Drug Detox in Laredo, TX
Drug detox is the process of letting prescription or illicit drugs clear out of the body. It is often the first step in a drug rehabilitation program. Although drug detox in Laredo is a necessary part of drug abuse or addiction recovery, it can be physically and psychologically difficult, because drug abusers often have underlying reasons behind their drug use. If true addiction is present, an individual also will also physically crave the drug because of changes that occur in the brain from the substance abuse.
In some instances, addiction is milder and detox can occur through regular check-ins with a physician. But in general, drug detox occurs in drug treatment centers, which often have both outpatient and inpatient rehab in Laredo. In either case, drug detox in Laredo a three-step process. The first step is to stabilize the drug user. The next step involves stopping the use of the drug. Lastly, professionals provide physical monitoring to make sure the addict can cope and stay safe through any withdrawal symptoms that occur. The monitoring might be required around the clock.
Drug detox can involve the use of medications, most of which are used to manage withdrawal symptoms. But whether medications are right for you depends on multiple factors, such as which drug you're addicted to. You might be able to detox without medications, instead tapering off how much of the drug you use under supervision.
As you look for a good drug treatment center, you might hear about "rapid" detox. This is a method of drug detox in which providers put you under anesthesia and give you strong medications that interfere with how your drug of choice interacts with receptors in the brain. You can get clean quickly this way and won't feel pain, but the approach is considered dangerous because you can get sick, vomit and asphyxiate while under the anesthesia. It's best to avoid any drug treatment center that offers rapid detox under the promise of a fast cure
Withdrawal Symptoms Associated with Drug Detox
Withdrawal symptoms associated with drug detox can vary, depending on which drug is involved. But WebMD and Rehab.com note that some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Drenching sweats
- Nervousness
- Shaking
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Brain damage
- Heart attack
- Severe dehydration
- Mood swings, including depression and/or anxiety
- Confusion
- Elevated body temperature
In the worst case scenario, the body is not able to cope with not having the drug, and the individual suffering the addiction dies. Although doctors in drug detox centers provide physical monitoring for reasons of comfort, preventing withdrawal-related fatality is their biggest concern. The risk of death is why professionals do not recommend detoxing alone or "cold turkey".
Why Should I Enter a Drug Detox Center?
Individuals who have drug abuse or addiction often don't want to (or can't) admit they have a problem. They may not be able to afford treatment, or they might worry about what others will think of them. Still others struggle to go through drug detox programs because of concerns about keeping their job or being able to take care of their children. But going to a drug treatment center offers multiple advantages.
Even when detoxing is possible outside of a treatment facility, it's often very uncomfortable. That discomfort often leads people back to their drug of choice. The medical assistance drug detox centers offer make getting clean much more tolerable, increasing the odds you'll be successful and can move on to the next stages of the recovery process.
In addition to outstanding physical monitoring and protection, drug detox in Laredo can physically keep you away from whatever tempts you to substance abuse. The professionals in a drug treatment center can guide you through a huge range of individualized therapies to help you understand your addiction and overcome it, including behavioral therapies that help you develop new, more positive habits for relapse prevention in Laredo.
Therapists at drug detox programs stress the importance of taking ownership of your behavior and recovery. But they also help you establish a solid support network of counselors, mentors and social services professionals. The others going through your program also can provide wonderful empathy, companionship and accountability. Because of this socially-oriented support, it might be easier for you to stay positive, repair relationships or build new ones, maintain your job or career and, most importantly, stay healthy and drug free. Call us now at (877) 804-1531.