The Myths Surrounding Drug Detox

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Drug addiction detox is cleansing the body of substances and managing withdrawal symptoms. When people think of staying at any center, they believe it will be long, pointless, or you are better off detoxing on your own at home. It is important to know the truth about how effective drug detox is as it is the first step towards your addiction recovery journey. 

Myth #1: Drug Detox Takes Too Much Time

It is not fair to assume that all drug detox centers require too much of your time. There are a number of factors that determine how long your detoxification process will take. Factors that are considered are which substance(s) you abused, how often you abused them, how much you were using them, underlying co-occurring mental health conditions, medical history, age, and gender. While the time it takes to detox depends on these factors, on average, detox programs can take 3 to 7 days. You may not have to take too much time off of work or time away from your family, but your recovery should come first so that you can heal your family and work relationships as well. For example, if you need alcohol detox, withdrawal symptoms for alcohol normally begin within 1-2 days, depending on your use history. After the first week, the symptoms of withdrawal taper off and you may experience cravings until treated through therapy after a week. This is only the first step towards your recovery and is not considered a substitute for therapy or a longer-term rehabilitation program. 

Myth #2: Drug Detox Can Be Done Effectively and Safely at Home

Withdrawal symptoms can be very dangerous to your health if you do not seek medical supervision. If your withdrawal symptoms lead to rapid dehydration, it can be life-threatening. People who get medical supervision to safely detox at an inpatient facility are more likely to overcome their physical dependence on drugs faster than those who do not. If you are only willing to detox at home, then it is vital to have a medical professional oversee and closely monitor your detoxification process. Regardless, follow-up care and a transition plan should include therapy and recovery support groups to reduce the chance of relapse, reduce physical or emotional discomfort, and decrease compulsive behaviors. 

Myth #3: After Detox, You Can Only Rely on Willpower to Get Clean

Many believe that drug addiction is a chronic disease. Therefore, you may need more than willpower to be able to conquer drug addiction. Once the drugs have been flushed out of your system, you need the support of your peers, friends, and family to help you stay sober. As part of your recovery plan, it is recommended that you engage in therapy as well as other aftercare recovery options. Some people recovering from addiction may also be prescribed medication to control cravings. By agreeing to admit into a detox center, you are taking the first step in controlling your addiction cravings, being healthy, and beginning your recovery journey.

 

You can take comfort in the fact that drug and alcohol detox requires being supervised by specialized addiction specialists. Addiction has a tendency to make us feel alone in our feelings. While there may be a number of excuses not to go to a drug detox center such as the discomfort you may feel, the process of detox, or feeling you can accomplish cleansing your body at home, there is nothing like being in the company of high-level personnel who have the tools to help you begin your addiction recovery journey. The Detox Center of Colorado’s sole mission is to help those who struggle with addiction find a deep and lasting recovery. We can be a team in providing you with interactive assessments, comprehensive interventions, and clinical opportunities to create a personalized aftercare plan for you. We prioritize patient comfort and safety to ease the addiction recovery process. For more information on our services, please call 303-952-5035.

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