Alcohol and Drug Detox
When it comes time for you or a family member to face addiction and begin the recovery process, the first step is drug rehab detox. You have to flush the drugs from your system and the best and safest way to do that is through professional medical treatment. The idea of going into rehab is cliche, but it works. Millions of people have found permanent addiction help through clinics.
It is hard to face addiction, whether your own or a family member. In truth that is the first step, before you even think about detoxification. The saying goes that admitting you have a problem is the first step. It is true because kicking drugs or getting sober is no easy road and if you are not committed, if you have not looked addiction in the eye and vowed to conquer it, you will likely fail. The mental game is the part that many people forget. There is a certain amount of drug addiction detox that happens, too. You are addicted to the life of a drug user. There is a certain attraction to eschewing responsibility for life because you are an addict. It becomes an excuse for everything that you don’t want to do and a reason why you can’t reach for something better.
Once you check into the rehab center (some are alcohol detox centers only, others are alcohol/drug detox centers), the staff will evaluate your general health. They need to see your overall physical health. Detox is rough on a body and if you have even a fever, it will effect your treatment. Opiate detox is messy but rarely life threatening. Alcohol detox can be dangerous, so don’t underestimate the importance of seeking professional help.
With alcohol detox symptoms include: insomnia, irritability and anxiety. In addition expect vomiting, elevated heart rates, and increased blood pressure. These last two are the worrisome ones. If the addict has a history of heart trouble, the detox could trigger a heart attack. The same with blood pressure: the detoxification period could create the perfect conditions for a stroke. The first signs of alcohol detox can begin as soon as 6 hours after the last drink and as late as 24 hours. The length of detox varies greatly. It will definitely last at least 3 days and often takes 10-12 days for the body to stabilize. So much of this depends on how long the person has been drinking and the severity of the addiction.
A heroin detox will last 3-5 days for a straightforward situation. If there are medical complications, if you or your loved one is in ill health, it can take longer and be a more dangerous situation. Often with heroin, there are medical complications. Many IV drug users are HIV positive; many have hepatitis, staph infections or abscesses. These need to be treated in tandem with the detox.
Getting help for your addiction is the best way to create a life of sobriety. People often want to try to detox and kick on their own, either because they don’t have insurance or money to pay for a clinic or because they don’t want anyone to know. Professional help and the support of the people around you is vital on the road to recovery. Don’t short change yourself in this area. Get professional help and let your loved ones in — it’s the only way to truly start a new life for yourself.