Detox is often a required action that goes along with drug addiction that allows an individual’s body to rid itself of the effects of drugs. It is the beginning stage that someone takes when they initially stop the use of drugs. Often detox or withdrawal is chosen by the person because they want to quit using drugs or because some environmental force causes them to stop. Detox can also be something that “sneaks up” on a person. This is usually when the drug user doesn’t understand the effects of the drugs they are taking or assumes that the problem is so minor that they will not experience these symptoms.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that detox is something that is done to manage the symptoms of drug or alcohol withdrawal. They add that detox is usually the first step leading someone into a higher level of treatment for substance abuse.
Many different types of detox programs exist including short term hospital detox, a longer term detox with rehabilitation added as a second component, this type of service with outpatient rehabilitation following detox and detox followed by long term treatment.
Statistically when an addicted person does a detox program and follows it up with long term treatment, they are on the best track and have the highest possible chance at full recovery.
The Narconon detox program is one that is a drug-free method of eliminating painful withdrawal symptoms that often prevent someone from stopping the use of drugs. The organization has been delivering an effective detox program since the 1960’s handling individuals with illicit drug addiction problems such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine as well as prescription pain, marijuana and alcohol abusers.
Side Effects Of Detox Drugs
Unless it is medically necessary, an individual can complete a drug free detox before they start their full rehabilitation process. When treating substance abuse medical detox programs have become the norm in the substance abuse field. Unfortunately not all people need this type of detox and the drugs used in the process can often lead to side effects and even cross addiction.
There are some cases which require a medical detoxification program including:
- Severe Alcohol Users – Alcohol can be something that is very difficult to stop for those consuming large quantities or those that use alcohol on a daily basis. An individual can experience physical effects like uncontrolled shaking, called delirium tremens as well as stomach problems, nausea and vomiting and even seizures. Mental effects of alcohol withdrawal include depression, aggression, anger, anxiety and even violent behavior. A medical detox will use medications that are called anticonvulsants to prevent seizure risks.
- Maintenance Drugs – Maintenance drugs are those used to treat heroin addicts through replacing the drug with other drugs such as Suboxone (Buprenorphine) or Methadone. These drugs carry with them a potential for abuse and also have severe physical and mental effects when someone stops taking them including cravings, restlessness and trouble sleeping, vomiting, bone and muscle aches, chills, sweating, death and even mental effects like irritability, depression, psychotic breaks and anger.
- Some Prescription Drugs – Using high quantities of prescription pain medication may require a medical detox, however, this has to be fully assessed by a medical professional. In addition benzodiazepine drugs such as Xanax, Valium, and Ativan to name a few, carry with them severe withdrawal effects such as seizures, headache, inability to sleep, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, and mental effects like suicide, anxiety, depression and psychotic breaks.
Negative effects from the drugs listed above can last days or even weeks. Some have reported not feeling better for months. It is important to note that those that followed up their detox with comprehensive treatment and one that focuses on drastically reducing the toxic effects these drugs had on the body did fully recover.
When an individual does a medical detox program they are weaned off of the drugs they are taking with other drugs or in the case of maintenance drugs their amount of the drug us continually lowered until they are completely taken off of them.
How Narconon Detox Programs Differs
The Narconon program handles detox with a drug free alternative method. The process is supervised by trained staff as well as a full and qualified nursing area with a medical doctor monitoring each client.
High risks patients are assessed by a doctor and sent to medical detox if it is deemed medically necessary to avoid any dangerous side effects of coming off high amounts of alcohol or other drugs.
For those that enroll in Narconon’s detox program they undergo the following:
- A specific vitamin regimen to handle depletions in the body from the use of drugs.
- A calcium magnesium drink to help with insomnia as well as aching muscles, headaches and anxiety.
- Assist processes designed to alleviate pains associated with the body.
- Walks and simple processes called Locationals to orient the person in their present environment and take their attention off of their recent drug or alcohol use.
Narconon follows up their detox program with a full rehabilitation process which achieves a 76% success rate for permanent sobriety from drug and alcohol addiction.
For more information on the Narconon detox program call 888-292-4999.
References:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/faqs#detox