Do you need detox (a medically supervised withdrawal from your substances)? Not sure? Call us.

 

There are many options for obtaining detox. Call us to determine what would work best for you. Options include: outpatient detox here or before you arrive, a hospital detox here or before you arrive, or detox at the AToN Center. If you detox before arriving we may suggest that you be accompanied while traveling, by family or a friend, or a recovery assistant.

 

What is detox?  Detoxification is the process of adjustment your body goes through when it stops getting a toxin (poison), which it has previously adjusted to having.  When someone enters alcohol and drug rehab detox from alcohol and/or other drugs is often the first component of treatment.  Detox, in a medical context, could involve non-intoxicating substances (toxins, poisons) also. 

 

Detoxification is also called withdrawal.  Strictly speaking withdrawal is what happens to your body when the substance you are dependent on is suddenly stopped.  Detoxification is the assistance a physician provides to manage that process, in order to minimize discomfort and prevent harm.  Usually this assistance is in the form of medications.

 

During withdrawal there can be substantial symptoms, including anxiety, insomnia, sweating, and tremors, and in severe cases convulsions and hallucinations.  Withdrawal syndromes vary according to the kind of substance.  Alcohol and other drugs classified as central nervous system (CNS) depressants (including benzodiazepines and barbiturates) lead to the most dangerous withdrawal syndromes.  Fortunately fatalities because of CNS withdrawal are rare.  Opiates (heroin, codeine, oxycontin, etc.) also have substantial withdrawal syndromes, but they are less dangerous than CNS withdrawal syndromes.  Stimulants (such as nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine, etc.) have flu-like withdrawal syndromes which are uncomfortable but not dangerous.  Most other substances (pot, LSD, PCP) do not have significant withdrawal syndromes.

 

One analogy to help you remember that downers need detox and uppers do not is the comparison between scuba diving and riding skyward in a balloon.  If you are deep underwater for awhile, you need to come up slowly or risk getting the bends.  If you go up in a balloon you can come down rapidly (not too rapidly) without ill effect.

 

Although detox is often the first step in recovery, it should not be confused with addiction treatment itself.  Addiction treatment is a learning process designed to help the individual not return to substance use.