Drug Detox
Drug addiction can begin with voluntary drug use. Sometimes users seek out recreational drugs for pleasure and immediately find them irresistible; however, in other cases, users begin taking slightly more of a prescription drug than recommended and an addiction develops over time. No matter how drug addiction begins, it can be taken for granted that addiction isn’t the intended result a user is seeking. But all too often, by the time drug addiction is apparent and needs to be treated, the user is no longer in control of his or her relationship with the substance. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), using drugs actually causes changes in the brain that make it more difficult to quit.
This is why drug detox programs exist – because addicts need assistance with the daunting process of detoxifying their bodies from the substance they have been misusing. There are often many physical considerations that need to be minded by a professional when a person is detoxing in addition to a well of mental, emotional and psychological factors that should be addressed. Drug addiction usually requires a multifaceted approach to recovery that is best handled by those experienced in drug detoxification. Before a person can initiate a drug detox program, it is important that he or she fully understand the many elements of drug addiction and drug detox.
An addiction to drugs comes in many shapes and sizes, as do the addicts themselves. While the substances and people can vary, the impact that drug addiction has on the lives of users tends to remain the same. Drug addiction, no matter the specifics, has a way of unraveling a person’s life, leaving a user feeling as though he or she is spinning out of control and no longer able to orchestrate how life is unfolding. The misuse of and reliance on drugs can affect virtually every area of a user’s life. In many cases, an addict’s life at home, work and beyond is negatively impacted by drug addiction. A dependence on substances often stems from psychological issues that should be treated as a part of any detox and rehabilitation program.
Types of Substances
Each type of substance is different, and thus, how each substance will impact a user when abused varies. The signs and symptoms of drug addiction will differ depending on the substance, so it’s important that you understand the full spectrum of addictive substances if you or someone you love might be addicted to drugs and in need of drug detox.
Heroin
Heroin is a highly addictive substance. It is an opioid analgesic that is derived from the opium poppy plant. Closely related to morphine, users often cite pain relief as one of the pleasures of heroin. Heroin induces a euphoric state in users. Heroin is particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol and the combination of the two can be lethal, according to NIDA. Some physical signs and symptoms of heroin use include:
- Track marks
- Dry mouth
- Itching
- Flushed skin
- Nausea
- Constricted pupils
Barbiturates
Barbiturates are substances that depress the central nervous system. These drugs can cause anything from mild sedation to thorough anesthesia. They are derived from barbituric acid and often used recreationally to induce a sense of euphoria. Some of the common physical symptoms of barbiturates use include:
- Slurred speech
- Drowsiness
- Poor coordination
- Talking slowly
- Inability to walk or move normally
Alcohol
Alcohol that is meant for drinking, also known as ethanol, is an organic compound. It is produced through the process of fermentation, often when sugars or yeasts ferment. Alcohol use is widely accepted and legal as a recreational substance throughout the US and beyond. Because of this widespread use, it can be easy for some to slip into alcohol addiction unnoticed or unexpectedly. Some of the common physical symptoms of alcohol use include:
- Slurred speech
- Lowering of inhibitions
- Dizziness
- Poor coordination
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are psychoactive drugs that are normally prescribed by doctors to treat conditions like anxiety or panic disorder. These substances have a sedative effect and are often taken recreationally for their relaxation properties. Some common physical symptoms of benzodiazepines use include:
- Blurred vision
- Slurred speech
- Poor coordination
- Sleeping or napping at times outside of a person’s normal schedule
Amphetamine
Amphetamines are a type of stimulant. These drugs are normally prescribed to treat conditions like narcolepsy or attention deficit disorder, but they are sometimes used recreationally for their energy-increasing effects. Some of the common physical symptoms of amphetamine use include:
- Irritability
- Rapid speech
- Excitability
- Rapid movement and other signs of increased energy
Signs and Symptoms of Drug Addiction
If you or someone you love might have a drug addiction, it is important that treatment is sought as soon as possible for the best recovery outcome. A person does not need to hit rock bottom before seeking treatment. Drug addiction is often characterized by a lack of control over substance use that gets worse over time. The longer the addiction remains untreated, the less control the user has over their addiction, including whether or not to use as well as when, where and how to use. This is why drug addiction should be treated sooner rather than later.
