What Is Drug Detoxification?
Learn more about drug detoxification, the types and processes involved, and how to seek drug detox at Soledad House.
Learn more about drug detoxification, the types and processes involved, and how to seek drug detox at Soledad House.
Drug detoxification is the process of removing unwanted substances from the body. Clinicians often use drug detoxes to treat addiction to drugs and substances, including alcohol, nicotine, and opioids. Drug detoxification can also be referred to as “detoxification” or “drug rehabilitation.”
It’s important to know that not all drugs require detoxification. Certain drugs only cause temporary withdrawal symptoms while they pass through the body and exit via their metabolites.1
Drug detoxification is the process of safely ridding the body of substances that it has been exposed to. The drug detox process is often better tolerated when initiated by a medical expert. Several forms of drug detoxification methods vary based on intensity and length of treatment. The types of drug detoxification will be detailed below.
The most common form of drug detoxification is inpatient detox.3
This typically involves staying at a facility for several days or weeks while undergoing treatment. Inpatient addiction detox facilities are generally well equipped with doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who can help guide patients through detoxing from substance abuse problems.
While inpatient drug detoxification can be effective, it’s not always necessary or recommended. Inpatient detoxes typically last between 3-12 days. Patients require a lot of medical supervision because the patients involved are considered at high risk for an overdose or other complications.
Outpatient drug detoxification facilities are run by doctors and nurses who will do their best to ensure excellent care is delivered throughout the patient’s visits to the facility. Outpatient detox programs offer less intensive treatment than inpatient programs, requiring only one or two weekly visits and fewer detox medications than an inpatient program. Outpatient programs tend to last 2-6 weeks before patients return home or to rehab if they feel ready.
In addition to helping patients get clean and sober from drugs or alcohol, outpatient programs offer many other medical detoxification services. For example, they may provide counseling sessions for people struggling with mental health issues or addiction-related legal issues such as child support payments or child custody issues related to substance use disorder.
Opioid detoxification is the process of reducing or eliminating the presence of opioid drugs in the body through various methods. The most common way to achieve this is through medical detoxification of drugs at opiate detox centers. This will involve using medications to reduce and mimic the effects of opioids. At the same time, they are slowly cleared from systemic circulation.
During the development of opioid use addiction, individuals have problems understanding what’s happening to them or why they’re feeling so bad. Opioids are often abused for pain control or to deal with stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. When a person abuses opioid drugs, substance use tolerance gradually develops. This means that higher doses are needed to produce the desired effects, which leads to more frequent drug use and eventually an addiction.4
During opiate detox programs, opiate detox centers assess patients’ health and personal needs to find the right treatment program for them. Clinicians must also consider the time spent in recovery before starting the detox program. In addition, patients new to recovery must be prepared for the withdrawal symptoms experienced during opioid detox programs.
Drug detox at home is possible but comes with several difficulties. First, the person must be prepared for both physical and mental detox side effects. Without proper guidance from a health care expert, most people find detoxing from drugs at home very uncomfortable due to their inability to manage withdrawal symptoms.6
The first step is going to an outpatient treatment center where progress is monitored to help the patient get through withdrawal symptoms as quickly as possible. After that, it’s time for home detox programs where they’ll be able to live independently while receiving counseling services from professionals in the field.
Some relevant factors that influence how long drug detox will be discussed further below.
The first factor is the length of substance use. This is usually analyzed based on the number of days, weeks or months. More extended drug use periods predispose those involved to higher drug dependence and tolerance levels. Also, systemic buildup and difficulty quitting drug use are higher in individuals with prolonged drug usage.7
This can lead to worse withdrawal symptoms than those with shorter drug use timelines.
Higher dosing indicates higher drug tolerance levels. Heightened tolerance, on average, requires a more intense drug addiction detox process. For example, someone engaging in substance abuse with larger doses would have more severe withdrawal symptoms than someone with infrequent drug use in smaller doses. The same goes for other opioids and prescription medications like Vicodin (hydrocodone).
Comorbidities make it much harder to complete a detox program. It requires a longer detox time for a person with mental health issues or a physical condition like heart disease or diabetes. Without proper medical supervision, they may risk serious complications such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and heart arrhythmia.
Mental health conditions such as persistent anxiety, hallucinations, and depressive states can also contribute to the length of detox. Patients experiencing mental distress during detox from drugs often experience cravings that could lead to relapse. On average, patients with comorbidities would need joint treatment for a dual diagnosis involving substance use and a mental health condition.
Pain relief medication can be used during detox to help patients manage withdrawal symptoms. This can help improve comfort while reducing pain-related anxiety. Suppose the patient does not have access to pain relief medication while undergoing the drug addiction detox process. In that case, it may take longer for them to feel relief from their symptoms.
The motivations and goals of the patient are fundamental in determining how long their detox will take. Patients who have specific health goals in mind may be able to complete their detox faster than those without a plan. These patients also tend to be more motivated and comply better with their treatment plan.
Another major factor that can influence the length of detox time is whether or not the patient is detoxing of their own free will. This is because it takes much more time for someone forced into detox by their friends, family, doctors, or by law than for someone who has chosen detox for drug use voluntarily.
