What’s The Best Drug Detox Method For You? | Tips & Strategies

The best drug detox method for you depends on how serious your drug problem is, the type of substance you are taking, how severe your withdrawal symptoms are, and your risk of relapsing. 

Your doctor or addiction treatment provider can recommend the drug detox program that is best for you.

A drug detox is the process of quitting habit-forming drugs. Drug detoxes can be done with or without medical supervision. If you have a serious drug abuse problem, medical professionals may recommend a medical detoxification process over an at-home detox.

Attempting drug detox is the likely first step in your recovery journey. While detoxing from drugs can be difficult, a successful detox can improve your health and recovery in the long term.

Types Of Drug Detox

Drug detox programs may be necessary if you want to quit habit-forming drugs, including opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants. 

If you take these drugs for long periods of time, your body may need them to function. If you try to quit in this state, you may experience withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable, severe, or even life-threatening. A drug detox program can help you complete the withdrawal process without relapsing. During the drug detox process, you may receive medical care, medication, and other forms of support.

The drug detox process can be difficult and uncomfortable. For any form of drug detox, listening to medical professionals can increase your chances of completing a detox. You can also reach out to loved ones, helplines, or local support groups if you need additional support.

Medical Detox

A medical detox program cleanses your body of drugs or alcohol with medical supervision. During medical detox, you can get help from addiction specialists, doctors, and nurses when you need it.

Medical detoxes are recommended for people with severe withdrawal symptoms, or for patients with a history of heavy drug use. Medical detox programs may ask you to stay at an inpatient detox center until your drug withdrawal symptoms subside. 

On average, a medical detox program lasts for around  one week.

Medical detoxes can be the start of your addiction recovery process. They can be used in stabilization, where serious health problems and withdrawal symptoms can be managed. After stabilization, you can be recommended for an inpatient addiction treatment program.

Tips For Medical Detox

If you enter a medical detox program, you may stay at a detox center until your detox is complete. Your dose may be gradually decreased over time, a strategy known as tapering. Following the tapering schedule can help you avoid serious withdrawal symptoms.

You may also have access to other healthcare resources, such as assessments and screenings. Answering the assessments honestly can help your detox provider understand your condition and recommend the next steps for you.

At-Home Detox

An at-home detox may include quitting drugs all at once, or cold turkey, without medical supervision. 

An at-home detox can help you if you do not have severe withdrawal symptoms and a strong support system. However, you may not have access to medication and 24-hour medical care at home.

An at-home detox may not be recommended for patients going through opioid, benzodiazepine, alcohol detox. The withdrawal symptoms and health problems for these substances can be severe enough that you need medical help.

The detox process for many substances can also be unpredictable. If you have a serious health problem during detox, you may not have access to immediate medical care.

Tips For An At-Home Detox

If you do a drug detoxification plan at home, you likely need a strong support systeme. You can ask your family members and loved ones to help you avoid relapsing. You can also reach out to local support groups.

While a strong support system may not replace medical care, you can still use the in-person and online resources available to you. You can also call for medical help in case of an emergency.

You should not detox at home on your own. If your healthcare provider recommends an at-home detox, you can follow their instructions carefully.

Detox & Addiction Recovery Services

A drug detox program is not a form of drug addiction treatment. 

Instead, it’s the first step in recovering from addiction or substance use disorder. A successful drug detox can be a sign that you are ready for a dedicated addiction treatment plan.

A drug addiction treatment plan can involve medication-assisted treatment, behavioral therapy sessions, long-term management of withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and a stay at an addiction treatment facility.

Drug addiction treatment programs can help you stop taking habit-forming drugs in the long term. If you or a loved one are looking for personalized addiction treatment options after a drug detox, contact us today for information on our treatment centers.