Addiction is a coping behavior that we learn along the way. Every human being responds to stressful life situations in their own way. Some people release their stress through working out, while some find an easy way out – substance addiction.
For those who have fallen victim to addiction, at some point in time, they must have used alcohol and drugs to relieve their stress – and it worked for them.
If you are addicted to alcohol, pills, or illegal drugs, the first step towards recovery is medical detoxification.
What Is Medical Detox?
Medical detoxification is the first part of the rehabilitation process. It is often followed by additional treatments like behavioral therapy, counseling, and medication.
To put it simply, Detox can be defined as the process of clearing toxins from inside the body of patients who have been dependent on substance use.
The medical toxification process is designed to manage the withdrawal symptoms that follow the treatment and help the patients overcome their physical therapy.
In some cases, the withdrawal symptoms can be a life-threatening venture. Hence you must seek help from a detox or rehab center to manage the side effects safely.
That being said, if you are in need of a detox center, Gallus Detox can help you. Click here to try it out and get a quote on their services.
Types Of Drug Requiring Medical Detox
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, drug use can alter an individual’s personality. It also reacts with the brain chemistry and increases the risk of dependency or addiction.
The drug use that requires medical detox are:
- Heroin: Heroin is an illegal drug that stimulates the opioid in your brain. This blocks the feeling of pain and increases relaxation.
Cocaine: It is a stimulant drug that is derived from coca plants. When a person consumes cocaine, it creates an intense high as it feels your brain with dopamine.
Codeine: Codeine is a legal medication used to treat pain, coughing, and diarrhea. However, an overdose of this medicine can result in addiction as it stimulates your central nervous system and gives you mild pleasure.
Morphine: Morphine is a medication of the opiate family. It can be taken orally or directly through veins. It stimulates the central nervous system and restricts any pain signal reaching the brain.
Oxycodone: It is an opioid medication used to treat mild pain. Like any other painkiller, an overdose of this medicinal drug can result in addiction.
Nicotine: Nicotine elevates your senses and takes you to a state called HIGH. As this effect is short-lived, the person is encouraged to consume more to experience the same.
Methamphetamine: It is a man-made drug that acts as a stimulant. When a person consumes it, they become extremely focused on the things they are doing at the cost of appetite loss and insomnia.
What Happens In Medical Detox?
Medical detox works on the principle that someone physically unwell will not be able to solve the underlying problem that comes with addiction. The purpose of the medical detox is to tackle the physical side of the problem as its first step so that the patients can work on recovery.
Medical detox might seem a simple single process from the outside. But the moment you take a closer look at it, you will find that the process can be divided into four different phases.
Phase 1: Medical Assessment
The first step is a medical assessment test where the patient goes through multiple tests and examinations. This is done to have an accurate understanding of the patients’ current medical and physical condition.
During this assessment, an expert will gather all the reports on medical history and details of their addiction. After going through the report, the medical professionals will outline a treatment plan.
Phase 2: Withdrawal
As the treatment removes toxins from the patient’s body, the patient will suffer from withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are the reaction of the body when it does not get the desired substance.
The severity of the withdrawal symptom will depend on the type of addiction and just how severe the addiction is.
Withdrawal symptoms can result in a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms.
Physical Symptoms:
- Exhaustion.
- Headaches.
- Sweating.
- Increased heart rate.
- Nausea.
Psychological Symptoms:
- Irritation.
- Anxiety.
- Insomnia.
- Agitation.
- Mood swings.
Phase 3: Medication
Once the patients start showing withdrawal symptoms, the third phase of the addiction treatment starts. The patients are treated with medication to cope with withdrawal symptoms.
Although this medication is used to suppress the symptoms, it is also used to help patients with anxiety, depression and enable sufficient sleep.
Phase 4: Support After Treatment
Once your treatment is complete, it doesn’t end the process. Research shows that the patients that have been treated can go back to their old habits. To ensure that never happens, staff members from the Detox Center support the patients even after the treatment.
Side Effects Of The Drug Detox
The patients who go through the detox treatment experience symptoms of withdrawal. The side effects will depend on the type of addiction patients suffer from, and the severity will depend on how long they have been addicted.
However, there are some common side effects that come with any addiction.
- Mood changes: agitation, depression, mood swings, and anxiety.
- Body changes: fever, shaking, headaches.
- Cravings for the substance they are addicted to.
There You Have It!
Medical detox is the first step towards recovering from the addiction. It is the process in which toxins are removed from the body.
When the toxins are removed from the body, the body reacts and shows withdrawal symptoms. To suppress or control these symptoms, patients are given medication. As for what medication is given to them, we have already discussed it above.
If there is anything more you want to know about the medical detox process and the drugs used in treating the patients, contact us. We will get to you with a relevant answer.
Photo by LYFE Fuel on Unsplash
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
