Facts about Drug Addiction Detox

Physical Drug Addiction Detox Symptoms

The physical withdrawal some people face when coming off drugs can be excruciating. For those with critical cases of addiction, physical withdrawal can be life-threatening. In such cases a medically-assisted detox will need to take place. Professional supervision in such cases of drug addiction is vital. Common physical symptoms of drug addiction withdrawal include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Shaking
• Cold Sweats
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea
• Muscle aches and pains
• Difficulty Breathing
• Tremors

Psychological Drug Addiction Detox Symptoms

The psychological aspects of withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable to say the least. For people who have been using for a while, coming off drugs can make them feel like they’re going crazy. Drug addiction withdrawal brings up a myriad of different emotions, and can often make a person question why they are trying to quit in the first place. Some of the common psychological symptoms associated with drug withdrawal include:

• Intense depression
• Acute anxiety
• Anger
• Irritability
• Inability to focus
• Trouble with concentration
• Suicidal thoughts

Is Professional Drug Addiction Detox Important?

Someone who is addicted to drugs knows that as soon as they use, the uncomfortable feelings associated with detox will disappear. Someone attempting to quit by themselves will usually find that it is too difficult to do alone. This is why so many people who try to quit without a professional detox end up using again.

Giving in to the craving to use when coming off drugs is easy when you know doing so will make you feel better. Attending a professional drug addiction detox centre however, makes giving in to the compulsion to use while going through withdrawal much more difficult. To do so would mean walking out of the detox centre entirely.

Is Drug Addiction Detox the First Step in the Recovery Process?

There is often a false impression that once a person has successfully detoxed from a drug addiction that they don’t need further treatment. Going through detox can make an addict feel amazing and like their addiction is finally under control. And while detox certainly helps in the process of recovery, it is only part of a successful addiction recovery strategy.

Detox should never be thought of as a means of complete addiction recovery. As good as it might make a person feel for a while, it isn’t long before the psychological reasons behind a person’s addiction make themselves known again. In order to truly overcome a drug addiction for good, a person will need therapy and other various treatments designed to help them succeed. Detox is excellent for helping a person overcome the physical withdrawal that keeps them tied to their drug use, but won’t help them sort the reasons in their mind behind their addiction.

How Long Does Detox Last?

The duration of drug addiction detox is dependent upon the nature of a person’s addiction. Some drugs take longer to leave the body than others. People who have been using for a long time will typically experience a longer withdrawal period. Factors that indicate how long detox will last include the type of drug a person uses, how much they use, and how long they’ve been using.

Withdrawal generally begins 6-12 hours after a person’s last dose. The severity of their symptoms might peak within 24-72 hours. Withdrawal can continue for days or weeks depending on the nature of the individual’s addiction.

What Is a Medically-Assisted Detox?

Some instances of drug addiction will require medical assistance during the detox period. A medically-assisted detox uses a substitute drug to stabilise the patient during withdrawal. Medically-assisted detox is usually offered in cases of acute withdrawal and can last 3 days to a week depending on the severity of a person’s addiction.

What Happens after Drug Addiction Detox?

Detox is intended to help a person through the initial period of coming off their addiction to drugs. Once they have faced this often-difficult aspect of recovery, they will need to get further help in order to treat their addiction on the various levels necessary for a successful recovery.

It is very important that after successfully completing detox that a person continues to get help. For a person to sustain their sobriety, they will need to involve themselves in therapy and various treatment modalities that are aimed to help people overcome their addiction. People who go to detox at an addiction treatment centre will find that therapy starts immediately after detox and takes place the entire length of their programme.

After detox, a person will also go through different types of treatment created with the addict in mind. These treatments will help a person better understand their addiction and learn various ways to change their compulsive behaviours.

People who choose not to continue with treatment after they successfully complete a drug addiction detox need to know just how important it is to receive some type of help afterwards. Attending 12-step meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is free and can be of help to those who decide not to go to a comprehensive addiction treatment centre after their detox.

We Will Help You Recovery from Drug Addiction

If you or a loved one is suffering from a drug addiction, it’s important to get help. Overcoming an addiction alone can be next to impossible, which is why there are so many options for treatment available. Drug addiction detox is the first step towards regaining the freedom from your addiction you deserve. We can help you find the best detox centres located the UK and are a (free) phone call away. Please call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a confidential call on various options for detox and comprehensive addiction recovery.