Addiction is on the rise in the United States. Government experts have made strides regarding prevention, education, and treatment. However, many Americans are still vulnerable to this terrible disease due to risk factors relating to genetics, trauma, poverty, isolation, and more. Stimulants, such as meth and crack, opiates, such as heroin, and synthetic opioids, such as oxycontin and fentanyl, are highly addictive and potentially deadly. On the frontline of successful drug rehabilitation is a drug detox program.
The most effective and humane way to cope with drug withdrawal symptoms is with medical detox. Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge (PAATC) offers a top-notch drug detox program. If you have questions or are ready to begin your recovery journey, do not hesitate to reach out now via our online form or by calling 844.442.8673.
Common Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal begins as soon as the drug is withheld, with symptoms occurring within six to ten hours. Not all withdrawal looks the same. Depending on the drug to which someone is addicted, specific symptoms may be more or less likely, and at varying degrees of severity. However, there are some common symptoms that opioids and stimulants, prescription, and other drugs share, such as:
- Excessive sweating and dehydration
- Fever
- Violent tremors
- Muscle cramps and spasms
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mood swings, agitation, depression, and anxiety
- High blood pressure
- Intense drug cravings
- Confusion and an inability to concentrate
- Exhaustion
- Sleep disturbance and insomnia
In some cases, withdrawal can involve psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts. Due to the long list of complex side effects, it is best to undertake withdrawal at a drug detox center. Detox at home is both dangerous and more likely to fail. Without medical monitoring and support, the urge to end discomfort by taking the drug is often too difficult to resist. Furthermore, medically supervised drug detox helps avoid health risks, unnecessary pain and discomfort, and self-harm.
Benefits of Medically Supervised Drug Detox
During detox, the body removes all remnants of the addictive substance. This is a very vulnerable time for detoxing patients. Drug detox programs help patients through the process safely. Under the care of a professional medical team, we support, treat, and monitor the withdrawing patient 24 hours a day. Doing so can help to minimize risks and provide symptom relief. Below are some ways that medical detox can help:
- Symptom mitigation: The doctors, along with the rest of the medical team, monitor symptoms closely. They can also provide medications that can ease symptoms such as muscle pain, nausea, agitation, and hypertension.
- Management of underlying medical issues: Many people who are addicted to a controlled substance avoid regular medical appointments. Additionally, they often do not take care of themselves. Furthermore, their drug or alcohol use may have masked any underlying medical symptoms. Undiagnosed health issues often emerge as the body undergoes the stress of detox. When medical providers are on hand, they can deal with any complications that arise.
- Protection from self-harm: Detoxing patients do not have access to a drug that could harm them or even cause an overdose. However, our services also protect them from the risk of suicide. Approximately 25% of people undergoing detox will consider or attempt suicide. Residential detox with round-the-clock care significantly decreases the chances of self-harm of all kinds.
Not only will a medical detox program control the withdrawal side-effects and risks, but successful recovery also becomes more likely. Those who try to detox on their own are at far greater risk of relapse, which can be fatal by overdosing when they use the drug at the level of prior consumption. In short, inpatient medically supervised drug detox results in more successful long-term recovery outcomes.
Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge Can Help You Take the First Step
Sobriety cannot happen without detox. At PAATC, we believe you deserve the highest quality of care, beginning with medical detox and continuing through an evidence-based rehab program under the supervision of trained, compassionate professionals. Our addiction rehab programs are rooted in science and supported by faith, from beginning to end. Call us today to register yourself or a loved one for drug detox at PAATC by using our online form or calling 844.442.8673.
