What is detox?
Drug detoxification is the first step of the addiction rehabilitation process. This is when patients take prescribed drugs to ease the detoxification process. In some cases of heroin and opiate addiction, a one-day detoxification process can be possible by administering another opiate blocker through an IV, says PsychCentral. The detoxification process usually peaks to about 24 to 48 hours. After that, withdrawal symptoms start to show. The severity of the withdrawal symptoms depends on the general health of the patient, the drug used as well as on the length of time and way it was used.
What is rehab?
Rehab is the 2nd step to recovery. While detox is characterized by the withdrawal experience, rehab is the process of keeping off the drugs, alcohol or any addicting substance. While the addiction for the drug hits your system the strongest during the detoxification process, staying sober or drug-free comes with its own set of challenges. This is when you learn how to cope with the addiction. Many rehab programs teach you the skills you need to manage it on your own and live a drug or alcohol-free life. This is also when you deal with the emotional aspects of the addiction. Some treatments focus on treating the root cause of the addiction to prevent relapses in the future.
Possible reservations
Clients who didn’t have a successful attempt at recovery might be wary about undergoing detox and rehab. However, with the help of a detox and substance abuse treatment program, clients will have a much better chance at success and recovery. For clients with long-term substance abuse problems, going cold turkey isn’t a safe option. Withdrawal symptoms could lead to serious health complications. For more on detox and substance abuse treatment options, plenty of reliable resources offer people the help they need to start on their recovery.