Detoxing, when done the right way by professionals, helps minimize patient discomfort and prevent relapses in the long run. However, when a drug detox is done hurriedly, improperly, or incompletely there can be negative impacts on the person involved. These include:
The abrupt removal of drugs from the body can cause a psychotic episode. Psychosis is usually induced during detox from addiction by patients with prolonged substance use addiction. The symptoms of psychosis are hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. Patients or caregivers should contact a medical professional immediately if these symptoms are noticed.
Detoxing from opiates or other pain-relieving medication can be excruciating and uncomfortable if the source of pain has not been treated. Patients or caregivers should seek emergency medical care as soon as possible if this happens.
Certain people engage in substance abuse to help them feel better and to battle mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. This coping mechanism frequently doesn’t work and can complicate their mental health as substance use progresses. Suicidal thoughts and attempts are seen in substance use detox due to the sudden loss of euphoria provided by drug use.
Delirium tremens (DT) is a severe and potentially fatal complication of withdrawal from alcohol and other central nervous system depressants. It occurs when people stop taking drugs suddenly instead of slowly tapering off over several weeks. People who take high doses of sedatives like Valium (diazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam) can develop DT at any time after they stop taking these drugs, even if they’ve been off them for many months or years.
In addition, the lack of strong medication needed to alleviate withdrawal symptoms makes relapses much more likely during detox from addiction. If natural methods are going to be employed, they mustn’t cause discomfort or pain. Natural release forms such as steam baths, exercise, massages, and dietary modifications are used to detox from drugs naturally.
Natural drug detox is often not advised when dealing with advanced substance use addiction that has gone on for several years or in substance use addiction involving powerful stimulants and depressants such as cocaine and heroin. Whatever the goal of treatment is, the moment withdrawal symptoms become severe, medical intervention should be sought immediately.
A medically supervised detox may occur naturally without any medication. Still, a trained health care practitioner will be there throughout the process to ensure patient safety and determine when medical intervention is necessary.
It includes a full medical assessment by a medical professional to determine the severity of the addiction. Then the patient receives treatment in a medical facility until they are ready to leave.10
The medical detox process lasts one to five days, depending on the severity of the addiction. The length of time that it takes to complete this process varies greatly from person to person and the substance use involved.
Medically supervised detoxes, on average, have the highest success rate of any detox program because of the access to expert care in managing withdrawal symptoms and preventing relapses. There are several types of detox drugs used by clinicians to manage cravings and withdrawal syndrome.
After medically assisted detox, patients can access support groups and counseling services through their drug and rehab centers. This can help them transition back into society after spending time away while undergoing addiction treatment. There are several detox and rehab centers that offer quality drug detox treatment.
With the right strategies, the success rate of any drug detox can be increased tremendously. Here are some of the best things to do when detoxing:
These detox centers are specially designed to help people overcome drug and alcohol addiction. Most certified detox centers have vast experience initiating drug detoxification and are the most comfortable way to get help.
People can find the right drug detox center by asking a doctor or looking online for a website that lists the top addiction detox facilities in the area, what type of care they provide, detox programs, payment plans, and other necessary information.
Substance use and detoxification can take a toll on the body. A proper diet is the best way to boost recovery. A nutritious diet can help boost energy levels and increase motivation. The right diet will ensure that the body gets all the nutrients it needs, which can help reduce withdrawal symptoms and make it easier to go through recovery.
Increased water intake can help boost kidney function and make the detoxification process faster. Also, dehydration is a common withdrawal symptom that can be managed by drinking enough water. Patients should drink at least two liters of water daily during drug detoxification.
Another great strategy involves exercising regularly during drug detoxification. Exercise can help reduce stress levels and boost overall wellness and motivation. Exercise has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, signs of stress, and poor health habits associated with drug addiction. Exercise is often used as a healthy coping strategy to prevent relapses after detoxification and addiction treatment.
Try to develop healthy habits and go through them daily. This routine could revolve around sleeping enough and waking up as early as possible while having a productive day. A healthy routine can help prevent relapses and make detoxification more manageable.
Breathing exercises are essential because they can help ease feelings of anxiety and stress. Lower stress and anxiety levels can help manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Start by lying down and relaxing for a few minutes. Next, concentrate fully on breathing by inhaling slowly through the nose and a controlled exhale through the mouth. Individuals should repeat this process until optimal relaxation is achieved.
A support system could be a friend or family member or a support group that understands the struggle of addiction. Getting through drug detoxification can be tasking for most people. Still, the entire detox treatment process is a lot easier with proper care and motivation.
Soledad House is here to help anyone struggling with drug addiction and in need of detox. Our team of experts work to help women find the best substance abuse detox and treatment options in a comfortable, home-like environment.
Our highly trained medical professionals are committed to helping those in need of addiction detoxification, no matter the substance use involved. We take the time to understand our patients while providing the best care possible.
We offer a variety of programs, including:
We have provided safe and effective detox treatment options for women struggling with substance abuse disorders for years. Our goal is to help you get on the road to recovery as soon as possible so you can live a healthy and happy life. Call us today if you’re ready to begin your journey toward freedom from drugs and alcohol through proper drug detoxification.
Certification Number: 370116CP
Expiration Date: August 31, 2025
© 2024 Soledad House| San Diego Rehab Center for Women | San Diego Drug Rehab | Soledad House Alumni Program | Privacy Policy