How Long Does It Take to Detox
In the recovery community, detox refers to the detoxification process as an individual rids their body of drugs or alcohol. When detoxing from these addictive substances, you will experience withdrawal symptoms that can make this detoxification process particularly challenging. You may want to know the answer to “How long does it take to detox?”
Determining the question, “How long does it take to detox?” depends on a variety of factors. As each person will experience detox differently, rehab centers create custom treatment programs for each client. The following factors affect the length of a detox program:
- The substance used
- Frequency of substance abuse
- The amount of substances abused
- An individual’s medical history
- The severity of the addiction
How Long Do Most Detox Programs Last?
Detox programs will help you during the withdrawal process, which often lasts up to seven days. If you attempt to stop using on your own, you will experience dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Though some people choose to overcome their addiction by going “cold turkey” and facing these symptoms on their own, this isn’t advisable. As many of these symptoms are potentially fatal, it’s essential that you begin your recovery process in a detox program at a treatment center. In a detox program, you can receive the treatment you need for your substance use disorder.
Typically, a detox program at a drug treatment center will last between three-seven days. During this time, you will be able to acclimate your body to a life without drugs or alcohol. However, as detoxing focuses on achieving physical sobriety, it doesn’t address the behavioral, social, and psychological problems associated with addiction. For this reason, therapy and similar treatments are the next steps in the recovery process.
What to Expect While in a Detox
The answer to “How long does it take to detox?” depends on the length of a detox program as it varies on a person-to-person basis. As various substances remain in the body for different periods of time, the detox time will change. In most situations, you can detox from alcohol or drugs in a week, though many experience cravings for several weeks or months later.
If you’re hoping to break an addiction to prescription pills, there are many treatment options available. While prescription pain medication is a powerful tool used to alleviate chronic pain, many people develop an addiction to this type of medicine. In this situation, a chronic pain recovery program will help you live a pain-free life without the use of pills.
Dr. Flowers’ chronic pain treatment program uses a multidisciplinary process to focus on reducing pain levels while treating trauma, anxiety or depression. After detoxing from using prescription medication, this treatment program will teach you techniques for long-term pain management without the use of medication.
Medically Assisted Detox for Severe Addictions
Regardless of how long detox takes, it’s important for you to enroll in a medically assisted detox program. With medically assisted detox, you’ll have a team of medical professionals by your side as you go through the first stage of recovery.
Medically assisted detox programs are the preferred method for you to begin your recovery process. Instead of detoxing on your own, a medically assisted detox program will help you overcome the most severe withdrawal symptoms under the supervision of the staff at a detox treatment center.
Medically assisted detox programs often include the use of substitute drugs like methadone, benzodiazepines, and suboxone to help you with the detoxification process. During this process, staff members can help wean you off alcohol or drugs. Over the duration of the detox program, you are able to overcome the worst of your withdrawal symptoms. At this time, the staff begins other forms of treatment.
Oftentimes, after making the decision to get sober, withdrawal symptoms alone can convince you to keep using your substance of choice to avoid these uncomfortable feelings. However, with the help of the rehab team and a medically assisted detox program, you won’t have to go through this difficult experience alone.
You can overcome addiction. With treatment from a quality detox treatment center, you can achieve sobriety. If you’re ready to enter recovery, contact us today for help.