Drug Detox

Drug detoxification is a dangerous process that should be carried out under medical supervision by professionals that have your best interest at heart. The goal of detox is to rid your body of drug and alcohol toxins, stabilize your body from their addictive effects and heal you psychologically for a long term recovery.

Once you stop taking the drug, your body will begin to showcase many withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the severity of the abuse and the type of drug, the duration of the detox many fluctuate. When your body stabilizes, the real work begins in therapy and counselling. Those with mental health issues may be prescribed antidepressant or antipsychotic medications to help with their stabilization.

At Serenity Oaks Wellness Center, we provide an individualized rehab treatment program that includes medicine maintenance, psychiatric care, therapy group counselling, drug education, life skills classes and a plan for after treatment so you can stay on track. Our staff is dedicated to assuring that your drug or alcohol detox is as comfortable as possible and that, when you leave our facility, you are prepared for a long recovery.

SHOULD YOU DETOX AT HOME?

In a word- No. We don’t recommend that people do a detox without medical supervision. Your safety and the success of your detox is at stake. Professional detox is safer, more comfortable and effective, particularly when the drug addiction is more severe.

Detoxification is a painful and complicated process. Without someone there that has a medical knowledge base, you may be putting yourself in danger. Every patient’s body and mind has specific needs that need to be accounted for when going through a trial like drug detox. Typically addiction recovery is much more successful when a therapeutic plan is implemented by a professional. The mental aspect of addiction is what will lead to long term results. At home detox kits typically will provide a short term solution for a long term problem.

There are two types of drug detox programs at Serenity Oaks Wellness: Outpatient and Inpatient. In most cases, inpatient is the most successful as our experts can assure that every aspect of your recovery is meeting your personal rehab needs.

In some rare cases, Outpatient detox might be necessary. Outpatient detox is recommended if the severity of the addiction is low, affordability is an issue or if there are scheduling difficulties. Outpatient detox will require regular check-ins with our staff and taking regular medication. Due to the lack of round the clock care, it is not uncommon for outpatient detox to be unsuccessful.

3 METHODS OF DRUG DETOX

Depending on the substance and the person, the method chosen to wean someone off their drug addiction may be different. There are 3 main methods for tacking your detox:

1. Cold Turkey
   Quitting cold turkey, a term made famous by cigarette smokers, means that you completely stop using drugs all at one time. This method doesn’t use medications and patients experience the entire brunt of their symptoms for as long as it takes to fully detox.
2. Short Term Medicated Detox
   While the patient stops taking substances, medications are used as withdrawal symptoms arise. Patients are put on a short term medication plan to ease symptoms, making their detox easier to manage.
3. Long Term Medicated Detox
   In order to treat opioid abuse, a longer term detox is appropriate. This may include using methadone or other medications to help wean the patient of the opioids, reducing their symptoms over time.

WHAT SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD EXPECT

If you are going through detox for the first time, it can be an intense and painful experience. At Serenity Oaks Wellness, we will do our very best to provide you with the medical help, medication and support to lessen the pain as much as possible. The severity of your addiction and your medical history are directly related to the severity of your detox.

Every drug has its own symptoms of withdrawal due to its chemical makeup and effect of the body. Here are some of the withdrawal symptoms associated with drugs common to drug detox treatment:

WHAT MEDICATIONS ARE USED FOR DRUG DETOX?

Medication is an important part to the detox process, reducing discomfort and aiding the body in healing from the addiction. Not all medications have been approved specifically for drug withdrawal. Here are some that are approved according to the National Institutes of Health:

• Methadone
• Buprenorphine
• Naltrexone
• Acamprosate
• Disulfiram

Depending on the symptoms associated with your withdrawal, your medical professional will provide the medication tailored to fit your needs. At Serenity Oaks Wellness, we find out your medical and mental health needs before prescribing anything to you.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

Detoxification is the first step toward your recovery. It isn’t the solution. Comprehensive treatment programs includes detox, a continuum of care, therapy and a plan for long term success. At Serenity Oaks Wellness, we want to get you started on the right footing to continue to the more psychological issues that coincide with your addiction.