Withdrawing from drugs or alcohol calls for the help of a detoxification facility. There, professionals work with you to overcome your physical dependence on a substance. However, not every facility is the same. Which is the best detox program for you, and how can you find it?
Who Needs Detoxification?
Knowing you need detox means that you know you have a substance use problem. Maybe you can’t stop thinking about a drug, and it’s taking over your life. You might have gotten into legal trouble, lost a job, or received an ultimatum from a spouse. In short, you know that you need help to stop using.
Some people try to stop using while staying at home. Doing so can be dangerous, painful, and typically ineffective. After all, if you could just stop abusing drugs when you wanted to, you’d have already done so. But because the cravings for the drugs are so intense, you typically cave after the initial withdrawal symptoms begin.
Choosing the Best Detox Program
Treatment for drug or alcohol abuse usually starts with a monitored withdrawal process. The goal of the medical monitoring is to stabilize withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the substance you’re dealing with, some symptoms can be dangerous. Examples include alcohol and opioids.
To prevent seizures and similar symptoms, professionals administer medications as clients need them. In some cases, you’ll have an easier time withdrawing from a substance with the help of specific medications. Some reduce cravings while others help with the management of discomfort and pain. The best facilities offer both medical monitoring and medication-assisted withdrawal.
What Happens after Withdrawal?
Once you undergo drug or alcohol detox, you need rehab next. This process takes a little longer, but it helps you to deal with the psychological part of addiction. Therapists might use modalities such as:
- Individual talk therapy that includes cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavioral approaches
- Group therapy that introduces you to real-time assistance from peers who also undergo rehab
- 12 Step meetings that create a supportive environment for relapse prevention
- Family therapy, which allows you to mend relationships, re-establish communication, and build your support network
- Art therapy, which can help you express yourself in ways you may not be able to achieve with words
- Life skills training that teaches you how to “do life” without using drugs by helping you relearn core competencies such as cooking and budgeting
- Holistic therapy that underscores the importance of healing for the mind, spirit, and body
There are various delivery systems for these therapies. Examples include residential treatment, intensive outpatient programs, or partial hospitalization. Compassionate therapists discuss your options with you to let you make the choice that is most advantageous for you.
You don’t have to continue with the vicious cycle of substance use. In fact, Crestview Recovery helps people just like you to overcome addiction every day. Our therapists work with a nearby detox facility that allows a seamless transition to rehab and the best detox experience available. Call 866.262.0531 to schedule your intake today.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
