Professional Medical Detox in Wilmington, NC

Detoxification is an important part of drug treatment, with rehab centers offering detox and intervention programs alongside therapy and relapse prevention. Medical detox describes the process of intervention and medical treatment, along with the processing and experience of a withdrawal syndrome.

Different drugs require different kinds of medical detox, with the doctors and nurses at rehab centers able to direct patients towards the best recovery programs. Find the right treatment facility for you or a loved one by calling Drug Treatment Centers Wilmington NC at (877) 804-1531.

What is Medical Detox?

Medical detox is available as a residential drug rehab program in a number of rehab facilities, generally starting with an evaluation stage. Upon entering the facility, the patient will be evaluated and tested for specific substances, with clinicians also testing for possible mental health issues and dual diagnosis disorders. The patient will then be guided through a stabilization phase, with various medications used to manage withdrawal symptoms.

After the patient has been evaluated and stabilized, they will then be guided into long-term treatment. A range of therapy options are generally available through rehab centers, with relapse prevention programs also put in place after medical detox has been performed. While the detoxification process does not address the psychological reasons and precedents for addiction, patients will often be guided into appropriate programs following the initial intervention.

How does Detox Work?

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, there are three separate phases of detoxification: evaluation, stabilization, and guiding the patient into treatment. Detox works through each of these phases, with doctors and medical staff managing withdrawal symptoms and helping the patient to get clean in a safe and secure environment.

Depending on the drug of abuse, rapid detoxification programs can be dangerous for some patients. While fast detox treatment has been successful in some cases for opiate dependency, most experts recommend a slow and well managed detox schedule conducted at a professional drug treatment center. It can be very dangerous to detox at home, with residential treatment the safest option in most cases.

Why is it Dangerous to Detox at Home?

The process of detoxification can be long and complex, with various medications used to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and manage recovery. Without access to these medications, most people who seek to rid themselves of drugs will not be successful.

Depending on the drug in question, patients may have to deal with a wide range of withdrawal symptoms, many of which can be scary and difficult to control. Professional medical staff have the expertise and experience to counsel patients and medicate them accordingly, and the ability to guide patients into further therapy and treatment once the physical withdrawal process is complete.

Physical and psychological dependency comes with a range of emotional and mental issues, and residential treatment is the only way to be sure these issues are being dealt with properly.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Medical detox programs are an important part of drug and alcohol rehabilitation. The medications used during detox depend greatly on the drug of abuse, with a wide range of medications used to treat opiate abuse in particular.

Certain opioid medications such as methadone and buprenorphine are commonly used to treat heroin and morphine dependency, where the withdrawal period typically comes with periods of sweating, nausea, anxiety, depression, insomnia and vomiting.

Acamprosate, disulfiram, and topiramate are sometimes used to treat alcohol dependency. Withdrawal often comes with periods of sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression and possible seizures.

Symptoms typically begin between 6 to 24 hours after the last drink, with physical symptoms lasting up to one week. However, protracted alcohol withdrawal is also a possibility for many patients, with post-acute withdrawal syndrome sometimes lasting for years.

Find safe detox and rehabilitation options by calling Drug Treatment Centers Wilmington NC today. Call (877) 804-1531 to speak with a representative about helping you find the right rehab center for you as soon as possible.