A Quick Guide into Medical Drug Detox at Mallard Lake Detox Center in Houston, TX.

It is crucial to understand what medical detoxification entails, why it necessary, how it works, what to expect, etc. This quick guide by experts from Mallard Lake Detox Center, the best medical detox center in Houston, TX, contains all that information.  

Medical detoxification, often known as medical detox, is an important initial step in the treatment process for drug or alcohol addiction. Medical alcohol detox is required since severe alcohol withdrawal may be fatal. Medical drug detox is recommended for patients who exhibit physical and psychological indicators of substance dependency. 

If you feel you have a drug or alcohol issue, a medical detox program can help you live a healthy life. Mallard Lake’s medical detox program serves as a basis for developing new and healthy behaviours. Wherever you begin your recovery, understanding the features of detoxification programs can help you pick the program that best meets your requirements. Let’s now delve into the quick guide.

Medical Drug Detoxification: What Is It?

As one’s drug or alcohol misuse worsens, they may feel uncomfortable or sick in between doses. For many individuals, this discomfort keeps them going on even when they desire to stop. Drug detoxification entails breaking the cycle of self-medicating and striving towards sobriety instead.

Withdrawal is the term used to describe the sickness/discomfort that occurs between medication dosages. People who overuse the following drugs often exhibit the following symptoms:

1. Alcohol– Common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include anxiety and sleeplessness, but it may also lead to life-threatening seizures. Symptoms extend from two to ten days. 
2. Stimulants– Stimulants may cause agitation, sadness, or sedation for up to five days.
3. Benzodiazepines– Benzodiazepines may cause anxiety and sleeplessness for two to eight weeks, or even longer in certain situations.
4. Cannabis– Symptoms include poor mental health, gastrointestinal problems, and night sweats lasting 7-14 days.
5. Opioids– Opioids may cause flu-like symptoms that last four to 20 days. 

Symptom intensity varies depending on the substance taken, the duration of drug misuse, and other factors. The objective of medical detox is to overcome these symptoms avoiding relapsing on narcotics. It’s regarded as the initial stage in the addiction rehabilitation process. 

Do I Need Medical Detox?

Persons with addictions who believe they are at danger of becoming physically dependent on a drug are eligible for medical detoxification. Physical reliance on a chemical is most probable if: 

1. One experiences strong cravings for the drug.
2. Regular uses a large amount of a substance for a long time. 
3. Is attempting to quit but is unable to.
4. Is experiencing a diminished effect over time.
5. Is requiring increasing amounts of a substance to attain the usual effect.

What To Expect During the Medical Drug Detox Process?

Each drug detox program is unique. Most individuals are however bound to an inpatient drug detox program. A typical one entails the following procedures: 

1. Assessment. You will collaborate with medical professionals, counsellors, treatment planners, and others to explore your history of addiction and treatment. Your administrators may also do screening tests to determine which drugs you’ve consumed and how much you ingested. 
2. Preparation. At the conclusion of your examination, the team will offer you with a complete plan of care. You will know how much it is going to cost, the duration it will take, and much more. With this information, you can determine if the program is appropriate for you. 
3. Stabilization. You will join the therapy program, and the procedure you authorised starts. Sometimes medications are administered right away. In other cases, the showing of mild withdrawal symptoms may be required before any medications are administered. Your team will adhere strictly to the agreed-upon procedure. 
4. Medical supervision. Your team will track your symptoms and evaluate how well the treatment plan is working. If you are experiencing severe discomfort, your medications may be modified. If you’re performing well, the dosage is left constant. 
5. Aftercare. Once you are no longer suffering acute withdrawal, the team will prepare you to attend a drug rehabilitation program. 

In most circumstances, drug detox is most unpleasant during the acute period of withdrawal. Your symptoms are at their peak, and your drug cravings might be difficult to resist. In the final stages of withdrawal, you may feel that your former self is returning.

What Is the Duration of Medical Detox?

The duration and severity of detox vary on numerous variables, including: 

• The Type of Drug. The drug taken has the greatest influence on how the withdrawal symptoms manifests. Alcohol withdrawal, for example, may occur within a few hours following the last drink and may need a tapering over many days.
• Amount of Drug Abused. Heavy substance usage causes rapid tolerance since the body must take more severe steps to acclimatise to a high dose of a drug. 
• Frequency and Duration of Usage. The longer someone uses a substance, the more likely they are to develop physical dependency. Similarly, the more often a person takes a substance, the more probable he or she is to develop physical dependence on it. Physical dependency on benzodiazepines and opioids may develop in as short as six to eight weeks of regular, frequent usage. 
• Personal Factors. Body chemistry, metabolic rate, weight, and genetic composition all influence the beginning of drug withdrawal and its response to therapy. 

Contact Mallard Lake, the best medical detox center in Houston, TX, for more information regarding medical drug detoxification.