Addressing the abuse of drugs or alcohol is rarely a simple matter. In fact, it’s often an urgent, potentially life-threatening issue, as substance abuse causes problems at work, in the home, at school, and with your health. The first step in a Florida Addiction Treatment Program usually involves detox.
But Detox Programs are critical in getting successful treatment. It’s a process by which you gradually wean yourself from your addiction so that you can re-balance your body and begin the hard work of unraveling the issues that got you here in the first place.
Getting past the symptoms of detox requires commitment, hard work, and professional support. Many people have started their journey to recovery with detox at Clean Start.
What is Detox?
Detox is shorthand for detoxification. It’s a process during which someone with a substance abuse problem tapers and then eliminates drugs or alcohol from their system. During detox, you’re seeking to remove the toxins introduced by drugs and alcohol from your body.
The thing is, when you are struggling with substance abuse, you have reprogrammed your brain. The drugs or alcohol alter the balance of neurochemicals. The brain then begins to depend on these foreign substances to function.
When you stop, the brain has something to say about it, and it results in detox symptoms, also known as a period of withdrawal. Sometimes these detox symptoms can be severe and cause major health problems. Especially bad nausea or diarrhea, for instance, can lead to dehydration.
During detox, your medical care team monitors your condition to make sure the symptoms of detox do not get out of control. Once complete, you’re ready for the next stage of treatment.
Detox Symptoms
Different drugs cause different types of detox symptoms. But they all stem from the same basic physiological process — the brain is expecting its dose of a certain drug or drink, but when it’s not forthcoming, the body starts to rebel.
Everyone has a different experience with detox, and it partially depends on the drugs or alcohol you use. Some of the typical symptoms of detox from opioids include:
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Muscle aches
- Hot and cold flashes
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Still, there are many variables. Your exact experience will depend on the dosage and the speed of your boy’s movement through withdrawal.
How Long Does Detox Last?
You’re probably wondering, though, “how long do detox symptoms last?” That’s not a simple question to answer. Drugs have different characteristics and wear off in your body in different ways, paced by different variables.
According to the National Institutes of Health, here are some rules of thumb for some of the substances that are most frequently abused:
- Heroin: four to 10 days
- Methadone: 10 to 20 days
- Sedatives such as Valium or Xanax: 2 to 4 weeks or longer
- Stimulants: 3 to 5 days
- Alcohol: 2 to 10 days
The important thing to keep in mind is that the detox process exists to keep you stable and safe. So don’t focus on the question, “how long do detox symptoms last?” Focus on getting well. Oftern addiction treatment centers will also have programs such as
- Telehealth Rehab Program
- Florida Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program
- Tampa Florida Intensive Outpatient Program
- Intervention Program
- Specialized Treatment Programs
To help find treatment that suits bust for you and promotes lasting recovery.
Path to a New Beginning
Detox symptoms will not be easy to experience. But with the right support both in your personal life and from your medical team, you can make it through and move on to the next phases of recovery.
