Detox is the removal of all toxic substances within your body’s system. Many people who stop using drugs or alcohol during detox start to develop cravings. When a person craves the substances that they would often use, that person is dependent on those substances.
An individual becomes addicted to substances once he or she can no longer resist using them. Those who suffer from addiction are often willing to do anything to get more drugs or alcohol. This includes putting themselves in harm’s way.
Severe withdrawal symptoms include things like intense sweating, shaking, seizures, and fevers. When people that are in detox are experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, they can take medications to help them cope. When a person takes medications to assist him or her through addiction treatment, it is called medication-assisted treatment.
Most facilities maintain medical staffers who are responsible for looking after clients who are going through the detox process. If a client shows material signs of discomfort, there should be a doctor standing by to prescribe relief medications. While it would be great if every client could detox without medical intervention, that’s seldom the case.
If you go through a detox program, you should expect your detox process to last about one week. You should also expect the first five days to be the worst. While going through the detox process, you will be able to safely stop using drugs or alcohol. This will enable you to prepare for the next step in your treatment journey.
If by chance, you have a severe addiction to opioids or alcohol, you might need to go through a tapering program. A tapering system is when you detox yourself from substances gradually. That could last several weeks. Either way, you would not be going into therapy until your body and mind were clear enough to handle the rigors of introspection and counseling.