Anyone who has overcome addiction can attest to how difficult it is to go through a detox program and coping with withdrawal symptoms. Fortunately, medically-assisted detox, which is a treatment supervised by physicians and mental health professionals, has made this part of recovery considerably more palatable. For those who have never experienced withdrawal, the symptoms can be not only painful but also life-threatening.
Given these facts, most drug treatment facilities are staffed with professionals who are well-versed in the detox process and capable of supporting the mental and physical needs of the patient. In this article, we will be going over the protocols that the medical staff in most drug treatment facilities follow and what you can expect as you go through a recovery program.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING A MEDICAL DETOX
Understanding that the needs of each individual patient can vary, many drug recovery programs provide personalized treatments aimed at helping patients overcome their addiction. It is worth noting that these treatments place a strong emphasis on treat not only the body but also the mind. As such, most drug recovery programs require patients to successfully each stage of treatment before moving on to the next. These stages include an evaluation, stabilization, and awareness building, which are all used to gauge how well each patient is progressing through recovery. Now that we have identified these the three stages, let’s take a closer look at them individually:
EVALUATION
The evaluation stage is an opportunity for those involved in the patient’s care to gather information and outline a course of treatment that suits the needs of the patient. During this initial stage, physicians will also administer breath, urine, and blood tests to detect drugs and other contaminants that may still be in the patient’s system. This information, along with mental and medical health history, is critical in mapping out an effective detox strategy for the patient.
STABILIZATION
Stabilization is not only the most important but also most time-consuming aspect of any detox program. This stage entails explaining to the patient what they can expect while undergoing detox and providing them with medical or psychological treatments as needed.
AWARENESS BUILDING
The awareness building stage marks the final stage of detox for the patient whereby they will be taught coping skills to help them avoid falling victim to cravings, which could result in relapse. One of the biggest misconceptions associated with drug recovery programs is that completing detox and surviving withdrawal guarantees sobriety, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Awareness building is designed to ensure patients remain drug and alcohol-free once they have completed detox and return to the real world.
In summation, there are many factors that dictate whether or not an individual will be successful in overcoming their addiction. Most drug treatment facilities are cognizant of this fact and will work collectively towards ensuring a favorable outcome for all of their patients. Call us today at 844-903-2111.
