Download our guide to drug detox.

So I made it.
I’m on the other side.
WHAT YOU
SHOULD
KNOW
ABOUT
DETOX
My body has purged itself. Sure, it took
help from staff, some vitamin shots,
detox drugs and a lot of sickness to
make the symptoms taper off, but it’s
done. That hell is behind me.
But what now? Who am I?
I don’t feel like myself. A thick fog has
lifted, and I’m seeing everything for the
first time again.
My energy will come back. So will my
mood. I look forward to regular sleep.
Still, I feel hopeful. For the first time
in, like, ever. My detox experience — I
got through it, and my body is clean.
More hard work is waiting, but I’m
ready. I’m ready to meet the healthy me.
Detoxification is the starting point
for the recovery process.
During detox, the drugs or alcohol
in your system are purged.
WHAT IS
DETOX?
Detoxification is the starting point for
the recovery process. During detox,
the drugs or alcohol in your system are
purged. Typically, the detox process
takes 7 days. During that time, you’re
given detox medications to help make
you comfortable and ease withdrawal
symptoms. The health risks associated
with withdrawal are very real, and in
some cases, deadly. Medical detox
provides you with a safe environment,
where you don’t have to worry about
such risks or dangers.
Detox is not fun. I’m not
going to lie. But you learn
from feeling all those things.
You need to feel it to get to a
better place. The good news is
they make it as manageable
as it can be.
Support can make the
difference between
staying clean and relapse.
MEDICAL
DETOX
VS.
DETOXING
AT HOME
Many people who have gone through
the process favor medical detox,
because of the support you receive
from the structure of the medical
program, as well as the use of detox
medications to help reduce the effects
of withdrawal. Some people do
attempt detox at home, although
it’s important to understand that
withdrawal symptoms for various
drugs can be dangerous. It’s also
more difficult to detox at home if you
are experiencing other mental issues,
such as anxiety or depression.
As you go through a detox
program, you will experience
withdrawal symptoms.
That’s the reality.
WITHDRAWAL
SYMPTOMS
These can range anywhere from
moderate to severe, depending on
your history and health condition.
Withdrawal can manifest itself in
the body through symptoms like
involuntary body movements, an
upset stomach, headaches, sleep
disturbances,
muscle
cramps,
and bone aches. In severe cases,
withdrawal symptoms may include
fever, confusion, hallucinations or
seizures. Withdrawal symptoms in a
medical detox program are managed
through the use of various medications.
When your body is cleansing itself from all
the abuse, it’s nice to know you’ve got help.
Simple things like a comfortable bed with
crisp, clean sheets. Even a hand to hold.
That stuff makes all the difference.
Opiates/Opioids
MEDICATIONS
USED DURING
DRUG DETOX
The Recovery Village® uses Suboxone for opiate detox. Other
detox drugs used for opiates are Methadone and Naltrexone.
These drugs are used to taper the patient off their usual
dose slowly over a period of time.
Stimulants
Currently, there are no approved pharmaceuticals for
detox from stimulants. However, drugs like Benzodiazepine,
including Valium, Librium, and Diazepam, may be used to
reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Drugs like Desipramine, Fenfluramine, and Phentermine are
sometimes used in combination during detox to help alleviate
anxiety and depression.
Alcohol Detox
The primary detox drugs used at The Recovery Village® for
alcohol detox are Lorazepam (Ativan) and Chlordiazepoxide
(Librium). These are short and long-acting Benzodiazepines
(benzos), that assist with alcohol withdrawal. At other
drug detox centers, Diazepam (Valium), Chlordiazepoxide
(Librium), and Clonazepam (Klonopin) may also be used.
Gabapentin may also be used during alcohol withdrawal for
its anti-anxiety effects.
Because convulsions can be a common side effect of
withdrawal, anti-seizure medications such as Carbamazepine
(Tegretol) and Divalproex Sodium (Depakote) may also be
used in detox.
