A person who is fighting drug or alcohol addiction needs a lot of support and encouragement. The first step is to get into a detox center to rid the body of drugs or alcohol dependence. Detox can be somewhat uncomfortable, but one of the benefits of medical detox is that it makes the process easier. Medical detox at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston can help you or your loved one through addiction recovery.
Medical vs. Non-Medical Detox
There are many drug detox programs out there, both medical and non-medical programs. Non-medical programs do not provide drugs to ease a person’s withdrawal symptoms. This option may be ideal for someone without severe dependence. However, it will be extremely uncomfortable to go through withdrawal and detox without medication in severe addictions.
Medical detox does not always involve medication, but it provides medical supervision while a person undergoes detox. The benefits of medical detox over at-home detox speak for themselves. For example, medication may be given (or not) depending on your needs.
Most medication-assisted detox (MAD) programs are residential treatment centers, meaning you stay at the facility until you’re clean. At-home detox may be dangerous if you are battling a long-term addiction. It increases the chances of relapsing into drug or alcohol-consuming habits.
A few more benefits of medical detox include:
Sets a Proper Foundation for Addiction Treatment
MAD or medically-supervised detox often sets the right foundation for future addiction recovery. Addictive substances release toxins into the body, including the chemicals that control your addiction response. In a clinical setting, individuals receive round-the-clock care and support to make the detox process more bearable.
As mentioned, medication may not always be necessary. Still, having qualified professionals to handle any complication of withdrawal/detoxing is reassuring. Any program worth its name will recommend an outpatient or residential detox center before advancing to addiction treatment or therapies.
Saves Lives
The effects of quitting drugs or alcohol are varied. For severe cases, it isn’t uncommon for individuals to undergo painful and even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Some people experience tremors, seizures, delirium, hallucinations, and other severe symptoms. The severity of symptoms is determined by:
- Length of drug use/abuse and addiction
- Frequency of use
- The average amount that they have taken
- The individual’s physical and mental health history
- Gender and body weight
- Co-usage with other drugs or alcohol
One of the benefits of medical detox is having medical professionals standing by to detect and manage detox-related medical emergencies.
Increases Follow-Through
Quitting cold-turkey or attempting at-home detox makes the detox process much more painful. This method decreases the chances of following through with the addiction treatment program. It is impractical to rely on willpower alone to kick a long-standing addiction. Most likely, a person may have tried to control/quit their drug usage in the past, even before they hit rock bottom.
After failing an at-home detox attempt, a person may experience feelings of shame, guilt, and inadequacy. These feelings might make them unwilling to try detoxing again. They are likely to go back to higher doses, resulting in permanent body damage or greater dependency.
Eases Withdrawal Symptoms
Medically-supervised detox makes the process more tolerable. Hence, the individual will be more likely to complete the detox program. Addiction treatment medications and placebos can help wean the body off drug dependence in a regulated manner. The medicines are harmless and used to stabilize the brain and body during detox. They make the person feel comfortable and withdrawal symptoms milder.
Enjoy the Benefits of Medical Detox at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston
If you or someone you love is fighting with drug or alcohol addiction, it’s time to take back control of your life. At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston, we have several programs to set the proper foundation for complete addiction recovery, including:
- Men’s detox center
- Women’s detox center
- Alcohol detox center
- Opioid detox center
- Opiate detox center
- Dual diagnosis treatment center
Your new life begins with a decision to let go of your addictions. You can enjoy the benefits of medical detox at our detox center. Call Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston at 866.516.8356 to begin your journey back into the light.
