Millions of people suffer from a drug or alcohol addiction. Unfortunately, only a few of these people actually receive treatment. When someone decides to get help, options like rehab, detox medication and medical detox can help.
Breaking the Cycle of Addiction
The first step is realizing that there is a problem. Once someone recognizes an addiction, they can get help. There are many different drug detox and rehab facilities that can help with recovery.
Detox is the first step. Withdrawal and detox allow drugs to leave the body. Medical detox staff members supervise the patient at all times. This helps to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the addiction, doctors may also prescribe detox medication. These medications help ease withdrawal symptoms and support recovery.
In a medical detox program, doctors and medical staff support patients at all times. Medically supervised detox ensures a safe, comfortable environment. This can occur during inpatient or outpatient detox or rehab. There are a number of different drugs that can assist with detox treatment.
What Is Detox Medication?
Alcohol Detox Medications: While Naltrexone is useful in the treatment of several different types of addiction, it remains one of the most popular prescription medications used during alcohol detox. People can find it marketed under the trade names Revia and Vivitrol. It comes in tablet form or patients can take it via extended-release injections. The drug essentially serves to block the pleasure sensors in the brain, diminishing the patient’s benefits of drinking.
Opioid Detox Medication: Depending on the extent of the addiction, the opioid detox process remains quite complex. Methadone has been used for decades now as a tapering medication during opioid detox. As an opioid-based substitute, patients are urged to be wary of Methadone’s addictive traits. If abused or used longer than prescribed, the patient could end up substituting one addiction or another. In the tapering process, doctors will prescribe this drug for as long as six months.
Stimulant Detox Medication: To offset the possible withdrawal symptoms related to stimulant detox, doctors will often prescribe antidepressants like Desipramine or Prozac. These drugs act to calm the body’s function during the detox process. While the withdrawal symptoms related to stimulants like cocaine are not quite as harsh as those from other addiction, antidepressants work very well for all but the harshest stimulant withdrawal symptoms.
Sedative Detox Medication: For the treatment of withdrawal symptoms during a sedative detox, many doctors prefer to prescribe Flumazenil. The drug is fast-acting with a very short active life in the system. The drug, which is available as an injection or as a nasal medication, is classified as a selective benzodiazepine receptor antagonist.
What Happens During Detox?
Initially, patients go through the intake process. An addiction specialist will collaborate with the client to decide on the right course of treatment. The medication and treatments used will depend on the patient’s addiction and health history.
At the detox center, patients receive help through a variety of different programs. It is important to detox at a treatment center whether medication is used or not. Without professional support, detoxing can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. The treatment center may offer options such as:
- Men’s detox program
- Women’s detox program
- Individual therapy program
- Group therapy program
- Family therapy program
- Recommendations for rehab
- Relapse prevention education
No one deserves the pain and stress of an addiction. With the right help, you can break free from your addiction. You can enjoy a healthier, happier life. To find out how detox can help you become sober, call Serenity House Detox & Recovery today at 866-294-5306.
