Detox in NYC

Addiction affects tens of millions of people across the world, and addiction rates are growing in many areas. While most individuals who struggle with addiction want to reclaim their health, the uncomfortable detox process can make achieving sobriety very difficult. Thankfully, you don’t have to deal with painful withdrawal symptoms alone, and it’s much easier to overcome your addiction once you get through the worst phases of detox. Addiction will ruin your life, so if you want to kick your drug or alcohol habit, then you need to check out this guide on detox and to better understand your treatment options.

What Is Detox?

When a person regularly consumes a drug or alcohol, the body slowly becomes dependent on the substance. With prolonged or intense consumption of a substance, an individual’s dependence will worsen over time, and they’ll require higher doses of the substance just to feel normal. If someone who struggles with addiction suddenly stops using a substance, then their body will begin to go through detox.

Detox is the process by which the body readjusts its functions to adapt to life without regular doses of an addictive substance. This is the process that people refer to when they talk about going through withdrawal. During this adjustment period, patients can experience all kinds of hormonal shifts and uncomfortable symptoms. Common withdrawal symptoms include headache, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, irritability, insomnia, heart problems, mood swings, seizures, paranoia, and hallucinations.

How Long Does Detox Last?

Detox symptoms can vary considerably between patients. Factors that contribute to the duration and severity of an individual’s symptoms include age, overall health, the extent of their substance abuse, and current medications. Because the body processes each substance differently, the substance that a person abuses will affect the duration of a person’s detox symptoms.

For example, individuals who struggle with alcohol addiction typically get through the worst symptoms within five days of quitting. On the other hand, someone with a history of benzodiazepine may still experience peak detox symptoms two weeks after their last dose. Because detox affects every person differently, you should talk to an addiction professional as soon as possible to get a better idea of what to expect from the detox process.

Is Detox Safe?

Detox can extremely unsafe without proper medical supervision. During the worst phase of the detox process, many patients endure hallucinations, seizures, delirium, and painful symptoms. Detox is especially dangerous for patients who struggle with alcohol addiction. Within a few days after their last drink, many alcohol detox patients experience seizures and delirium tremens. When a patient develops delirium tremens, they suddenly become extremely confused and may shake uncontrollably, hallucinate, or develop hyperthermia.

What Are the Benefits of a Detox Program?

Reputable addiction treatment centers across New York have high-quality detox programs in place to help patients get through the most difficult part of their journey towards sobriety. The biggest benefit of a detox program is that it mitigates the risks associated with severe withdrawal symptoms. The experienced medical staff and addiction professionals in a detox facility are always ready to identify any dangerous symptoms and help patients get through them as safely and comfortably as possible.

Unfortunately, many individuals who try to quit a substance outside of a clinical setting end up failing because their withdrawal symptoms become too difficult to bear. When a patient begins to shake, sweat, and hallucinate, the temptation to relapse skyrockets. A detox facility will completely separate a patient from their supply of drugs or alcohol. Because of this, patients cannot relapse under any circumstances in a detox facility. Once a patient gets through the worst parts of the detox process, they are much less likely to relapse, so a detox program is a great way for a patient to build a lot of momentum towards their goal of overcoming their addiction.

Does Everyone Need a Detox Program?

A patient with a shorter history of addiction might not experience severe withdrawal symptoms. Thus, they may want to focus on addiction therapy instead of enrolling in a detox program. If you’re not sure whether a detox program is right for you, then you should contact an addiction professional at a reputable treatment facility to discuss your options so that you can make an informed decision.

Will Addiction Affect My Long-Term Health?

The likelihood of developing irreversible health problems increases as you continue to abuse drugs or alcohol. Long-term substance abuse can lead to organ damage, cognitive problems, psychosis, brain damage, and several other serious issues. On top of that, individuals who use drugs or drink excessively are more likely to engage in risky behaviors. Consequently, compared to the general population, people who struggle with addiction have higher rates of HIV, hepatitis, STDs, and other serious diseases. Your health is one of your most important assets, so you should seek addiction treatment as soon as possible to avoid permanent health problems.

Do I Need Addiction Treatment After Going Through Detox?

Most patients benefit greatly from professional addiction treatment after going through the detox process. If you immediately go home after detox, then you will be much more likely to relapse. In an addiction treatment program, you will develop effective skills and coping mechanisms to help you maintain a sober lifestyle. Staying at an inpatient treatment center will also remove you from negative influences and give you time to plan for sobriety-friendly accommodations once you make it through the program.

Addiction treatment programs typically consist of individual sessions with a licensed therapist, group therapy sessions with a therapist and other patients who struggle with addiction, and various healthy activities to help patients develop positive habits. In an inpatient program, you’ll stay at the treatment facility full-time and attend daily treatment sessions. After some time, you will shift to an outpatient program and live at home. You will commute to the treatment center and gradually attend fewer treatment sessions per week. At some point, your therapist will determine that you no longer need formal treatment, and they will connect you with local support groups and addiction resources.

What Are the Signs That I Might Have an Addiction?

Constant Fixation on a Substance

People who struggle with addiction often cannot stop thinking about the addictive substance. An alcohol addict may constantly talk about partying and plan their days around drinking. This fixation is abnormal, so if you find that a certain substance is always on your mind, then you should reach out to an addiction professional as soon as possible.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms only happen when a person’s body is dependent on an addictive substance. If you become nauseous, get a headache, or feel intense mood swings after going without a dose for some time, then you likely have an addiction. Withdrawal symptoms can take many days to go away, and you will feel tempted to drink or use drugs as symptoms reach their peak.

Emotional Instability

Addiction can severely impact a person’s ability to regulate their emotions. Many addiction patients cycle between melancholy, joy, anger, and other intense feelings throughout the day. Some patients turn to drugs and alcohol to deal with undiagnosed psychiatric disorders. Even if you don’t think that you have a substance abuse problem, you should still speak to a doctor if you struggle with emotional instability.

Financial Problems Related to Your Substance Use

Funding an addiction can become very expensive over time. Substance abuse patients often skip meals, work overtime, or neglect to pay vital bills in order to fund their drug and alcohol purchases. Many individuals who struggle with substance abuse skip work, exhibit poor workplace performance, and have difficulty maintaining gainful employment.

What Should I Do if Someone in My Life Struggles With Addiction?

You want to help your loved one overcome their addiction, but you might not know how to properly broach the subject. No matter how you choose to help your loved one, you must remember to remain as kind, sensitive, and tactful as possible. Individuals who struggle with addiction often have poor self-esteem and feel a lot of shame, so acting aggressively or shaming them will only make them feel more isolated.

Consequently, their condition may worsen, and they will be more resistant to attempts to address their addiction in the future. All in all, helping a loved one who struggles with substance abuse can be very tricky, but you don’t have to handle it alone. An experienced addiction professional can give you great advice and point you towards the best resources to help your loved one. Many addiction treatment centers offer drug intervention services to help people convince their loved ones to seek addiction treatment. An intervention specialist understands the best ways to approach addiction problems, and they’ll work closely with you to organize the most effective intervention for your loved one.

Drug Addiction Treatment Can Improve Your Life in Every Way

You shouldn’t wait to seek addiction treatment when your health and happiness are on the line. Making such a big life change can be scary, but your hard work and bravery will pay off in the long run. You don’t want to let drugs and alcohol control your life, so you need to reach out to Every1 Center today to find a drug addiction treatment program that will work for you.

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