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Medically Reviewed

Is Detox Painful? How Detox Centers Manage Withdrawal Symptoms

- 7 sections

Medically Verified: November 19, 2024

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that affects millions of Americans each year. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 48.7 million people struggled with a substance use disorder in 2022.[1]

When you have an addiction, that means your brain and body have grown accustomed to the presence of a specific substance. If you suddenly stop consuming the drug or alcohol, you will experience withdrawal symptoms. Without treatment, withdrawal can be excruciating and potentially life-threatening.

Thankfully, drug and alcohol detox centers offer services to make the withdrawal process more comfortable and easier to overcome. They will monitor your vital signs to ensure you stay healthy, provide medications to lessen withdrawal symptoms, and ensure you have the mental health support you need to stay focused on recovery.

In this article, you will learn:

  • Is withdrawal painful?
  • How does alcohol and drug detox make withdrawal easier to overcome?
  • How to tell if you need medical detox and substance abuse treatment

Is Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Painful?

Alcohol and drug withdrawal occurs when you suddenly stop using a substance you are addicted to. It happens because your body believes it is missing a chemical it needs to survive. Unfortunately, the symptoms of withdrawal can range from mildly uncomfortable to painful and life-threatening depending on what substance you were using.

Drug and alcohol withdrawal can cause a range of symptoms, including:

  • Shaking and tremors
  • Cravings for the substance
  • Excessing sweating and goosebumps
  • Mood swings or depression
  • Anxiety and irritability
  • Changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Dehydration
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Increased mental health issues
  • Symptoms of psychosis
  • Seizures

The exact symptoms you experience will depend on what drug you are abusing. Alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines tend to cause more severe physical withdrawal symptoms, while stimulants like methamphetamine are known to cause intense psychological effects.

Whether you are at risk of life-threatening symptoms or not, you will need support from medical professionals. Thankfully, medically assisted detox programs can provide you with the help you need. These treatment facilities offer medications to lessen your withdrawal symptoms and prevent you from experiencing cravings.

How Do Detox Centers Make Withdrawal Easier?

One of the biggest barriers to recovery is fear of experiencing withdrawal. Many people continue to abuse substances long after they decide it’s time to stop because they do not want to feel withdrawal symptoms. Thankfully, this is not necessary, as detox centers can make the withdrawal phase of recovery much easier for you.

Detox treatment programs offer the following services to ensure you remain safe and comfortable during withdrawal:

Vitals Monitoring

Once your treatment plan has been created, you will begin receiving support from medical staff. Nurses will check your vital signs to ensure you are in good health. If there are any abnormalities in your heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, or breathing rate, you will receive prompt treatment.

Doctors will determine if you need blood pressure medications, IV fluids, or any other type of treatment to keep you stable. In other words, medical detox ensures you get the care you need to stay safe during withdrawal.

Medications

In addition to monitoring your vital signs, you will be prescribed medication to treat your withdrawal symptoms and cravings. This step is important, as it reduces the symptoms you experience and makes it easier to overcome withdrawal. The type of medication you are given will depend on what drug you are addicted to.

For example, opioids are often treated using other opioid medications like methadone or Suboxone. Doctors use a tapering method to prevent you from dealing with intense withdrawal symptoms. Eventually, you will come off of the medication once you no longer need it.

Psychological Support

Because some drugs cause intense mental health symptoms, psychological support is an important aspect of medical detox. You will have 24/7 access to mental health professionals in case you experience an emergency during the off hours. Additionally, you will attend scheduled individual and group therapy sessions during your stay in a medical detox facility.

There are also support groups that you can join at any time of day in a detox program. You can receive advice from your peers and form meaningful relationships based on common goals.

Signs You Need Medical Detox Treatment

If you are struggling with substance abuse, you might not be sure whether you need medical detox. Knowing the signs that detox is necessary will help you make the right decision for your recovery.

If you experience the following symptoms, you are suffering from a substance use disorder and need to attend a combination of medical detox and addiction treatment:

  • Using drugs for longer or in larger amounts than intended
  • Wanting to quit substance abuse but being unsuccessful
  • Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities to have more time to use drugs and alcohol
  • Failing to meet responsibilities at home, school, and work because of substance abuse
  • Getting into risky situations when you use drugs or alcohol
  • Experiencing urges or cravings to abuse substances
  • Continuing to use drugs or alcohol even though they are causing relationship issues
  • Using substances despite facing physical or mental health issues as a direct result
  • Needing to increase the dose of a substance to experience the desired effect
  • Dealing with withdrawal symptoms when you stop using drugs or alcohol

Get Connected to a Top-Rated Detox Center

If you or a loved one suffers from addiction, it’s time to consider attending detox. Medical detox is the first step in recovery from a substance use disorder. It ensures that you overcome withdrawal without any problems arising.

At the Mandala Healing Center, we offer a detox program that involves medication-assisted treatment. Your withdrawal symptoms will be treated with FDA-approved medications, ensuring you remain safe and comfortable throughout the process.

Contact us today for more information on our medical detox program.

References:

  1. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): HHS, SAMHSA Release 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Data