Why is Drug Detox so Important?
The road to recovery from drug addiction begins when the individual admits that they have a problem. But the treatment of that problem cannot start until the individual has undergone a drug detox program. Drug detox is the crucial first step that must be completed before the psychological component of drug rehab can get rolling.
What is Drug Detox?
Drug detox (or "detoxification") is the process of allowing the harmful toxins associated with drug abuse to leave the body. Drug detox is achieved when an individual stops taking the drug in question and enters into a period of abstinence supervised by a medical professional. Why must this process be overseen by a professional? Because during drug detox, the individual is likely to experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that can cause health problems or even bring about a relapse into drug use.
What are the Withdrawal Symptoms Associated with Drug Detox?
Withdrawal symptoms are rarely life-threatening, but they can cause the individual a great deal of discomfort and even lead to relapse. Although different drugs elicit different withdrawal symptoms during detox, some of the most common include:
- Anxiety
- Sweats and chills
- Muscle aches and pains
- Depression and suicidal thoughts
- Runny nose or sneezing
- Relapse into drug use
Where does Drug Detox take Place?
Most drug rehab programs now offer detox onsite at their facility. This allows a seamless transition from the detox component of rehab into the counseling and aftercare programs that make up the lion's share of the process. Some facilities however, do not have a detox program onsite and therefore will ask the individual to complete the process elsewhere before admittance into rehab.
How long does Drug Detox take to Complete?
The time it takes to complete drug detox varies according to the individual and the depth of their drug problem. Generally, the process can take anywhere from five days to two weeks, or as long as it takes for the drug toxins to safely leave the individual's system.
Why is Drug Detox so Important?
There are several primary reasons why drug detox is such an important part of the addiction recovery process. First, it is important to view drug rehab as a two-part process, physical and psychological. Drug detox helps address the physical component of rehab. When detox is complete, the individual is no longer physically addicted to the drug in question. While this does not represent a complete recovery, it paves the way for the psychological component of rehab, which consists of individual and group counseling and therapy.
The reason that drug treatment programs require the individual to complete detox upfront is because counseling is just not going to be effective as long as the individual has drugs in their system. Also, as long as the drug toxins are in the bloodstream, there is a strong chance that the individual will relapse – thus undoing any progress made in rehab.
Michael's House is a comprehensive residential drug treatment program located in Palm Springs California. Michael's House offers drug detox and a full program of individual and group counseling sessions to help the individual build the foundation of a new, drug-free life. For more information, contact Michael's House today at .
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