Benzo Detox
The Recovery Village® uses Klonopin (Clonazepam) for benzo
detox. To help with withdrawals, The Recovery Village®
may also use Depraco to help with Benzo and Diazepam
withdrawals and Gabapentin for its anti-anxiety effects.
Stopping the use of a
drug cold turkey is not
a suggested strategy.
TAPERING
OFF
Don’t just watch a bunch of detox videos from
people who’ve been there. Listen to what
they say about coming out of it — how that’s
when you first see a glimmer of hope. That’s
when recovery finally starts to seem possible.
As mentioned before, stopping the use
of a drug cold turkey is not a suggested
strategy. In a medical setting, tapering
off a drug means introducing a
schedule where you take less of the
drug each day, until you are drug
free. This can greatly reduce your
withdrawal symptoms, but should be
performed under the supervision of
a doctor and experienced staff in a
medical detox program.
Medical Detox
TYPES
OF
DETOX
At-Home Detox
Detoxing at home can be dangerous. In addition, you
are likely to suffer from other issues related to your
detox, such as depression or anxiety. The isolation
of at-home detox can make these secondary issues
harder to work through, reducing the effectiveness of
your detox program.
Doctors, nurses and other qualified staff
assist patients to cope with withdrawal
symptoms in medical detox. Because
these withdrawal symptoms can drive
people to drug or alcohol use, and can
even be life-threatening, medical detox
can be highly effective.
Inpatient vs. Outpatient
With an inpatient drug detox program,
you’re going to check into a facility and
stay for a certain length of time. With an
outpatient program, you will live at home
but check in with an addiction specialist
each day, coming into the detox center to
participate in programs like individual or
group counseling.
Stopping Cold Turkey
Stopping cold turkey is not an effective form of detox. It is not
safe in a variety of ways. Your level of risk will depend on your
personal history of abuse as well as your physical condition.
If you have existing medical or psychological issues, stopping
cold turkey can make withdrawal symptoms deadly.
The length of time you stay in detox
will depend on what types of drugs
you’re detoxing from.
DURATION
OF
DETOX
Some drugs are cleared from the body
faster than others. With The Recovery
Village,® detox lasts for seven days,
while other programs can be as short as
three days.
Please consider that although you
may have completed detox, withdrawal
symptoms may still continue.
Short-Term
Sometimes called rapid detox, short-term programs
may work for you if withdrawal symptoms are
minimal or non-existent, such as with drugs like LSD.
Long-Term
Longer detox programs offer additional support and allow for
a safe transition from drug use to detox to a rehab program.
Detox is only the first step
in recovery.
DUAL
DIAGNOSIS
While your body may be free from
the influence of drugs or alcohol, you
must still deal with issues associated
with addiction as well as any other
co-occurring disorders you may
be experiencing, such as anxiety,
depression, or an eating disorder.
You don’t finish with detox
and feel reborn. But every
day after gets better —
easier. That’s your body and
mind healing.
Most detox programs
will have you participate
in counseling.
COUNSELING
Most detox programs will have you
participate in individual counseling
as part of your detox process. This
allows you to begin identifying triggers,
patterns, and behaviors that contribute
to addiction. Group and family therapy
are also offered to those ready to
participate in a group setting. In some
instances, because detox can be intense,
group therapy is delayed until the person
is through with detox.
Why would I try to do this alone? Alone
is what got me here. The whole point of
accepting you have a problem — and
getting better — is to reach out for help.
It’s time to start.
It’s time to take a big step in being
free of substance abuse.
To learn more, ask questions, or start your
recovery story, contact us today.
®
855.407.6782
therecoveryvillage.com
Further Reading
Learn about our Medical Detox Program at
therecoveryvillage.com/treatment-program/medical-detox/
More on Drug Detox
therecoveryvillage.com/drug-detox
Choosing a Drug Treatment Program
therecoveryvillage.com/recovery-blog/how-to-choose-the-best-drug-rehab-center-for-your-fresh-start