What is drug and alcohol detox and how does it fit into a comprehensive addiction treatment plan?
What Is Drug and Alcohol Detox?
Detoxification, which is commonly referred to as detox, is a short-term program that helps people withdraw from alcohol, opioids, and certain other drugs.
Once a person has become addicted to a substance, attempts to curtail their use of the drug can trigger a variety of painful – and, in some cases, dangerous – withdrawal symptoms:
- Experts estimate that about 50% of people who develop alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) will go through withdrawal when they try to quit drinking. Among this group, about 2%-3% will develop a potentially life-threatening condition called alcohol withdrawal delirium (which was previously referred to as delirium tremens, or the DTs).
- A study involving 814 people who injected opioids found that 85% had experienced withdrawal symptoms in the previous six months. 35% of the study’s participants reported having withdrawal symptoms on a weekly basis.
- A January 2014 article in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reported that the rate of benzodiazepine withdrawal is about 44% among those who use benzos for three to six weeks, and nearly 100% among those who use the drugs for six months or longer.
We do not offer drug and alcohol detox at Valor Behavioral Health, but we realize the importance of this step for so many people.
If you need help getting through withdrawal before you can fully benefit from our outpatient services, we can recommend several trusted detox programs in the Atlanta area.
Why Is Detox Important?
A common follow-up question to “What is drug and alcohol detox?” is “Why is detox important?”
Withdrawal can often be unpleasant, and may sometimes even be life-threatening. If you try to get through withdrawal on your own, without professional help, your risks include:
- Becoming overwhelmed by withdrawal symptoms and quickly returning to active substance use in order to alleviate your distress.
- Developing life-threatening withdrawal symptoms and either not realizing their severity or not getting appropriate help in time.
- Experiencing harmful secondary effects from withdrawal, such as weakness due to lack of appetite or dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea.
- Struggling with extended psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
- Being unable to manage or cope with persistent cravings.
Some of these problems can lead to relapse, either before you’ve even completed withdrawal or shortly afterward. Others can undermine your health or put your life in danger both during and after the withdrawal process.
As we’ll discuss in the next section, entering a detox program can minimize or eliminate these types of risks, increasing your ability to take a significant step toward a drug-free future.
What Happens During Detox?
Withdrawal can affect different people in different ways, so it’s unlikely that your experience in drug and alcohol detox will be identical to what others go through. In general, though, detox typically includes features such as:
- One of your first activities will be to complete a thorough assessment, which may include a physical examination. This will help your treatment team understand the full scope of your needs, so that they’re best prepared to provide the care you need.
- You will be in a safe, closely supervised environment where you won’t have access to addictive substances. Unlike at home, as long as you remain in detox you won’t be in danger of immediately relapsing in response to cravings or other symptoms.
- You will be cared for by a team of professionals who are familiar with all phases of the withdrawal process. They will closely monitor your health and will be prepared to immediately intervene if you develop any particularly concerning symptoms
- Depending on the type and intensity of your symptoms, you may receive medication to help you remain safe and comfortable.
- If you are going through detox for alcoholism or opioid addiction, you may have the option of participating in a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program. This type of treatment uses prescription meds such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naloxone to reduce cravings and stave off other withdrawal symptoms.
- MAT programs also include therapy to help you address the psychological, behavioral, and social aspects of addiction and recovery. Even if you’re not in an MAT program, your detox treatment plan may also include therapeutic support services.
When you’ve completed withdrawal, your team can help you explore your post-detox treatment options and select the services that are best for you.
What Happens After Detox?
Cravings and other withdrawal symptoms can be a significant obstacle on the path of recovery. But they are by no means the only obstacles you’ll encounter as you work to maintain your sobriety. This is why post-detox treatment can be vital to your continued success.
Many people who complete detox transfer into a residential treatment program. Residential programs usually feature full days of structured treatment, several forms of therapy, and round-the-clock access to care.
Following residential treatment – or, for some patients, directly after completing detox – the ideal next steps may include a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (IOP):
- Our PHP offers six hours of care, six days per week. A typical day in our PHP includes multiple types of therapy, educational and skills-building sessions, a healthy lunch, and an engaging recreational activity. When treatment is not in session, you can return to your home or to an alternative supported residence.
- Our IOP offers greater scheduling flexibility, so you can go to work, attend classes, and take part in other productive activities while continuing to benefit from structured clinical care. You’ll be in treatment for fewer hours each day and fewer days each week, but you will still be able to take part in therapy, skill-building sessions, and holistic services such as yoga, meditation, and art therapy.
There’s no perfect post-detox path that’s ideal for everyone. This underscores the importance of choosing an addiction treatment provider that will work closely with you to identify the programs and services that are best for you, every step of the way.
Learn More About Drug and Alcohol Detox in Atlanta
To learn more about drug and alcohol detox in the Atlanta area, to explore your post-detox treatment options in greater detail, or to schedule a free assessment at Valor Behavioral Health, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
