Medical Detox:
Providing Drug & Alcohol Detox 

In the case of substance abuse and addiction disorders, medical detoxification is a step every person seeking to overcome this affliction must take. Withdrawal symptoms are sometimes life-threatening; this is why medically supervised detoxification is necessary for friends, co-workers, or family members who show signs of psychological or physical drug or alcohol dependency. 

A medical detox program might be the help one needs to start the journey of sobriety. At the Recovery Institute of Ohio, we provide high-quality drug and alcohol detoxification programs that help people achieve a better and healthier lifestyle.

What Exactly is Medical Detox?

Medical detox refers to the process of removing hazardous, addictive chemicals from the body while under the care of medical specialists. During detoxification, a group of Nurses, clinical personnel, and addiction experts administer therapeutic care to each patient.

Medical detox for most persons seeking inpatient or residential treatment is the first objective in rehabilitation, and it happens at the start of treatment. While medical detox is not considered addiction treatment in and of itself, those who finish it are more likely to stay in treatment and sustain longer recoveries.

Withdrawal Markers and Symptoms

Withdrawal signs and symptoms differ depending on the type and duration of substance abuse. Physical, as well as psychological symptoms are common in withdrawal syndromes. The following are a few instances of possible symptoms:

• Changes in mood
• Anhedonia; the inability to feel joy.
• Hypersomnia or insomnia. Unlike most people think, these are two different types of sleep disorders.
• Nausea/vomiting.
• Changes in appetite.
• Aches in the muscles
• Sweating, a runny nose
• Restlessness
• Watery or red eyes, symptoms of sinus infection.
• Shaky and unstable hands.

The symptoms above are a sample of what you can experience if you’re going through different types of substance withdrawal.

When Should You Seek Medical Help?

It is advised that inpatient detox for withdrawal from sedatives such as benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium, Xanax) and alcohol Be done in a safe environment. Ill- management of alcohol withdrawal symptoms can escalate to delirium tremens (DTs), as well as extreme anxiety, restlessness, and convulsions.

DTs are life-threatening diseases marked by intense disorientation, slurred speech, hallucinations, severe memory problems, and acute autonomic nervous system hyperactivity. When you anticipate withdrawal from these drugs, a medically supervised detox could be the safest setting for you.

How Long Does It Take To Detox?

Overall, the duration of detox varies depending on a variety of factors. In most cases, alcohol withdrawal symptoms subside within the week of drug stoppage (if users attempt to quit drinking alone, especially after heavy use, they may face serious health risks and even death during that week.) Other drugs, such as benzodiazepines, may require a prolonged detox period of up to six to eight weeks.

However, in almost every situation, the time it takes to remove the hazardous substances out of the body is less significant than implementing long-term modifications to ensure that the user doesn’t relapse — and that recurring triggers can be efficiently addressed.

Most medicines’ withdrawal symptoms might take days or months to overcome. Several factors determine the time spent in a detoxification center. These factors include:

• Substance Abused: For example, alcohol withdrawal can occur within hours of the last drink and may necessitate a several-day taper of alternative medication.
• Frequency and Duration of Use: Physical dependence is more likely to develop if someone has abused a substance for a long time. Similarly, the more a person uses, the more probable they may form a physical dependency on the material.
• Quantity of substance used: Because the body must take more dramatic measures to acclimatize to the presence of a significant amount of a drug, heavier substance use tends to induce faster tolerance.

Individual characteristics such as body chemistry, weight, metabolic rate, and genetic makeup all play a role in determining when substance withdrawal begins and how it responds to treatment.

• Method of Abuse: The way a person uses their substance (snorting, smoking, injecting, or swallowing) has been recognized as one factor that determines the duration of detoxification.
• Family History of Addiction: According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, family history is one of the most significant risk factors for addiction. This implies that individuals with family members who struggle with substance misuse are more likely to have issues with it themselves. By staying conscious of this significant factor and educating yourself on family history as an addiction causation factor, you can avoid future alcoholism and drug addiction problems.

Is Medical Detoxification Safe?

Medical detox has been proven safe and effective for removing chemicals from a person experiencing drug withdrawal. A safe detox takes place in a licensed detox facility under the supervision of medical professionals, and our addiction experts at the Recovery Institute of Ohio oversee each step of the detoxification procedure. Since withdrawal from narcotics can cause cardiac rhythm, blood pressure, and temperature, healthcare professionals regularly monitor these vital indicators.

Is It Possible To Detox At Home?

In a situation where a drug abuser tries to detoxify themselves, they may end up with even more severe health complications or experience a relapse shortly afterward, inherently restarting the cycle. Treatment is amongst the most effective methods to stop the process for good.

Detoxing at home can be harmful and even lethal. Convulsions and severe dehydration might occur if you quit “cold turkey” or without the care of a physician.

Detox treatments, including inpatient and outpatient, can help avert serious medical problems. We suggest Inpatient detox for people with severe addictions since withdrawal can be lethal. Inpatient detox provides assistance and supervision 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Difference Between Medical Detox and Other Programs

• Medical detox: services creates a safe and supportive environment supervised by several medical experts. Our patients undergo cleansing procedures that remove harmful, addictive chemicals from their system in medical detox. It is not a long-term treatment plan like others, but it is also an essential step in rehabilitation.
• Inpatient treatment: For patients who require more expert guidance and care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, inpatient treatment is the best option.
• Outpatient Treatment: It’s an excellent rehabilitation program for persons in rehab who are about to leave their treatment facility and re-enter society. While in outpatient therapy, clients in the outpatient program have the opportunity to continue their recovery and gain independence. It gives patients the ability to apply what they learned in higher-level therapy to their daily lives while still receiving structure and support.
• Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Patients in a dual diagnosis treatment are coping with a disorder as well as an addiction. The medical approach of our doctors sets the dual diagnosis treatment apart from other therapies. Treatment for alcohol and substance addiction is combined with mental health therapy.

What Happens After Detox?

The beauty of medical detox at the Drug Rehab Center of Ohio is that after completing the first step of recovery — detoxification, our other programs provide a path of continuity. Patients can decide to extend their stay and have access to more intensive care by enrolling in the inpatient program or enjoying the freedom and ability to continue their social or work life with our partial hospitalization or outpatient treatment program.