Statistics show that there are more than 24 million people in the U.S. having a substance use disorder. These individuals could include you or someone close to you as addiction does not discriminate. It affects people from different categories in society. These individuals often need help to overcome their dependence.
Addiction treatment continues to evolve. While in the past, doctors recommended that addicts get help from rehab facilities, addiction specialists now have home treatment protocols. These procedures enable addicts to get better safely while getting the benefits of home detox. Consult an addiction specialist to know whether this type of treatment is appropriate for you.
Is at Home Detox Ideal for Me?
Home detox is one of the treatment approaches that addicts can use to get better. However, it might not be ideal for every addict. Some addicts may need traditional inpatient treatment to detox successfully.
At-home detox may not be the right strategy for your detox for the following reasons.
- Low chances of success – some drugs are highly addictive. Attempting to quit them without the measures an inpatient detox may have can often lead to relapse.
- Safety – some drugs have severe withdrawal symptoms, especially when you quit them cold turkey or at once. A detox facility can help you design a safe quitting plan. This strategy may involve tapering off the substances or replacing them with less addictive forms.
- Unconducive surroundings – some environments are not conducive for people that are trying to quit drugs. For example, being around other addicts, near a drug store, or unstable surroundings can compromise your recovery efforts. Without the proper safeguards in place, triggers can make you relapse.
- Issue of comfort – some withdrawal symptoms can cause you significant discomfort. Quitting at home denies you a chance of getting medications that may help alleviate your suffering. Caregivers at detox facilities monitor patients at all times, and they give the recovering addicts medications that help reduce the discomfort caused by some withdrawal symptoms.
If you must detox at home, consult your doctor first. Your physician will be able to analyze your situation to determine if you can detox at home. If this option is available, the medic will develop a detox plan that ensures you quit drugs at home safely.
Drug Detox Withdrawal Symptoms
During addiction, your body becomes accustomed to getting doses of the drug you are abusing. Once you quit, your body takes time to return to its normal functioning. Denying it the dose of drugs it has been getting can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Different substances have distinct detox signs. For example, people recovering from opioid addiction may experience these symptoms hours or days after their last dose:
- Insomnia
- Agitation
- Runny nose
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Muscle aches
- Excessive yawning
- Increasing watering of the eyes
These symptoms are not life-threatening, but they can be uncomfortable. Seeking medical and psychiatric care can help you get through these signs.
Common withdrawal symptoms for drugs include:
- Mood disturbances such as agitation and mood swings
- Sleep disturbances
- Physical issues such as sweating, shaking, chills, headache, vomiting, and runny nose
- Cravings for the drug you are quitting
The severity of withdrawal symptoms varies with each addict. Factors that impact individual experiences include:
- Length of addiction – abusing drugs over a long period often leads to more severe withdrawal symptoms.
- Amount of drugs you abuse – if your body becomes accustomed to getting high doses, your withdrawal symptoms are likely to be more severe than those of individuals taking low amounts.
- Existence of co-occurring disorders – quitting drugs may amplify pre-existing conditions, such as pain and anxiety.
- The half-life of a drug – drugs that take a short period to reduce their impact in your system are likely to have immediate withdrawal symptoms than those that take longer.
These withdrawal symptoms can cause discomfort, and, at times, they can be fatal. Detoxing in an inpatient facility offers the safest way to quit using drugs. If you choose to quit at home, your doctor can recommend coping mechanisms that can help you get through these signs. These means may include specific medications, such as Naltrexone, Buprenorphine, and methadone, or other techniques like exercising.
Methods of Drug Detox
Addicts that choose to quit using drugs can do it in different ways. These alternatives include:
- Quitting “cold turkey” – involves stopping the use of drugs at once
- Tapering off – consists reducing the dose of drugs you are taking over time until you stop using it
- Medication-assisted detox – involves using medications to alleviate your suffering due to withdrawal symptoms
Strategies You Can Use to Detox at Home Successfully
Detoxing alone is not a practical plan to quit using drugs and sustain your sobriety. The eight principles of effective detox outline some essential principles that you should incorporate in your home detox plan. These standards include:
- Detox is only one aspect of continuum care for substance abuse – add other approaches such as changed behavior, balanced diet, and exercise to your detox plan to sustain your sobriety.
- Detoxing involves evaluation, stabilization, and getting ready for therapy – the journey to a healthy lifestyle starts with detox and continues after the effects of the drug are out of your system.
- Recovering addicts need to detox and continue with therapy and other treatments, regardless of the severity of their addiction.
- A doctor should individualize your home detox plan.
- You should start therapy after detox.
These principles are some of the doctrines that your home detox plan should incorporate.
MD Home Detox Can Help You Overcome Addiction at the Comfort of Your Home
Addiction does not discriminate. It can affect any of us regardless of our wealth or position in society. We at MD Home Detox seek to provide holistic treatment that meets the diverse needs of our clients. Our skilled staff offers home detox for patients that need the benefits that home detox offers. The team analyzes your addiction, medical history, and home environment then designs a regimen that gives you the best chance of recovering without complications.
We help addicts by providing various services. We organize interventions, concierge home detox services, co-occurring disorders treatment, home IV therapy, executive detox, and other therapies designed to help addicts and those around them overcome substance abuse or its effects. We also help patients develop an aftercare program that gives them the best chance of managing their substance use disorders. MD Home Detox provides services to residents of various locations across the United States. We offer services to people in CA, CO, NJ, NY, WA, CT, and PA.
Interventions are crucial strategies that loved ones of an addict can use to help them get better. Organizing one needs you to prepare to improve the chances of it being successful. Getting help from a professional interventionist can ensure an intervention is prosperous. Our team at MD Home Detox can link you with the right interventionist to help your loved one.
Conclusion
A significant proportion of the American population struggles with drug addiction. These individuals are dependent on various substances, including alcohol, opioids, and prescription medications. Many treatment alternatives can help these individuals overcome their substance use disorder, including inpatient, outpatient, and home detox treatment plans.
Home detox can be the right treatment approach for you. Many addicts prefer home detox because it is convenient and private. However, it comes with some risks. These dangers may include uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, an unconducive environment that may lead to relapse, and relatively low chances of success. Consult your doctor before you start detoxing at home. The medic will examine your case. If home detox is a viable option, they will develop a safe detox plan for you.
MD Home Detox is a reliable addiction treatment facility that offers a variety of services. Some of our services include concierge home detox services, home IV therapy, and aftercare planning. Our team of qualified personnel examine your case and design the right plan for you. If someone you care about is an addict, we can help you organize a successful intervention. We offer our services in various locations, including New York. Reach out today to find out how we can help you or your loved one overcome addiction.