Addiction is not just a craving for a drug. It is an acute physical and psychological dependence on a substance. Frequent and long-term drug abuse can lead to biological changes that make it hard to stop. Because of this, many addicts must undergo substance abuse detoxification to help them overcome their addictions finally. At our Banyan Lake Worth rehab, our inpatient detox programs are designed to help patients beat their substance abuse problems and move forward in the recovery process toward comprehensive healing.
What Is a Detox Program?
Drug detox or detoxification is the process of removing harmful drugs and toxins from a person’s body. This detox process is typically accompanied by uncomfortable and even dangerous withdrawal symptoms that can vary in severity and are different for everyone. These withdrawals are the result of physical dependence.
Physical dependence occurs when a person misuses drugs long-term. Drugs like benzodiazepines (benzos), stimulants, and opioids change the chemical structure of the brain, impacting neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and norepinephrine. When used for extended periods, these substances make it difficult for the brain to regulate these chemicals on its own, causing it to become reliant on these drugs.
When individuals with a physical drug dependence attempt to quit or cut back on their use, they are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are often uncomfortable and painful, so much so that users often relapse to avoid the discomfort.
Common drug detox symptoms include:
- Abdominal cramps
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Delirium
- Depression
- Exhaustion
- Extreme mood swings
- Hallucinations
- Headaches
- Elevated temperature and/or chills
- Inability to concentrate
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Insomnia
- Intense cravings for the substance
- Irritability
- Muscle and bone pain
- Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
- Paranoia
- Runny nose
- Seizures
- Shaking and shivering
- Sweating
- Vivid and unpleasant dreams
To detox safely, professional, medically supervised detox is the best way to go. Not only do our drug detox programs offer round-the-clock care, but our team also administers medication (as needed) to alleviate patients’ symptoms and reduce their discomfort. While no medication prevents all withdrawals, there are medications that our team uses to treat patients that are safe and effective.
How Long Is a Detox Program?
On average, the detoxification process typically lasts between 7 and 10 days. However, this can vary from person to person and depends on several factors, such as:
- Age
- Co-occurring mental illness
- Gender
- How long they have used drugs or alcohol
- How much of the drug(s) or how much alcohol they consumed
- Metabolism rate
- The type of substance they used
- Weight
- Whether they have underlying health conditions
Following medical detox, patients at our BHOPB detox center will be ready to progress to a drug or alcohol treatment program where they will receive individual and group therapy to support their psychological recovery.
Why Detoxification Programs Are Important
Addiction detox programs mark a critical first step in treatment and should never be attempted without professional supervision. Chronic substance abusers that try to quit drugs or alcohol “cold turkey” almost always fail and can suffer serious and even life-threatening consequences. That is why detox in a certified and well-staffed facility is so vitally important. Your life is quite literally at stake.
Not only do our inpatient detox programs ensure that our clients remain safe and healthy as they go through a challenging period, but it also offers them a clean slate on which they can begin their recovery. Detox removes the challenges of withdrawals and drug cravings, reducing the patient’s chances of relapse and increasing their chances of sustaining sobriety long-term.
Our Florida Detox Programs
The first step towards recovery is detox, and at Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches, our team of professionals delivers the kind of world-class care that enables individuals to safely detox and begin their journey to lifelong recovery. Our inpatient drug detox offers safe, compassionate, and comprehensive symptom relief. Each patient begins their treatment with medically supervised, onsite, residential detox at one of our facilities.
Our professionals are qualified to treat withdrawal symptoms to minimize discomfort and provide immediate care in a medical emergency. Our staff can also treat any medical issues that patients may have in addition to their substance abuse. Particularly long-term substance abusers may have a number of health issues due to the damage they have sustained from their drugs of choice over the years.
Our treatment specialists want to ensure that each patient is provided with the best care possible. This is one reason we provide every patient with an individualized treatment plan designed to meet their specific needs. Because every drug is different and has its own unique withdrawal symptoms, our Florida detox programs keep this idea in mind. From a heroin detox to an alcohol detox, we use the most up-to-date medical protocols to try and lessen the pain and discomfort of withdrawal from any drug while also monitoring all potential health warning signs.
While completing detox, patients will also begin various addiction therapy programs to help with their long-term recovery. Some of these programs include seeing a therapist individually and in group sessions to address their addiction’s underlying causes.
For those who struggle with an underlying mental health issue, our co-occurring disorder treatment will help them start to tackle these issues as well. Case managers are on staff to help with paperwork relating to FMLA, short-term disability, leaves of absence from work or school, insurance/COBRA, and legal correspondence.
We also educate individuals in detox about withdrawal symptoms associated with the substances they have abused. This is the beginning of an educational process that continues in treatment, empowering those in recovery with the knowledge that can help them remain sober and improve their overall wellness in the years to come.
Finding Inpatient Detox Programs Near Me
Detox is a crucial component in the addiction recovery journey, but it is only the first step. The detox process for any addiction can be intense; however, we are here to make sure that you successfully complete a medical detox program so that you can begin treatment.
After detox, most patients will enter our residential treatment program. At this point, they will dive into their therapy programs and focus on other aspects of addiction that need to be healed to have long-term success.
If you are suffering from any addiction, we are here to guide you on the path toward recovery. Contact Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches today to learn more about our addiction treatment in Lake Worth and get started.
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