What is detox? It is a word that is often thrown around regarding the process of recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, but it is actually rather poorly understood. Here’s what you need to know about drug and alcohol detox – and how it might apply to you or your loved one’s sobriety journey:
What is Detox?
Detox is the first phase of drug or alcohol addiction recovery. This is the stage at which the body rids itself of the substance the patient has been using regularly. Because the body and brain have typically become dependent on this substance, withdrawal symptoms are typically most prevalent during this time. These symptoms can be physical, mental, and emotional, and can become very difficult to cope with. Thankfully, the detox phase of recovery is the shortest, and may be as short as a few days to several weeks for most patients.
Medically-Assisted Detox
Because of the many psychical, mental, and emotional symptoms that detox and withdrawal can cause, coping with it unassisted can be difficult. Many people who attempt this phase of the addiction recovery process fail, both because they find resisting cravings difficult and because the discomfort caused by withdrawal is simply too much for some people to cope with.
When this happens, medically-assisted detox may be the best option. Since making it through detox and withdrawal is necessary to the overall process of addiction recovery, making it easier and more comfortable to get through this phase can be beneficial to the participant. Medically-assisted detox uses prescription medications to lessen the intense symptoms of withdrawal and make it easier on the person experiencing it, so they can focus more on recovery.
If you’re interested in learning more about drug and alcohol detox in Orange County CA, contact the experts at your local addiction resource center or clinic. They can help you determine where you are in your own recovery journey and help you achieve sobriety – one step at a time.