Drug detox is the first stage of addiction treatment and is used to help you safely withdraw from drugs and alcohol with a reduced risk for complications. Withdrawing from certain drugs on your own without a professional detox can lead to serious complications, such as seizures and death — especially if you’re overcoming a serious addiction that produces severe symptoms.

Not all drug use disorders require a medical detox. Substances like cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana mainly produce psychological symptoms with occasional mild physical symptoms, detox is used to treat many drug use disorders.

If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction to any of the substances below, seek treatment at a drug detox center to reduce your risk for complications and to experience a safer, more comfortable recovery.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a sedative that depresses the central nervous system, destroys brain cells, and interacts with brain receptors to cause mood and hormonal imbalances. People who are alcohol-dependent and who abruptly stop drinking can experience a range of severe withdrawal symptoms as their bodies try to adjust to the lack of alcohol. Seizures, nutritional deficiency, hallucinations, delirium, and heart problems are just some alcohol withdrawal symptoms that can increase the risk of suicide or death when trying to overcome alcohol dependence without alcohol detox.

Heroin

This powerful illicit opioid is highly addictive and can change brain structure and function in ways that trigger intense drug cravings. Heroin withdrawal symptoms are not life-threatening on their own; however, strong heroin cravings can make it difficult for people to stop using this drug on their own without relapsing one or more times. Relapsing can lead to a fatal drug overdose when users resume heroin use after their tolerance levels have decreased. Drug detox can help reduce or eliminate drug cravings so people can safely overcome heroin dependence with a lowered relapse risk.

Prescription Opioids

Painkillers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine interact with the brain and body in the same way as heroin to produce strong drug cravings and a long list of uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Those who become dependent on prescription opioids face the risk for relapse, drug overdose, and death when quitting these drugs abruptly. Drug detox for painkiller dependence usually involves the use of FDA-approved medications like methadone, buprenorphine, or Suboxone — all of which reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Benzodiazepines

Like alcohol, benzodiazepines are sedatives that depress the central nervous system. They also interact with certain brain receptors to increase the risk of seizures and psychotic episodes when quitting them abruptly. The severity of symptoms brought on by suddenly stopping benzodiazepines like diazepam or alprazolam can range from a single seizure to coma or death. However, benzodiazepine dependence can be safely treated at a drug rehab center using a tapering schedule — a detox method where the doctor gradually reduces the drug dose until the user is no longer dependent on the medication.

Where to Find Professional Drug Detox

Medical detox is available at many drug and alcohol rehab centers that use a whole-person approach to addiction treatment. When researching your treatment options, look for rehab centers that use proven, evidence-based detox treatments that won’t put you or your loved one at risk for complications. Some drug rehab centers combine detox with nutrition therapy so you can benefit from improved overall health and feel better physically as you recover from drug or alcohol dependence.

America’s Rehab Campuses offer medical drug and alcohol detox treatments for those who need help fighting and overcoming drug dependence. Contact us today to learn more about our medical detox treatments that can help you experience a safe, fulfilling recovery from addiction.