Many of us are aware of some of the powerful effects of being addicted to drugs, alcohol, or other substances. The consequences can ruin relationships between family and friends, and the addiction can set the person up for a large amount of failure. This ends up turning into a vicious cycle that pushes the person further into addiction.

Treatment and recovery for addictions, although difficult, can be supplemented with the help of something like the Lumiere detox center. This puts the person in a controlled environment where they are very unlikely to have access to the item they are addicted to. This also allows them access to something called medical detox. This is something that will help the person overcome some of the more severe side effects of addiction and the withdrawal process. Doing so can also help set them up for success in their recovery.

What is Medical Detox and How is it Done?

If you decide to enter into a rehab facility or even if you end up at the hospital for withdrawal, then it is likely you will be exposed to a medical detox. This is something initiated by a team of healthcare providers and involves using specific medications to help ease the effects of the drugs leaving your system. Medications are also chosen to help in replacing vital nutrients that have been lost due to addiction. Lastly, in many instances, this initial period of withdrawing can become very serious. Delirium tremens can occur during alcohol withdrawal, and many other effects can occur, including respiratory problems. Participating in a medical detox program provides you with supervision and increased safety during this crucial time.

In the case of alcohol addiction, many nutrients can be depleted from your system. This can cause additional issues during withdrawal, which is part of what makes is so dangerous. One treatment option is the use of what’s called a banana bag. This is a bag of fluids that are given through IV access. It includes thiamine, folic acid, and magnesium sulfate. It earned the name because the solution is yellow. It can help correct nutrient deficiencies for the patient.

Other medications that are given depend on the substances that you have been ingesting. You may receive benzodiazepines, which will help your body relax and prevent seizures. You may be given something like naloxone to help treat opioid overdose. Methadone is part of a treatment plan for weaning you off the use of heroin.

Benefits and Risks of the Process

There are many benefits to utilizing a medical detox for your recovery process. You are able to overseen by a staff of medical health professionals to ensure your safety. Delirium tremens is a life-threatening condition that can set in during the first day or two after your last alcoholic drink. Medications can be used to not only prevent this from happening but to treat the signs and symptoms if it does occur. There are also medications available to help you sleep and decrease pain levels associated with withdrawals. Overall, it makes the process much more comfortable and helps to get the person on the right track for recovery rather than going back to drugs midway through to avoid the withdrawals.

One important thing to consider is that this process should be completed slowly in order for it to be considered safe for the patient. Going through this too fast can induce additional symptoms and even lead to fatalities. It can increase agitation in the patient and is generally not safe to attempt. In addition, many patients become frustrated with doing things so quickly and can end up returning to their addiction.

Hopefully this article helped you answer the question “What is medical detox for drugs?”
It should be treated as a sort of delicate process because the medications given need to be balanced appropriately with the substances that the person has already ingested. There are also other instances where the substance that the person is addicted to is tapered off slowly instead of completely taken out of their system. This can be a slower method of detox, but it is likely to end in a more compliant patient to the treatment plan. They are also able to recover fully and the chances of their sobriety lasting longer are increased.