How To Get Started With Drug Detox
Drug detox can prevent fatal and unpleasant consequences that result from the use of drugs. If you are drinking too much or addicted to any drugs whether they are prescription or over the counter, the time to get help is now! The drug detoxification process is critical for eliminating substances from your body and getting freedom from addiction.
You might be tempted to go it alone and do your drug detox at home, but we highly recommend that you visit a healthcare professional before you start the drug detox process.
You can refer to this website www.therecoveryvillage.com to understand more about drug detox. It will give you a clear picture of how to go about it.
Let’s take a
Injury
Patients who are victims of drugs may hurt themselves. This is because of the influence of drugs both emotionally and physically. They can be sexually and physically assaulted even before they enter detox. An example is a Phencyclidine that can cause the feeling of increased invulnerability and strength. It is a strong and powerful dissociative drug and the users are likely to hurt themselves easily due to misconception. They may also practice suicidal behaviors, this suggests that such patients need treatment before they enter drug detox program.
Violence
Some drugs have negative effects on the user. Various drugs can cause violent behaviors in real life. Violence is a major complication that can be brought by using these drugs regularly. People who abuse “bath salts” or synthetic cathinones have a high probability of harming themselves or others. Such people should seek medication and may require restraint and sedation to protect them. This is an issue as the same people can also harm other staff members.
Symptoms of Psychosis
Drugs such as cocaine can result in psychosis which is a strong and dangerous complication. If you use excess cocaine, then you might become get this symptom easily as the drugs become paranoid in your body. These symptoms include auditory and visual hallucinations as well as delusional thinking. Other issues related to using of drugs is lack of sleep because of stimulant use. Before undergoing drug detoxification, they must see the healthcare professionals.
Medical Illness
Quite a number of drug users who suffer from chronic will face many difficulties. They will experience more pains as they continue using the drugs. The prescribed opioid “painkillers” used to reduce this pain may have a negative effect on their bodies. Because of subsequent and dependence addiction, such people need medication before undergoing drug detoxification.
Threat to self
Instant withdrawal from drugs, opioids and other substances may be associated with dangerous and severe depressive symptoms. These symptoms are connected to completed suicides and suicide attempts. Such kind of people must be protected throughout and at all times. After these issues are identified and analyzed, then the patient can undergo the detox process.
The problems mentioned above can be mitigated through medication. Let us look at medications used during drug detoxification process.
Methadone
This is used to treat opiate addiction. Methadone must be taken under medical professional instructions because it is highly restricted. It is one of the best medication during drug addiction treatment. Patients must take a dose to keep themselves drug-free. Its advantages include:• Alleviates withdrawal symptoms.• Usually decreases drug cravings.• Does not elicit euphoric effects.
Acamprosate
If you have long-lasting symptoms, this drug can withdraw it faster. These symptoms are mostly associated with alcohol detox and drugs such as restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia. Its advantages include:
• Minimizes cravings for alcohol.
• Help to normalize brain activity.
• Help in protecting liver damage.
Disulfiram
This drug is usually prescribed to drug users when they are undergoing alcohol detox. This is after they are stabilized as they continue attending addiction treatment. Disulfiram works by fighting and eliciting several negative effects such as sweating, nausea, and hyperventilation associated with alcohol. Its advantages include:
• Used to motivate patients hence a successful tool.
• Used to trigger unwanted behavior when one is drunk.
• May discourage drinking behaviors because of its unpleasant physiological effects.
Drug detox is very important for your health. People who are addicted to various drugs find it difficult to wipe this addictive behavior. This is because of difficulties they undergo as they try to stop these drugs. Such difficulties include mental illness, injury, violence, medical illness and the threat to self. However, the above medication can help your drug addiction problems.
Last but not least, be sure to get spiritual counsel at a local church to help you get to the root of the problem and discover why you became addicted in the first place. Talking things over and redirecting your energy into developing or furthering your personal relationship with Jesus will help you on your path to recovery!