Receiving treatment for drug addiction is extremely important for maintaining a life of sobriety. The very first stage of addiction treatment is detox.
In this article, you’ll learn what qualifies as a substance use disorder, why medical detox is an important first step, and which treatments someone with drug addiction will need after completing detox.
What is Substance Use Disorder?
Substance use disorder, also known as drug addiction, is a disease causing a person to continue to use drugs and/or alcohol. Individuals with this disorder are unable to stop using drugs, despite the harmful effects it might cause to their health and their life.
Someone with a substance use disorder will need professional treatment at a rehab facility in order to overcome their addiction and live a healthy life. While the recovery process from drug or alcohol abuse can be very challenging, it is possible when the right treatment is in place.
The First Stage of Treatment: Medical Detox
The first stage of treatment for addiction recovery is medical detox. When a person has a drug addiction and chooses to seek treatment, they have most likely been using drugs for an extended period of time. Long term drug use can wreak havoc on the body and mind. Therefore, in order to clear the body of any drugs and essentially reset the system, each individual must go through a detox stage. Detox helps the body physically withdraw from the drug.
Detox for drug abuse typically lasts up to 7 to 10 days, depending on how often the person was using, how much they were using, and which specific drugs were being consumed.
Symptoms of withdrawal during detox can range from mild to severe and can include the below:
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Depression
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Detoxing from drug addiction or alcohol addiction without the supervision of qualified medical professionals can be very dangerous.
What are the Benefits of Medical Detox?
Medical detox is the first stage of addiction treatment for many reasons. First, it provides around-the-clock care by a medical team to ensure individuals stay healthy and safe during the withdrawal process. This includes keeping them hydrated and providing medications when needed to help any withdrawal symptoms feel less severe. If a medical emergency were to occur, help would be immediately available. Additionally, when someone receives medical detox, they have a lesser chance of relapsing.
Lastly, it’s common for individuals to receive a thorough health screening prior to beginning detox, which is another way the process is made safer and reduces the risk of complications.
Additional Treatment Options
After the detox stage, individuals will need to enter a specific addiction treatment program based on their specific needs. Many people need the support of a residential treatment program, as well as dual diagnosis treatment.
Residential Treatment Program
After medical detox at a rehab facility, the next stage of treatment is participating in a specific treatment program. Residential treatment, also known as inpatient treatment, is a common solution for those who are new to addiction recovery, or have co-occurring mental health disorders and are potentially at high risk of relapse.
During residential treatment, individuals live on-site at the rehab facility and participate in one-on-one therapy sessions, group therapy, and many other mental health services as part of their overall substance abuse treatment plan.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment plays a critical role in the remaining stages of addiction treatment. Therefore, every rehab program should include dual diagnosis treatment. This type of treatment addresses more than just the substance abuse problem itself, but goes a step further by digging deeper into any underlying mental health conditions.
Many individuals with addiction suffer from co-occurring disorders (such as anxiety, eating disorders, ADHD, depression, and others). These conditions can be part of the root issue as to why individuals are using drugs in the first place.
By receiving dual diagnosis treatment, individuals can receive the full spectrum of care to reach long-term sobriety.
What Treatment Program is Best for Drug Addiction?
The best treatment program for drug addiction will focus on you as a whole person, rather than someone with an addiction. Rehab programs that emphasize the mind, body, and spirit will be able to truly create unique treatment plans that best serve you and your needs.
Specifically, a rehab program with humanistic therapies will emphasize your positive traits and behaviors, helping you to build a compassionate view towards yourself and enhance your mental growth.
Do I Need Addiction Treatment?
Deciding to receive professional help for a drug and alcohol addiction is a personal decision. Common signs and symptoms of having a substance abuse disorder include the inability to quit using the drug, neglecting daily responsibilities in order to use, experiencing physical or psychological withdrawal symptoms when suddenly stopping use, and many others.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you might need professional help to recover from drug and alcohol addiction.
Start Your Recovery Today at Luxe Treatment Center
At Luxe Treatment Center, we focus on utilizing evidence-based humanistic therapies and treatment plans that take a whole-person approach with our clients, rather than simply treating people with addictions. If you’re ready to take the next step toward drug and alcohol addiction recovery, our team is here to help you begin healing.
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