The first step of drug addiction treatment is drug detox. California, and its many professional rehabilitation centers, is a leader in the process of eliminating the last traces of any substance from the body. Drug detox California is often one of the most dreaded periods for people who want to get clean.
Many individuals may have tried to quit in the past and experienced some of the withdrawal symptoms on their own prompting them to return to using drugs or alcohol. A cycle that repeats itself all too often for so many who suffer from addiction.
Avoidance will not fix the problem of addiction. Using to alleviate the fear and discomfort of detox and rehab only makes recovery harder. Instead, the best thing someone can do is arm themselves with as much information as possible. This will build confidence and strengthen one’s ability to move forward and begin regaining control over their life.
Why Drug Detox California is Important
Drug addiction in clinical terms is called a substance use disorder (SUD). There are officially 11 types of substance use disorders someone can be diagnosed with. The disorders range from mild to severe. Any type of drug dependence is both physical and psychological. The physical aspect is the first to overcome during recovery and is the central focus of the drug detox process.
When the body becomes used to operating with drugs in the system, individuals will experience physical side-effects when the drug is taken away. Drug withdrawal symptoms vary depending on the type of drug(s) someone ingests. Because everyone’s body and addiction are different, it is hard to say with certainty what type of symptoms one will experience during drug detox.
California rehab centers are staffed with highly trained professionals to ensure patients receive the proper treatment for the most common drug withdrawal symptoms including:
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Headache
- Shakiness
- Depression
- Sleep problems
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Blood pressure and heart rhythm instability
- Seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations)
There may also be severe withdrawal symptoms that are life-threatening. For individuals with severe alcohol use disorders, there is a risk of a condition called delirium tremens, commonly shortened to the acronym “DTS”. The condition is caused by excessive drinking and is marked by confusion, agitation, high blood pressure, and possibly seizures and loss of consciousness.
Because drugs alter your brain chemistry, the rapid changes that take place during detox can cause seizures, blackouts, and changes in heart rate and blood pressure. This is why medical supervision is so strongly recommended. Even if someone only experiences mild symptoms, they will have immediate care whenever it is needed.
Can I Quit Drugs and Drinking Cold Turkey?
While there are success stories of people who decide to quit drugs or alcohol and never touch them again, this is not the case for the majority. It is dangerous to suddenly quit using. Cold turkey should not be tried after long periods of routine use. Individuals may be better off to slowly reduce how much they consume under the advice from a doctor.
Moderating drug or alcohol use will still result in withdrawal symptoms, including strong cravings that can lead to relapse. This drastically increases the risk of an overdose and can fill a person with a sense of failure, robbing them of motivation to continue striving toward a sober life.
Quitting drugs and alcohol is always done “on your own” in the sense your sobriety is entirely up to you. However, to have the greatest possible chance of success, it is best to go through detox in a supervised setting before moving on to professional treatment.
Do I Need to Go to Rehab?
Rehab comes in many forms, including outpatient and inpatient. Outpatient drug and alcohol rehab is flexible and designed to meet individual schedules and needs. Group therapy is practiced several times a week alongside individual substance abuse counseling once a week.
There are also outpatient programs that are more intense and ideal for those who want to go home at night but still need the structure and full-time commitment to a rigorous alcohol treatment program. These are intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and partial hospitalization programs (PHPs). Transfers are often granted to one of these programs after the detox process has concluded.
Inpatient treatment requires individuals to leave home temporarily and stay at a residential facility. These are not hospitals or clinics as access to a variety of wellness treatments and amenities, like yoga, fitness classes, art classes, and even massage therapies are offered. The extent of amenities will vary depending on what type of rehab required and an individual’s budget.
Can I Detox from Alcohol at Home?
Depending on the severity of drug dependency, detoxing at home may not be the best choice. Medically supervised programs offer 24-hour support from licensed nurses, doctors, and psychologists who are trained to recognize the warning signs of severe withdrawal. They routinely monitor vital signs, such as heart rate and blood pressure. They can also provide medications that reduce the severity of some symptoms.
Detox programs also help prepare individuals to enter a rehab program as most facilities that do not offer in-house detox require someone to demonstrate proof of completing a detox program prior to the start of treatment. Detox can last for weeks, but the most intense symptoms occur during the first 72 hours.
Choosing a detox facility for treatment is the first step toward lasting recovery. Going through detox is the first major hurdle during recovery. It can provide a sense of achievement, inspiring to move forward and continue working hard to stay sober.
If you or someone you know is suffering from substance abuse, contact your local hospital, or contact the professional staff at Ocean Hills Recovery today.
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