If you are addicted to drugs or alcohol, the first thing you’ll need to do before starting treatment is detox. This is an important first step of the recovery process. With that said, it’s never wise to detox at home or by yourself. Instead, we suggest you attend a drug detox in West Palm Beach.
Medical detox centers help you get through drug withdrawal safely with the help of therapy and medications. Here is what you can expect during detox.
The Importance of Medically-Assisted Inpatient Detox
Detoxification is the natural process the body goes through to eliminate drugs and alcohol from the system. While natural, this process can be dangerous, especially if you have been using a drug that produces life-threatening withdrawal symptoms like seizures or hallucinations.
Inpatient detox centers provide around-the-clock care and monitoring for people who are detoxing from drugs. Moreover, medically-assisted programs use medications to wean people off of substances or help them cope with their withdrawal symptoms.
Overall, detoxing at a medically-assisted inpatient facility is the safest way to begin your recovery journey. Whether you’ve been abusing alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines, you may experience some of the following common withdrawal symptoms:[1]
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Headache
- Sweating
- Body aches
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Shaking
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Irregular heartbeat
- High blood pressure
While most of these symptoms are not life-threatening, some drugs, like Xanax or opioids, can produce complicated symptoms that require medical treatment. Even if symptoms aren’t severe, cravings certainly can be – and they can be strong enough to drive a person back to their drug of choice before completing detox.
Inpatient drug detox centers in West Palm Beach can provide the support you need to overcome your physical and psychological symptoms.
How Long Does Detox Last?
The amount of time it takes to complete a West Palm Beach detox program varies from one person to the next. A major factor that influences how long you’ll need to spend in detox is what substance you are detoxing from.
Broken down by type of drug, here is approximately how long you can expect to stay in detox.[1]
- Alcohol – 4-14 days
- Opioids – 2-7 days
- Benzodiazepines – 5-14 days
- Stimulants – 2-7 days
Other factors that influence the length of drug detox are:
- How long you have been abusing the substance
- How frequently you use the substance
- The dosage of the substance you regularly use
- The method of administration (snorting, smoking, injecting, etc.)
- How severe your withdrawal symptoms are
- How much medical care is required
- Whether or not you have any co-occurring health conditions
Since every person’s detox experience can vary so greatly, you may not be told how long you are expected to stay in detox. Instead, the length of detox may be dependent on your symptoms and the degree of medical care you need.
The Inpatient Detox Process
The first step of inpatient detox is your assessment and evaluation. This is when a doctor performs a physical and the clinical team develops a customized treatment plan unique to your individual needs. Then, you’ll be taken to your room where you are monitored throughout the duration of your stay.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms and which substance you are detoxing from, medications may be administered. Some of the most common detox medications include:[2][3]
- Suboxone – This medication contains buprenorphine and naloxone and it is used to help treat opioid withdrawal and dependence.
- Ativan/Valium – These are long-acting benzodiazepines that can be given to prevent seizures, treat anxiety, and other physical symptoms like shaking or tremors.
- Clonidine – This is a blood pressure medication that can treat high blood pressure and symptoms of anxiety.
- Propranolol – This is a beta-blocker that can help with stimulant or alcohol withdrawal by treating panic attacks or anxiety.
Some of these medications may have a potential for abuse so they are administered by healthcare professionals in a highly regulated environment. In addition, you and all other patients will be supervised throughout the detox process.
While medications help address the cleansing of the body, treating addiction requires so much more. As a result, drug detox centers in West Palm Beach incorporate individual counseling, group therapy, and holistic measures into the treatment process to promote mental health and reduce the risk for relapse.
Next Steps After Detox
Since detox doesn’t cure or treat addiction, it is vital that you seek ongoing care after finishing detox. Towards the end of your detox stay, once your symptoms begin to subside, you will meet with a therapist who will help you understand your different treatment options.
You may attend inpatient, partial hospitalization, or outpatient rehab depending on the severity of your addiction and the level of care you need. Then, after treatment, we encourage you to participate in a 12-Step program or another similar type of addiction recovery support group.
Start Drug Detox in West Palm Beach Today
At Mandala Healing Center, clients are taken on a journey of healing through complete immersion into evidence-based clinical modalities, multifaceted alternative therapies, and expert medical management, allowing them to fully detox and recover from drug and alcohol addictions.
Through a program of care designed to encourage change, a foundation is created that allows clients to find their higher purpose and reclaim their lives. Call now to get started.
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