No one plans for life to lead them into a period of substance abuse. It derails hopes and dreams and puts your finances and health at extreme risk. If you’ve reached a low point, you might be wondering if you need a detox center.
It sounds scary at first to take this step, but drug and alcohol detox centers have helped millions across the country get their lives moving forward again. Detox is a critical part of recovery. It starts the healing process for your body and mind. It helps get you to the point where you can openly and honestly discuss your troubles, begin to build new skills for life and to grow.
By asking if you need a detox center you are literally taking the first step forward to building a stable foundation for the rest of your life.
What Is Detox?
Detox at a licensed facility is a medically supervised process during which you stop using drugs and alcohol. It’s just not possible to move forward in recovery while you are still feeding your addiction.
Substance abuse problems significantly rewire your brain to expect whatever drug or type of alcohol you’re consuming. When pulling that away, your body reacts negatively, and you start experiencing withdrawal.
Withdrawal can be extremely challenging and even dangerous. In drug and alcohol detox, professionals supervise you through this period to make sure you are safe and as comfortable as you can be.
Withdrawal is different for every person and can vary by drug, but generally, some of the signs of withdrawal can include:
- Flu or flu-like symptoms
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Seizures
- Restlessness and shaking
- Nausea and vomiting
If you’re experiencing some or all these symptoms when you stop using a substance, you need a detox center.
What Happens After Detox?
Detox is the first step on the road to recovery. Once you have cleared drugs or alcohol from your system, then you enter a period of counseling and addiction therapy.
Typically, you will spend most of your time in individual sessions with trained psychotherapists. But addiction medicine has found that group therapy is also helpful in building camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose and support among people with substance use disorders.
You may later find opportunities for alternative therapy, such as recreation or outdoor therapy. These are designed to give your life a sense of purpose and to help you process the many stresses that surround you.
Once you complete initial therapy programs, your journey is not over. Relapse rates in recovery tend to run very high. To cope with this, you’ll be provided access to aftercare support, which may involve in 12-step peer-to-peer programs and continued therapy.
The Impact of Substance Abuse
Drug and alcohol abuse is a significant, nationwide problem — in fact, in at least one context, it is considered a public health emergency. The consequences can be devastating. According to data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 67,000 people died in 2018 from drug overdoses of various kinds. Most were related to heroin, synthetic forms of heroin, or prescription painkillers.
Besides overdose deaths, the cost of substance abuse is enormous, when considering lost productivity, health care, law enforcement, and other items. According to estimates by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the cost is over $740 billion annually. This number shows the cost related to health care, crime, and lost work productivity. This is nothing compared to the lives lost from overdoses and the impact on their families.
Contact Midwest Detox Center
If you are wondering if you need a detox center, contact us today. Midwest Detox Center is here to provide the comprehensive, confidential, and caring treatment you’re seeking.
Detox is a challenge, but our experienced clinical team can guide you to the next stage of your recovery. We provide access to a full range of treatment options for substance abuse, including an alcohol detox center and a drug rehab.
If you’re in need of detox, call 833.647.0392 today for a confidential consultation.