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Medical Detox: A Way to Help Yourself: A 2021 Guide

Whenever an individuals body becomes dependent on a substance, like drug or alcohol, the removal of that specific substance comes with psychological, physical, and also behavioural symptoms.

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Introduction

Substance abuse is not a matter of joke. Along with the individual's will, some serious medical treatment is necessary when someone has started to quit their addiction. Quitting any type of substance abuse is not an easy task to do. Most of us do not understand or have a basic idea about substance abuse and its recovery procedure. Detoxification is an essential part of the substance abuse recovery program. You can get more information about detoxification here https://www.gallusdetox.com/locations/colorado/denver-detox-center/

What Is Medical Detox?

Whenever an individual's body becomes dependent on a substance, like drug or alcohol, the removal of that specific substance comes with psychological, physical, and also behavioural symptoms. For withdrawal from alcohol or drugs, medical detoxification provides a safe and secure environment. In, or when necessary, you will get medication for relieving some particular symptoms, which are associated with detox. Here are the symptoms, on which medical detox usually works, these are addressed as withdrawal symptoms as well. 
  • Sweating.
  • Shaking.
  • Insomnia.
  • Fatigues.
  • Irregular heartbeat.
  • Hallucination.
  • Depression.
  • Nausea or vomiting. 
The term medical detoxification refers to different types of treatment options both for acute and chronic substance abuse along with pharmacological management. In the program of medical detoxification, several factors are being considered. Here they are. 
  • Sociodemographic.
  • Socioeconomic status.
  • Psychological dependency.
  • Complex behavioral patterns, which are accompanied by detoxification. 

The Detoxification Process

When you are opting for drug treatment, detoxification is the initial stage of it. For some people, the reason behind their substance abuse is mental overload. There is always a fear about the lack of medications in the body of the individual, along with a possibility of detrimental psychological, euphoric, and physical effects, which are the results of withdrawal effects from the substance abuse. When the body becomes accustomed to the substance, the individual is taking it for a long period and halts or totally quits the intake of the substance, the withdrawal symptoms occur. Clinical personnel observed the withdrawal effects and started the treatment on the basis of the timeline of substance abuse, the type of substances, and its common withdrawal symptoms. Here are some of the substances, along with their symptoms. 
  • Benzodiazepines, including Benzodiazepines, Ativan, Valium. The symptoms include anxiety, panic attacks, sweating, hand tumors, palpitations, sedatives. 
  • Stimulants, like cocaine and amphetamines, come with the symptoms of low mood, muscle pain, tremors, anxiety, sleepiness, cardiovascular problems, and in some cases, suicidal ideation. 
  • Opioids include morphine, heroin, prescribed pain medications, which have withdrawal symptoms like agitation, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, muscle aches, sweating, and vomiting. 

Details About Medical Detoxification

Any clinical professional who is specifically prepared for the detoxification treatment is able to treat all those withdrawal symptoms. In order to manage volatile withdrawal effects along with making sure that the entire process is safe and optimal for the patient, the detox procedure is designed in a particular way. Now, we will dig deeper and talk about all those medical treatments, people who are struggling with withdrawal symptoms required. We totally get it; when it comes to substance abuse and detoxification, there is a lot of confusion we have in our minds. But when we are taking the pledge to bring out ourselves or our loved ones from the ugly world of addiction, we have to clear them out. So, here we are, answering some of the most common confusions or doubts we have developed around the topic of substance abuse and detoxification. 
  • Does Detox Really Treat Addiction?

This can not be a yes or no answer; you have to understand the whole concept and requirement of detox. Medical detox actually assists in sensing that one's body has flashed out all the addictive substances in the short term. Along with that, it also can relieve acute symptoms which are directly related to withdrawal. However, it does not address the main cause or causes that work behind substance abuse. Medical detoxification actually sets the stage so that you will be able to absorb the therapeutic measures in order to help you achieve both your short-term and long-term goals. 
  • When Can I be Admitted?

In most cases, at any time of the day, one should be capable of entering the detox treatment. In case the individual has any medical emergencies, she or he has to be admitted on the same day. 
  • How Long Does Detox Take?

From person to person, the timeline or duration of the detox treatment varies. It also depends on the type of substance abuse, how long the person is in the addiction. It is best to consult with a detox center and get an idea of the treatment program they provide. This way, you will be able to determine the specific time period. Usually, the duration ranges from a few days to two weeks. As every individual is different, their timeline of responding to the treatment also varies. 
  • Can I Leave Detox For A Short Period?

Suppose, you have developed a chronic disease, and you are under treatment. Now, if you stop the treatment for a short period of time, what will happen? In most cases, it is not something that is acceptable, as your body needs to get rid of the disease as soon as possible. The more delay you will do, the disease will continue to damage your physical health. The case is almost the same for detoxification. If you stop detoxification in the middle of the treatment, the risk of drug addiction relapse increases. It will worsen your situation. Often you will need to start the detoxification treatment from the very beginning. 
  • Is Detox A Sign Of Weakness?

As we have already mentioned, we do not know much about substance abuse and its treatments. There are several stigmas around it. Physical withdrawal is actually a serious physical issue and not at all a sign of weakness. For the safety and security of your life, it is always best to take the help of detoxification when you are quitting any type of substance abuse. That does not mean you are weak; you can not be. You have taken the brave decision of auditing on your addiction, so you can not be weak.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions, and data contained in these publications are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of Credihealth and the editor(s). 
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