By Amanda Marker, LMHC
First and foremost, it is important to understand millions of Americans use or are dependent on alcohol or drugs. All of these people have families, they are someone’s brother, sister, father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, partner and/or best friend—so remember, you are not alone. People with alcohol or drug dependence problems can and do recover.
Alcoholism and drug dependence and addiction, known as substance use disorders, are complex problems. Historically, people with these disorders were thought to have a character defect or moral weakness; and unfortunately, this misinformation is still circulating. Scientists and medical researchers now consider dependence on alcohol or drugs to be a long-term illness, like asthma, hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes.
One of the most important signs of substance addiction or dependence is continued use of drugs or alcohol despite experiencing the serious negative consequences of heavy drug or alcohol use. Often, a person will blame other people or circumstances for their problems instead of realizing that the difficulties result from use of drugs or alcohol.
Signs and Symptoms of Substance Use Disorder
Symptoms of substance use disorders include:
- Tolerance—A person will need increasingly larger amounts of alcohol or drugs to get high.
- Craving—A person will feel a strong need, desire or urge to use alcohol or drugs, will use alcohol or a drug despite negative consequences and will feel anxious and irritable if they can’t use them. Craving is a primary symptom of addiction.
- Loss of control—A person may drink more alcohol or take more drugs than they meant to or may use alcohol or drugs at a time or place they had not intended. A person may try to reduce, moderate, or stop drinking or using drugs time and time again with no success in sustained sobriety.
- Physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms—It can be the case when alcohol or drug use is stopped, a person may experience withdrawal symptoms from a physical need for the substance. Withdrawal symptoms differ depending on the drug, the frequency of use, the route of us and the unique physical conditions of the user. Generally, withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, sweating, shakiness and extreme anxiety. The person may try to relieve these symptoms by taking either more of the same or a similar substance.
Do I Need a Medical Detox?
Withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening, especially for people with an addiction to benzodiazepines or alcohol. Medically monitored detox is designed to ensure a safe detox.
It is it difficult and dangerous to quit a substance “cold turkey,” let alone “cold turkey” and not with trained medical professionals overseeing the process. You should rely on medical professionals who can assist you through withdrawal completely and safely.
Detox can be uncomfortable—often, extremely so. The benefit of having a medical supervised detox process is the medical professionals may be able to relieve a significant number of symptoms and can help you feel as comfortable as possible throughout your stay.
Please do not risk your life by trying to detox without medical supervision. An assessment for the safest level of care for your unique detox is a call away, no-cost, confidential and available 24/7 by calling our admissions line at 727-322-7222.
What Happens When I Go to a Detox Facility?
Everyone seeking treatment receives a clinical assessment. A complete assessment of an individual is needed to help our treatment professionals offer the type of services that best suits the individual. The assessment also helps program therapists, social workers, nurses, and doctors work with the person to design an effective treatment plan.
The assessment
The counselor or RN will begin by gathering information about:
- Kinds, amount and length of time of substance or alcohol use
- Cultural issues around use of alcohol or drugs
- Effects of drug or alcohol use on the person’s life
- Medical history
- Current medical problems or needs
- Current medications (including pain medication)
- Mental health issues or behavioral problems
- Family and social issues and needs
- Legal or financial problems
- Educational background and needs
- Current living situation and environment
- Employment history, stability, problems and needs
- School performance, problems and needs, if relevant
- Previous treatment experiences or attempts to quit drug or alcohol use
After the assessment
The counselor or RN will consult with a physician to decide whether the individual needs medical supervision to stop alcohol or drug use safely. Medically supervised withdrawal is often called detoxification or detox and uses medication to help people withdraw from alcohol or drugs.
People who have been taking large amounts of opioids (e.g., heroin, fentanyl, OxyContin® or codeine), barbiturates or sedatives, pain medications or alcohol often require a higher level of medical oversight and managed withdrawal services during their detox.
Alcohol withdrawal can be so severe that people hallucinate, have convulsions or develop other dangerous conditions. Medication can help prevent or treat such conditions. There are several factors that can complicate a detox making all medical history such as a mental disorder, history of previous experiences with detox and other physical conditions vital that they are reported during the assessment. This information will be important in deciding if a medically supervised detoxification is necessary to detoxify safely.
After admission
Once admitted to a medically supervised withdrawal program, you may expect to be there for several days to a week on average. The length of time it takes will vary based on your unique presentation, symptoms, medical conditions and over all medical necessity to remain at the supervised level of care. No one detox is the same. This will vary from person to person, even from a previous detox experience to the next in the same client.
During detox/stabilization
You will receive medical care and will begin to receive education about substance use disorders and managing the disease. Medications are offered to help treat symptoms of withdrawal based on symptoms an individual is experiencing. A particular medication is not guaranteed to be provided during detox and will be a decision between the patient and the doctor overseeing the detox process based on an individual’s unique needs and circumstances. As someone goes through this process, medical professionals will monitor vital signs regularly. These include heart rate, blood pressure, oxygenation, respiratory rate and temperature.
Stabilization includes familiarizing patients with what to expect in the treatment setting and their role in treatment and recovery. During this time medical professionals also seek the involvement of the patient’s family and other significant people when appropriate and with release of confidentiality to help build a positive support network once the patient is ready for discharge.
Our patients are introduced to mutual aid groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and SMART recovery and others prior to discharge to help build a sober support network when they leave. Psychoeducation and therapeutic groups are held throughout the day to help patients understand the disease, what to expect in post-acute withdrawal stages of sobriety and the benefits of sobriety and continued treatment once they complete detox.
After detoxification
It is important to know that detoxification is not the same thing as substance use treatment; it is a first step that can prepare a person for treatment. After detoxification it is highly recommended an individual continue in treatment such as outpatient treatment in a partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient program to address successfully navigating early recovery, building emotional regulation skills, distress tolerance skills and to build on one’s ability to be successful in recovery.
Common Withdrawal Symptoms
Alcohol withdrawal
Symptoms may include shaking, sweating, agitation, nausea, vomiting and anxiety. Alcohol withdrawal can lead to a rapid heart rate, tremors, disorientation, insomnia and seizures. This withdrawal syndrome must be managed by a medical professional.
Opioid withdrawal
Someone who is addicted to opioid medications can experience anxiety, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, excessive yawning, goose bumps, fast heart rate, restlessness and muscle pain.
Benzodiazepine withdrawal
Symptoms can include increased anxiety, extreme muscle tension, sleep disturbances, panic attacks, heart palpitations, profuse sweating, headaches, cravings and hand tremors.
In certain situations, benzodiazepine withdrawal can also lead to hallucinations, seizures, psychosis and an increased risk of suicidal ideation. These issues must be addressed by trained medical professionals.
Contact Us Today
If you or someone you love is in need of substance use treatment and you suspect a medical monitored detox may be needed, please call to discuss further with our admissions team of trained clinicians and nurses. The call is always at no-cost and available 24/7. Call 727-322-7222. We can help.
If you or someone you love has completed a detox or are sober and want to engage in outpatient substance use treatment, please call 727-541-2646 ext 1503.
You can also schedule an appointment directly on our website by clicking the “Schedule an Outpatient Assessment Now” button.