According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, drug deaths rose in 2015 compared to the two previous years. The biggest increases involved cocaine, morphine, and alcohol. The rise in drug deaths highlights the need for addiction treatment programs. Searching for treatment should start with detox at a Florida recovery center.
What Is Detox?
Drug addiction is a mental disease because of the chemical changes that drugs cause in the brain. At its core, drug detox is the process through which the body naturally eliminates drug toxins. During this process, however, the chemical balance in the brain has to readjust to functioning without the drugs. A detox center provides medical intervention to make the process as comfortable and safe as possible.
The Detox Process at a Florida Recovery Center
In all addiction treatment programs, detox is the first, necessary step to quitting drug use. As the brain readjusts to not having drugs, however, the body responds to the lack of drugs or alcohol with withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms can develop even when drug users taper their dosage.
The longer that someone habitually uses drugs, the worse his or her symptoms will be. The symptoms also vary depending on the drugs that they use. A detox center is the best place to be when withdrawal symptoms arise.
Benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium can cause anxiety, panic attacks, sedation, shaky hands and trouble sleeping. Opioids such as heroin, morphine, and OxyContin can cause agitation, diarrhea, muscle aches, stomach cramps, and vomiting. Stimulants such as cocaine and Adderall can cause muscle pain, heart problems, shaking, sleepiness and suicidal thoughts.
The professional medical staff at a detox center can treat these symptoms. In most cases, they use medicines to relieve pain and other discomfort during withdrawal. The medicines may also ease symptoms to prevent life-threatening complications. Receiving this level of care is the safest way to stop using drugs.
For benzos, detox centers often taper down the dosage or switch to a different medication. For opiate detox, they typically use methadone or suboxone, which are different opioids. The goal with these drugs is to ease drug cravings while eliminating opioid use. For stimulant withdrawal, they could use benzos to ease symptoms for a short period to prevent another addiction from developing.
The Risks of Quitting Cold Turkey
The complications that can arise during withdrawal are the reason why quitting drugs cold turkey is sometimes dangerous. In many cases, this method of self-detox leads to death. The drug withdrawals that most commonly result in fatalities are alcohol, benzos, and opioids. However, it’s possible for stimulants to cause extreme effects as well.
Dehydration is a withdrawal side effect that can lead to fatal complications when people don’t seek treatment. The reason is that it puts too much strain on the kidneys, which may fail under the pressure.
Relapse is another complication. People who try to quit cold turkey often start using again because they can’t stand the cravings and other symptoms. If their tolerance is lower than before they stopped using, they could take too much and overdose. The result is often serious side effects, coma or death.
Picking a Detox Facility
It’s important for people to consider several factors when they choose addiction treatment programs. The main factor is the quality of the programs and detox services.
Addiction treatment programs are only as effective as the quality of care. People can ask for success ratings to get a clear indication of whether or not detox centers are effective. Everyone at the detox center also needs to have the appropriate credentials to provide effective, licensed care.
Start Detox at Serenity House Detox & Recovery
When you consider addiction treatment programs, make sure that you choose a Florida recovery center that specializes in detox. Serenity House Detox & Recovery is a detox-only center with locations in Fort Lauderdale and Jupiter, Florida. We provide the focus you need to stop using drugs efficiently and safely. Our professional team uses evidence-based methods in our detox programs, which include:
- Alcohol detox
- Drug detox
- Medical detox
- Detox program for men
- Detox program for women
Serenity House Detox & Recovery can help you whether you have alcohol abuse problems or heroin, cocaine or meth addiction. As part of our Florida recovery center treatment, we provide customized plans, individual therapy, chiropractic care and meditation groups.
Don’t let drug abuse or addiction continue to control you. Fight against it with help from Serenity House Detox & Recovery. Dial 866-294-5306 to learn more about our detox programs and services.