Drug Detox Methods

If you are an addict and are looking to seek help, you have come to the right place to get started. In this post we are going to talk to you about the different drug detox options that you have available to you. However, it is important for you to take note that not all drug addictions can use all of the detox methods we will be discussing below. For example, if you are looking for an Opiate Detox you don’t want to use a cold turkey method as many times medication is used to help combat the withdrawal symptoms.

Cold Turkey

This is probably one of the most talked about detox methods, but is also one of the hardest methods. A cold turkey detox simply put means you quit using all substances at once, including alcohol. When quitting all of the substances the only help you will have with the detox is medical supervision, you will not have any kind of relief from withdrawal symptoms with any kind of medication. Opting for this detox method means you feel the full force of the withdrawal symptoms for however long they end up lasting. For some drugs the withdrawals aren’t that bad and only last a few days, but for others, such as an opiate detox, you are talking about some severe withdrawal symptoms that can last for weeks.

Medical Detox

This kind of detox method can be broken up into two sub-categories, short and long term. The difference between the two is how long the detox process works, as well as what kinds of medications are used.

With a short term medical detox you will have medical professionals around who will provide you with the necessary medications to help you deal with any of the discomfort that withdrawal causes. For example, if you develop insomnia as part of the withdrawal process they will provide you with a sleep aid that is non-habit forming. Body aches will require the use of non-narcotic pain relievers, etc.

A long term medical detox is often used for an opiate detox because of how intense the withdrawal symptoms can be. With an opiate detox you are often prescribed medication to take for an extended period of time, such as suboxone or methadone. The medication you take actually stops the withdrawal symptoms and slowly weans your body off of the drug. The dose of medication you are prescribed is slowly lowered over an extended period of time until you are finally able to be drug free.

Now what is important to remember with Drug Detox Methods is that there is really no right method for everyone. What method you use will depend on your drug of choice, how long you have been using, whether you are abusing more than one substance at a time, and how much of the drug you are taking each day. No matter if you are dealing with an opiate detox or a marijuana detox, you want a detox method that puts you under a medical professional’s supervision, as well as provides follow up treatment to ensure your success.