If you are concerned that someone you love might be struggling with drug addiction, but you’re not sure which substance he or she might be abusing, there are some common signs of drug addiction that are often seen, regardless of the specific drug being used. Some of these common signs of drug addiction include:
- A change in sleeping patterns
- A change in eating patterns
- Lowered work or school performance
- A change in body coordination
- A change in energy
- Financial trouble
- Irritability
The Drug Detoxification Process
Before the drug detoxification process can begin, a user must be willing to, or in some cases, be mandated to, undergo treatment. Sometimes this begins with an intervention held by the user’s loved ones and other times this begins with a legal sentence that includes drug detoxification and rehabilitation. Once the user is ready to begin the detoxification process, there are three main steps to detoxification. These three steps include:
- Evaluation: The evaluation step takes place as soon as a patient begins the drug detoxification process. During this period of evaluation, a user will be tested so that the professionals working with the user are aware of any substances currently in the user’s system. This time will also allow clinicians to assess whether or not the user has any co-occurring issues. Identifying other issues that may be at play, like mental illness, will help the professionals who oversee the detoxification process to thoroughly address the patient’s drug addiction in the most effective and efficient way. Nearly one-third of people suffering from mental illness also struggle with substance abuse, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
- Stabilization: Stabilization is the process of drug detoxification that helps to guide the patient away from the addictive substance. This might involve tapering off the drug methodically, perhaps initiating medication that will be conducive to recovery, and handling the symptoms of withdrawal, which can be incredibly severe in some patients. This process can be intensive and its success hinges on the presence and guidance of medical professionals.
- Guiding the patient into treatment: The final step of the detoxification process helps the patient to become prepared for actual treatment and recovery. Detoxing the body of the addictive substance is only the beginning of a drug treatment program. In order for a user to achieve a full recovery, the patient must address the psychological factors of addiction alongside a licensed professional. NIDA reports that dropping out of a program is one of the biggest problems treatment programs face with their patients, so at Orlando Recovery Center, we place an emphasis on program completion. Oftentimes, a patient will enroll in our drug rehabilitation program after the drug detoxification process is complete.
The Facility
Orlando Recovery Center offers an inpatient medical facility that specializes in drug detoxification. We provide 24-hour medical care so patients who are detoxing at our facility are never alone. Our patients receive around-the-clock care from professionals who have been trained specifically in drug detoxification.
With licensing from DCF, Orlando Recovery Center offers the latest in drug detoxification with methods that have been proven to work. Our care is based on current research that takes each patient’s specific needs and concerns into consideration. Our facility provides everything that our patients will need during their detox – from food to counseling to recreational options. We accept most types of insurance, so you or your loved one can focus all energy toward a successful detoxification process.
The Treatment Process
We evaluate our patients as individuals. Because each person is different, with his or her own background, context and relationship with addiction, each individual case of drug addiction is different too. We help patients to detox through evaluating their specific addiction, helping to separate their bodies from the substance, and assessing the type of further treatment that will be needed in order to achieve a full recovery.
We work with our patients to harness support from their friends, family and community while being sure to guide them in a direction that yields physical, mental and emotional health. Our staff members are experienced in supervising drug detoxification and monitor our patients closely for the most effective detox results.
Life After Drug Addiction
Drug addiction has a way of leaving addicts feeling hopeless and helpless, but there is hope in effective recovery services. One of the main obstacles standing between a user and recovery is physical dependence. At Orlando Recovery Center, we help our patients to overcome this difficult hurdle and guide them in a direction that will yield a fulfilling and drug-free life. We aim to liberate our patients from the imprisonment of drug addiction and steer them toward a healthy, balanced life.
If you’re interested in learning more about Orlando Recovery Center and our treatment process, contact us today. We’d be happy to talk you through our approach to care, the methods we employ, the expertise of our staff members, and anything else you’d like to know.
Substance abuse and addiction are prevalent in society. Across the country, 22 million people were abusing illicit substances in 2010, per The Chart, CNN. Alcoholism and alcohol-associated problems were a problem for an astounding 17 million Americans that same year, per eMedicineHealth. If you suspect addiction in yourself, the best gift you can give yourself is a second chance, and it starts with detox.