component is when professionals work with the addict to find the root cause, heal trauma, and put healthy coping mechanisms into play. The disease of addiction and mental health is progressive, getting worse the longer it is left alone. But addiction treatment is also progressive, getting better the longer you do it.
Both are required for lasting recovery, and both should be handled in a professional environment to ensure safety and success.
Addiction Treatment at Desert Recovery Centers
If you or a loved one is suffering from drug or alcohol addiction, contact us today and let us guide you along the path to recovery.
