All about the Detox and Withdrawal Process
Drug and substance abuse had become more rampant than ever before. The pandemic has since seen the rise of alcohol and substance abuse rise exponentially to 275 million people, with 36 million individuals having drug use disorders.
These statistics shed light on the deeply ingrained substance abuse problem that is threatening the lives of millions of people while deeming them more incapacitated and unable to live healthy lives.
As a result, the need to engage addicts in rehabilitation programs that aim to help them stop their drug use and disorder is ever so imminent. Before enrolling in a rehabilitation center, addicts are required to visit a detox center that cleanses the body by getting rid of the alcohol or drugs found in the system.
The detoxification process safely removes drugs and alcohol from the system in a supervised and safe manner. As every detoxification process is different, medical supervision is required. Stopping cold turkey can be detrimental to the body, hence the detox process.
Trained physicians can use medications during detoxification to aid the alcohol and drugs leaving the system.
The withdrawal process can be influenced by several factors:
. Type of drug
The type of drug or substance an individual is addicted to hugely affects the detoxification process. Different drugs react differently and some require a more aggressive strategy. For instance, aggressive drugs may cause adverse physical and mental symptoms. Cocaine may induce psychological and physical changes, while alcohol detox may cause withdrawal effects that may result in death.
. Length of addiction period
Individuals who have been addicts for a long time will have a tough experience when choosing to stop. This is due to the overreliance on drugs which makes the body extremely dependent. The severity of the addiction is also paramount in ensuring that
. Method of substance abuse
The method of abuse that an individual uses also affects the detoxification process. For instance, whether the addict was injecting, smoking, or inhaling the substances will affect their eradication from the body.
. Genetic makeup
The genetic makeup of an individual dictates the rate at which they will absolve any substances in the body.
. Underlying medical condition
Some medical conditions can affect the detoxification process by causing severe withdrawal symptoms. The medications used should also be monitored to ensure that they do not react with current medications.
The detoxification process
For starters, the patient will schedule an appointment which will comprise an evaluation of the individual to consider any mental, physical, or emotional repercussions.
This information is necessary to determine the medications required for the entire process and helps guide the physician on a viable treatment plan. The patient is then stabilized with both medical and psychological treatments. This prevents any form of physical and detrimental harm to the patient.
After this the treatment program is explained by the physician to the patient. The patient is advised of what to expect from the detoxification process and possible withdrawal symptoms that may accompany the process.
During the detoxification process, patients are given medication that helps assist them to handle possible withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may occur from fevers, nausea, and anxiety to mood swings and lack of sleep. The detox process is better managed with supervision to prevent detrimental effects on the body.
The detox process aims in copying the effects of the drugs in the body, making the withdrawal symptoms less severe and manageable, than stopping cold turkey. As the dependency on the drugs in the body causes general discomfort and stress, the introduction of medications aids the patient’s body in easing this process and making it less harmful.
Some dangerous drugs to detox from include benzodiazepines and alcohol which require supervised medication that keep the patient safe. Opioids are the most uncomfortable to detox from, especially heroin addiction.
The withdrawal process
The withdrawal process is characterized by the response toward quitting or stopping a drug or substance a patient may be on. The constant use of drugs or alcohol makes an individual dependent on them thus enabling them to become psychologically dependent on the addictive substance.
The withdrawal process usually develops when an individual stops cold turkey without the required medication and physician guidance required. This can be harmful and detrimental to their health, therefore putting their lives at risk.
The withdrawal process leads to a sudden decline in blood pressure and concentration, therefore prompting the body to reach a state of homeostasis which makes the body, not in a constant state of chemical influence.
Rapid detox
Rapid or ultra-rapid detoxification processes often occur between two to three days and consist of the fast removal of substances in the body. Normal detoxification processes can be painful and uncomfortable as they take several days for the substances to be out of the patient’s body.
Therefore, a rigorous and fast alternative is crucial in ensuring that the addict can get rid of the toxin substances faster. However, rapid detoxification has several risks than benefits and should therefore be employed with caution.
Rapid detoxification is costly and can cost up to $12,000 more than the regular detox. It is therefore not necessarily covered by insurance, and most detox centers often require a down payment before starting this procedure.
However, rapid detoxification is usually not recommended for individuals who aim to establish long-term methods of abstinence from substance abuse and relapse. The fast procedure makes patients susceptible to relapse and continued withdrawal symptoms. These eventually bring problems to those unable to keep up with the rapid healing and treatment programs.
For instance, severe alcohol withdrawal may lead to extreme death. These extreme deaths include serious mentoring that can be efficient for the patient.
The detox process in which the doctor can avert a crisis is by adequately monitoring the crisis and being in touch with the patient. The withdrawal period can last up to five days depending on the substance of alcohol usage done before. The longer-acting opioid can last up to ten days as they require a vigorous trainee. Opioids have led to months of controlled withdrawals leading up to ten days.
