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What Is Medical Detox?
Medical detoxification is the process of removing toxins from patients’ bodies, drug or alcohol as the case may be. Medical Detoxification is intended to provide a blank slate for the patient to undergo rehab treatment from. It eases the discomfort of drug withdrawal which if done at home can be deadly. It entails creating a safe, controlled environment, administering medicine such as medical opioids to overcome withdrawal symptoms.
Why Is It Important?
A lot of individuals in the present age deal with drug addiction. Attempts to get off the constant abuse of substances has even led to the creation of at home detox kits. If you’ve dealt with substance withdrawal or have a loved one experiencing it, you probably want to know the best option to take. Medical detox is the way to go for a number of reasons that mark it as important as discussed below. Also, see this leading drug rehab in Fort Myers.
- It is not life threatening
Withdrawal symptoms can be erratic. A sudden and complete elimination of certain drugs to which you might have been previously addicted (cold turkey detox) is a recipe for disaster and it can provoke a number of health complications, a number of which are life threatening. Medical Detox however, is able to avoid that through its controlled approach.
- It eases pain and discomfort
Again, withdrawal symptoms often strike with a lot of severity. Symptoms like nausea, body discomfort, insomnia, mood swings and irregular heartbeats are often accompanied with lots of pain that medical detoxification is able to avoid for the most part. An example of this is the treatment of delirium tremens by an alcohol detox centre, a case that results in body tremors and possibly, seizures.
- It prepares you for complete rehabilitation and recovery
A blank slate. It isn’t overrated. It is incredibly difficult to stay clear of drugs when your own body is fighting against you on it. A medical detox helps to clear your biological system completely of all substance remnants. This saves you from physical dependency and prepares you for the rest of the rehabilitation process.
- It comes with a support community that reduces the risk of relapse
A community is just as important as the drugs used in the detoxification process. The feeling of belonging and association being part of a community brings is invaluable. This support community is drawn from all those responsible for your treatment and they have your best interests at heart.
- It reduces drug cravings in the withdrawal process
At home detoxification is typically accompanied by intense desire for the drugs the patient is being treated for. The introduction of medicine into the treatment process eliminates this cyclic pattern of withdrawing then relapsing due to cravings.
- It treats certain underlying ailments
A key example here is the case of sleep aids administered to drug addicts suffering from insomnia to better help them rest. Other drugs administered help to treat underlying ailments that might have festered during the substance abuse period, ensuring the patient doesn’t get rehabilitated, only to go suffer another medical condition.
- It reduces the risk to an unborn child during pregnancy
A pregnant woman shares a biological bond with her unborn foetus that is only possible in such a unique circumstance. This also means that it is exceptionally easy for side effects of both substance abuse and it’s withdrawal to affect the foetus. Medical detox though, helps to manage it as best as possible.
- It helps to rebuild mental confidence, self-esteem
Again, this has to do with the existence of a support community that inspires you to do better and put in a better performance, convincing you that it is possible to beat the addiction while treating you, bettering your self-esteem.
Conclusion
Drug addiction is a menace. That you want to be rid of it is only commendable but it is important to do it right. With the importance of medical detox in recovery illustrated here, you know the way to go.