How Detox Treatment Can Help Addiction

Addiction is a common problem across the entirety of the United States. In fact, around 23% of people who use heroin develop an opioid addiction. Most people who live with drug addiction cannot break out of it themselves, so providing help is a top priority. Different treatment options are available for those living with addiction and detox is one of the most notable. Let’s look into the specifics of detox and how it can help people recovering from addiction.

What Exactly Is Detox?

Detox is the process of removing all traces of a drug from an individual’s body. In order for someone to be physically capable of undergoing addiction therapy, this process is essential. Before a detox, the body is still heavily reliant on the drug so it is near impossible for the person to combat their addiction. Gradually removing the traces of the drug allows for the body to properly prepare itself to handle the psychological challenges of addiction.

How Does the Detox Process Work?

When Starting detox treatment, a medical professional will perform a detailed assessment that will be used to develop the most suitable detox plan for the individual. Previous medical history and other important details are taken into account when performing this assessment. At the start of the treatment, the toxins in a patient’s system will be slowly reduced. This will cause the patient to experience withdrawal symptoms because the brain needs to adjust to the absence of the chemicals produced by the drug.

Physical withdrawal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sweating, increased blood pressure, and headaches. Patients can also experience psychological effects such as paranoia or depression so it is imperative that these symptoms be monitored closely. One of the main benefits of checking into a detox facility is that there will always be somebody closely monitoring the patient’s well-being during the process.

What Is the Average Length of the Detox Process?

Detoxing can take up to 10 days. This can vary depending on how many drugs are in the patient’s system, what kind of drugs they’re using, and how well they handle the process, both mentally and physically.

Detox is the first step on the road to recovery so it’s important for somebody going through it to have a reliable support system. If you or your loved ones are living with addiction, reach out to qualified detox doctors to learn more about the steps you can take.