Treatment for substance addiction occurs in different stages beginning with detoxification.
Detoxification is the process where the body is cleared from the substances in it while limiting withdrawal symptoms. Simply put, detoxification is the process of withdrawing a person from a specific psychoactive substance safely and effectively.
Detoxification is a critical stage in addiction treatment and can be fatal, with side effects ranging from insomnia to heart failure and death. To avoid exposing yourself to these deadly side effects, you will need a safe detoxification process.
Medical supervision is necessary to have a safe detoxification process where the three main processes of detoxification are involved. These processes are:
- The evaluation process: This is the process where a patient’s blood test is taken to determine the measure of drugs in the body system and the screening for physical and mental issues to determine the kind and amount of medication to be given to a patient.
- The stabilization process involves patients being stabilized with psychological and medical therapy to prevent them from suffering harm during detoxification.
- The preparation process involves preparing a patient for the treatment process he will go through. The patient is informed on the nature of such treatment, and what to expect.
A safe detoxification process is necessary due to the following reasons:
- Withdrawal from long-term substance addiction without medical management can cause severe heart problems.
- A safe detoxification process will help you manage withdrawal symptoms and stay productive during detoxification.
- If you are pregnant, safe detoxification will help you prevent relapse and manage pain. Also, it will reduce the risk of harm to the fetus by withdrawal symptoms.
Safe detoxification is not limited to a drug detox although medications will help reduce withdrawal symptoms and help you stay comfortable during detox.