Drug Detox Treatment in the UK

Inpatient Drug Detox

Inpatient detox treatment requires patients stay at the detox centre while going through the withdrawal process. At an inpatient detox centre, there is 24-hour supervision the entire time a patient is there. There is also access to emergency medical services if the need happens to arise.

Getting inpatient drug detox treatment is a good option for those who have moderate to severe cases of addiction. Because patients are removed from their immediate environment while going through withdrawal, the chances of relapse are significantly reduced. Inpatient drug detox is also excellent for people who don’t have support through the beginning stages of the recovery process.

Outpatient Drug Detox

Not everyone needs nor wants to stay at a detox facility while going through the withdrawal process. For those who are battling mild to fairly moderate drug addiction, outpatient drug detox treatment is an excellent alternative. Outpatient detox provides the support a person needs through withdrawal at various scheduled appointments during the detox period.

What Is Medically-Assisted Drug Detox?

Drug withdrawal can be an extremely uncomfortable and unpleasant experience. Withdrawal from some drugs can make a person violently ill, and generate symptoms that feel impossible to manage. A medically-assisted detox helps a person through the withdrawal period by offering a short-term medication plan to manage uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

Patients that opt for a medical detox when getting drug detox treatment will be offered different medications depending on their symptoms and the severity of them. Non-prescription pain medication may be offered for muscle and bone aches. Patients who are experiencing trouble sleeping might be offered a non-habit forming sleeping pill.

Some drug addictions will require longer-term medical assistance. For people overcoming an addiction to heroin, medications such as Suboxone and Methadone are sometimes offered to patients to help withdrawal symptoms over an extended period of time. These medications are slowly tapered down until a person no longer experiences the urges to use.

What to Expect During Drug Detox Treatment

The very first step of getting professional drug detox treatment is going through the intake process at the detox centre. During intake, a person will be asked a series of questions that will help rehab staff create a detailed detox plan. Questions a person can expect during detox intake include what type of drug, how much, how often, and how long a person has been using. It is important to answer all questions as honestly as possible to ensure an individual receives the proper treatment plan.

Once a person has completed intake, a complete physical exam will take place. This will determine any underlying health issues that need to be taken into consideration before a person begins detox. Dehydration and malnutrition are common amongst drug addicts, both of which will affect the detox process. Any physical problems a person is experiencing due to their drug use will be addressed at this time.

During a person’s actual detox, they will be monitored and supported through the process. Vital signs are watched carefully and there are medical personnel available in the event of an emergency. If a person has decided on doing a medical detox, they can expect to take medication at various times throughout the withdrawal period. For those having a hard time psychologically during withdrawal, there are typically mental health professionals available to talk to.

How Long Does the Process Treatment Last?

Each person will experience drug withdrawal differently. Detox typically takes between 3-10 days but can be longer depending on a person’s individual circumstances. The duration of drug detox is dependent upon the type of drug a person uses, how long they’ve been using, and how much they typically use.

What Happens after the Treatment?

It is important for anyone going through the addiction recovery process to realise that drug detox is only the first step in addiction recovery. Addiction is a complex problem that requires different types of treatment for a person to sustain sobriety for good. Detox treatment is excellent for helping a person through the physical aspect of their addiction, but does little to work through the psychological aspects. Therapy and various treatments designed for addiction recovery dramatically increase a person’s likelihood of avoiding relapse and realising success with lasting recovery.

After drug detox treatment, many facilities will offer the therapy and treatment a person needs. Those attending an inpatient drug detox facility will find a seamless transition from detox to the rest of their treatment plan. Therapy is an excellent means of helping patients discover the reasons behind their addiction. It can also help them learn new patterns of thinking and behaviour that will help them avoid relapse when cravings to use drugs arise.

Drug Detox Treatment in the UK

While facing the idea of going through the detox process can be frightening, nothing is as a bad as facing a drug addiction for the rest of your life. Drug detox treatment can help immensely when a person has made the decision to overcome their addiction, no matter what type of drug they happen to be addicted to. Having available support throughout the process will significantly improve a person’s chances of successfully detoxing. Relapse can happen to anyone, but having assistance and encouragement during the detox process can help a person avoid falling back into patterns of abuse.

We are here to help you through your addiction. We understand how difficult addiction recovery can be and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with any questions or concerns you have about addiction and the recovery process. Whether you decide on an inpatient or outpatient drug detox treatment programme, we are here to talk about the various options you have and what would work best for you. Please call us for a completely confidential call on all your options for detox treatment throughout the UK. We are here to help you find the freedom from drug addiction you deserve.