Detoxification, or detox, is the process of letting the body remove the drugs in it. Specifically for substance abuse, it refers to the period of time that the body needs to process or metabolize any drugs or alcohol in its system, therefore clearing their toxic influence. Though it sounds straightforward and easy, it’s the first and often the hardest step on the road to recovery. The purpose of detoxification programs is to safely manage the withdrawal symptoms that occur when someone stops taking drugs or alcohol.
Detox looks different for everyone since it often depends on the substance, and how long it was used. It can take days or months to get through. This depends on the following factors:
- Type of substance that the user is addicted to
- How long the addiction has lasted
- The severity of the addiction
- Method of substance abuse (snorting, smoking, injecting, swallowing)
- The amount of a substance taken at one time
- Family history
- Genetic makeup
- Medical history/condition
- Underlying mental health conditions
Can I Detox at Home?
The short answer is: we don’t recommend it. Choosing to detox at home can be deadly. It is best that you find medical supervision since without it you may suffer serious issues such as seizures and severe dehydration. There are also intense cravings and other significant discomforts that may arise during the withdrawal process, weakening the resolve to quit making relapse a higher risk.
Since there are so many factors that influence the detoxification process, working with a specialist like those at New Outlook Detox, will greatly increase your chances of making it through the first step towards a life of sobriety. Detox programs like ours, work hand-in-hand with patients to prevent dangerous complications.
How Does Detox Work?
Though everyone’s detox needs can vary, the detox process helps identify patient’s needs to get them personalized help.
Step 1: Evaluation
The first step is medical evaluation for incoming patients. This reviews both physical and mental health issues and may include things like blood tests. This also gives us a comprehensive overview of drug, medical, and psychiatric histories, which will help us tailor the treatment process to fit the needs of our clients.
Step 2: Stabilization
This is the majority of a detox program. At New Outlook Detox, the typical stay is about a week. This involves acclimating the person to the detox process while using the evaluation in step one to evaluate your needs. We use transcending medication to help you taper off of substances you are currently taking. This provides you with the safest and least stressful way to regain your life.
Step 3: Aftercare Program
Success with treatment is strongly linked to ongoing treatment. After you leave our facility, we regularly schedule private therapy sessions. We develop an aftercare plan and make arrangements for the transfer into an ongoing treatment program, taking into account your unique needs.
Who Should Go To Detox?
Detox is recommended as the initial step of treatment for a wide range of addicted individuals. It is appropriate for those who have developed a substance dependency. A dependency occurs when the body has adapted to persistently elevated levels of a substance to the point where a person feels they must have the substance in order to “function normally”. Those who are dependant on a substance will often experience a variety of both mental and physical withdrawal symptoms.
People who have negative experiences with previous attempts to quit, have significant mental or physical health issues, or limited support at home, will likely benefit from medically supervised detox programs like New Outlook Detox.
Detox works with a variety of different substances. We have a variety of programs and each program is tailored slightly to that specific substance. You can read more about each program here.