People struggling with substance abuse will often convince themselves and others that they will quit after taking one more. But one more always leads to an endless string of other times taking the drug. You can help a loved one by recruiting them to an inpatient detox facility such as https://www.vsmdetoxaustin.com/.
Typically, detoxification is an important phase in treating addiction. The process encourages the body to get rid of toxins accumulated due to substance abuse. The withdrawal process is not easy, and abusers want to avoid them as much as possible, so they keep taking the drug.
Table of Contents
Inpatient versus Outpatient Detox
While there is also outpatient detox, people abusing the drug for longer are better with the support offered in an inpatient detox. Doctors will recommend inpatient detox for patients that have had previous unsuccessful attempts to quit. Outpatient detox is for abusers using the substance only for a short period and is in relatively good health. In addition, these people need at least one person to support them throughout the process.
No doubt, inpatient detoxification is more costly than outpatient detoxification. However, it reduces the time and money lost through repeat detoxification. Outpatient detox may not be sufficient, especially when the substance abuser is not in a supportive environment.
Detox Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms set in when the patient abruptly stops the substance they have been taking for a long time. Some of the symptoms will almost always include tremors, sweating, body aches, anxiety, nausea, and insomnia. But the onset of these symptoms depends on the substance abused and the period of abuse.
- Sedative withdrawal symptoms will cause trouble sleeping, muscle aches and twitches, and agitation. Sometimes, these symptoms worsen and become life-threatening with complications such as seizures and high fever.
- Alcohol withdrawal symptoms will mostly include delirium tremens, hallucinations, and seizures. If not treated, the symptoms can lead to death.
- Opiate withdrawal, on the other hand, will have symptoms similar to flu. The patient will have aching muscles, runny nose, vomiting, anxiety, chills, and abdominal cramps. While these reactions are critically uncomfortable, they are not life-threatening. Opiates include codeine, morphine, heroin, and methadone.
- People undergoing stimulant withdrawal will usually go through fatigue and instability, paranoia, malaise, and depression. Stimulant classes of drugs include methamphetamine, cocaine, Ritalin, and Adderall.
Benefits of Inpatient Detox
The main objective of a detox program is to relieve withdrawal symptoms. Certainly, committing the patient to an inpatient detox facility has its benefits.
- The main benefit of inpatient detox is patient support. The facility has a medical staff that attends to the addict throughout the day. They have the equipment and skills to deal with both the physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms.
- Inpatient detox has higher success rates than outpatient detox. People checking in into inpatient rehabs are normally ready to change their ways for the better. They don’t need much convincing as they already know the benefits and want to go through the process.
- The facilities are clear of any stress factors that would encourage a way back to old habits. There are no responsibilities for the patients, and their only role is to focus on healing. The environment does not have any people or situations that would make the patients stressed.
- Inpatient detox facilities provide a conducive and safe environment for the addicts to recover. The substance abusers are away from triggers and temptations that would take them to their previous habits. More severe detox symptoms may require replacement medications to mimic the effects of the substance abused.
- Relapses are common with people that don’t have a sufficient support system during the outpatient detox. Such patients benefit by checking into inpatient detox.
Inpatient detox or outpatient detox is not a treatment by itself. Rather, it is part of the treatment. Complete the rehab program and go through other addiction treatments to make a full recovery.