Withdrawal is not often a pleasant experience. Drug and alcohol addiction does not always lead to a need for medical detox. Depending on the drug of choice and severity of use, a client might need experience much detox at all. Symptoms of withdrawal and their intensity is entirely dependent on the unique circumstances of each individual. If there has been serious abuse of drugs and alcohol within 24 hours, there is a need for detox. Chronic and current substance abuse will call for a detox period. Detox can last up to three weeks when severe. During that time there is physical pain, illness, mental distress, and other complications. Some drug detox can become dangerous, causing seizures or other adverse physical reactions. Detox is held separately from treatment because it is a serious medical condition which requires full attention.
Detox Requires 24/7 Professional Attention
Medical detox is a supervised detox phase in which there is a trained and certified addiction RN on staff 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Detox is full of very low points and very aggressive points. Being in a separate facility helps keep a client who is detoxing safe as well as other clients who are starting their residential treatment process. Through the care of a nursing staff, a client is capable of slowly beginning their treatment. Medication management, intravenous fluids, and other comforts can be provided without having to divide attention among other clients. Clients in detox can start working with a counselor or therapist to begin building a relationship. During the detox phase, however, the mind is still strained, making any true therapeutic advances more challenging.
Cravings Are The Highest During Detox
Perhaps the most difficult part of detox is coping with the unavoidable cravings. As the body works hard to both let go of harmful toxins and fight to consume more, the brain is ravaged by obsessive and relentless cravings. There are many desperate cries for getting more drugs and alcohol, just to make the pain of detox go away. Medical detox utilizes prescription medications which reduce the severity of symptoms and make the process more manageable. However, cravings are still common. Clients who are in the treatment phase are still vulnerable to the suggestion of using drugs and alcohol. Detox is kept separate in order to let each group of clients be in a safe space to experience their feelings, symptoms, and journey through recovery.
The Mind Isn’t Ready For Treatment
Simply stated, during detox the mind, the body, and the spirit, are not yet prepared for the demands of residential treatment or other levels of care. Taking time to fully detox is taking the time to strengthen the body, prepare the mind, and open the spirit to healing.
Withdrawal is not often a pleasant experience. Drug and alcohol addiction does not always lead to a need for medical detox. Depending on the drug of choice and severity of use, a client might need experience much detox at all. Symptoms of withdrawal and their intensity is entirely dependent on the unique circumstances of each individual. If there has been serious abuse of drugs and alcohol within 24 hours, there is a need for detox. Chronic and current substance abuse will call for a detox period. Detox can last up to three weeks when severe. During that time there is physical pain, illness, mental distress, and other complications. Some drug detox can become dangerous, causing seizures or other adverse physical reactions. Detox is held separately from treatment because it is a serious medical condition which requires full attention.
Detox Requires 24/7 Professional Attention
Medical detox is a supervised detox phase in which there is a trained and certified addiction RN on staff 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Detox is full of very low points and very aggressive points. Being in a separate facility helps keep a client who is detoxing safe as well as other clients who are starting their residential treatment process. Through the care of a nursing staff, a client is capable of slowly beginning their treatment. Medication management, intravenous fluids, and other comforts can be provided without having to divide attention among other clients. Clients in detox can start working with a counselor or therapist to begin building a relationship. During the detox phase, however, the mind is still strained, making any true therapeutic advances more challenging.
Cravings Are The Highest During Detox
Perhaps the most difficult part of detox is coping with the unavoidable cravings. As the body works hard to both let go of harmful toxins and fight to consume more, the brain is ravaged by obsessive and relentless cravings. There are many desperate cries for getting more drugs and alcohol, just to make the pain of detox go away. Medical detox utilizes prescription medications which reduce the severity of symptoms and make the process more manageable. However, cravings are still common. Clients who are in the treatment phase are still vulnerable to the suggestion of using drugs and alcohol. Detox is kept separate in order to let each group of clients be in a safe space to experience their feelings, symptoms, and journey through recovery.
The Mind Isn’t Ready For Treatment
Simply stated, during detox the mind, the body, and the spirit, are not yet prepared for the demands of residential treatment or other levels of care. Taking time to fully detox is taking the time to strengthen the body, prepare the mind, and open the spirit to healing.
Cypress Lake Recovery provides medical detox for drug and alcohol addiction in addition to residential treatment programs and other services. For information on our integrative approach to treatment, call 1-866-217-2636.
