Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms are strongest during the first few days after stopping drugs or alcohol and some people will need medical supervision during this difficult period. Medical intervention reduces the severity of the symptoms, which makes the detox process more comfortable – and since the withdrawal symptoms of certain drugs can be very dangerous, medical supervision ensures your safety.

A typical medical detox lasts from 3-7 days. More rarely, people need up to 2 weeks of medical care to withdraw safely.

Do You Need a Medically Supervised Detoxification?

Abruptly stopping the use of any psychoactive substance results in withdrawal symptoms, but the lengthy use of certain drugs results in a physical addiction and upon cessation of use, a more difficult or dangerous period of detoxification.

You will likely need a medically supervised detoxification if you are addicted to:

• Alcohol
• Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, Ativan, etc.)
• Opiates (such as heroin)
• Opioids (such as OxyContin or hydrocodone, etc.)

The physical withdrawal symptoms for alcohol or benzodiazepines can be dangerous. The brain adapts over time to the frequent and regular use of these sedatives by "speeding up" to fight the "slowing down" caused by the drugs or alcohol. If you suddenly stop taking these drugs, the brain can speed up dangerously, causing potentially life-threatening symptoms such as convulsions.

The long-term use of opiates or opioids changes the brain's endorphin systems. Opiate addicts have much less of the feel-good chemicals in the brain that regulate pleasure and pain. An opiate addict needs drugs just to bring their endorphin levels back up to normal, and without the continual use of the drug, low endorphin levels cause a very uncomfortable period of withdrawal. Supervised withdrawal and/or the medication management of an opiate addiction is almost always necessary.

You may need a medically supervised detoxification if you are addicted to:

• Methamphetamine
• Cocaine or crack cocaine
• Marijuana
• Other drugs

Suddenly stopping use of meth, cocaine, or marijuana can result in physical symptoms of withdrawal as well as severe mental distress.

How Can You Know for Sure?

There are no cookie-cutter solutions. Your needs are unique and without learning a bit about you and your situation, no one can tell you if you need a medically supervised detoxification or not.

Your doctor can give you answers, or you can make contact with a reputable addiction treatment center to speak with an addiction professional directly.

Detox Process

Where Can You Detox?

Medical detoxification occurs in a hospital or an addiction treatment facility licensed to provide this type of care. Many residential addiction treatment facilities do not offer medical detoxification but will provide referrals to local detox facilities. Some larger addiction treatment centers do offer "in-house" medical detoxification services.

Most people going through the discomfort of withdrawal require residential care but doctors sometimes suggest an outpatient but supervised detoxification for people with less severe or less complex withdrawals.

Your doctor or any reputable addiction treatment program can assist you in finding an appropriate medical detoxification facility.

Are Medications Used?

After a thorough medical examination, a health care professional or treatment center will likely administer small doses of symptom-reducing medications. The medical staff will monitor your condition often for your safety and comfort, and your doctor will adjust your dosages as needed.

Some medications commonly prescribed include:

• Anti-convulsants
• Benzodiazepine-like drugs
• Clonidine

Opiate patients may take Suboxone or methadone to minimize the severity of withdrawal symptoms.

What's the First Step?

Get informed! Talk to your doctor or an addiction professional about your situation to determine if you are a likely candidate for a medical detoxification. If you are, ask questions about the process, the facility, and the experience you are likely to have.

Your imagination is your own worst enemy, and feelings of apprehension and dread can actually worsen an experience. Educate yourself on what steps needs to be taken and decide where, when, and how to do it. The best addiction treatment centers will walk you through this process one step at a time.

Detox Is Not a Cure

Research overwhelmingly suggests that the longer you stay in treatment the better your odds of success. After a week in medical detoxification, you may feel physically and mentally strong, but unless you take that strength and commit to continuing treatment, the odds of your long-term success are slim. A medical detox gets you strong enough to participate in a program of addiction treatment – just strong enough to begin a continuing journey of recovery.