Drug and alcohol rehab Pennsylvania - Detoxification Process
This article intends to throw light on how drug and alcohol rehab Pennsylvania has radically changed the face of conventional detoxification process. The addiction to any substance causes a lot of damage to the body and mind hence the first thing to be done to a person addicted to drugs or alcohol is to detoxify his body of any toxic chemicals in his body. Only after the detox process is complete can the person addicted to drugs or alcohol start the regular drug and alcohol treatment. There are various types of detoxification which depend on the type of substance to which the person was addicted and the degree of severity of the addiction. Some drugs do not require detoxification for example drugs such as marijuana cocaine and methamphetamines. The abuse of these drugs causes psychological dependence would necessitate intense therapy and even monitoring but do not require detox. Other drugs like heroin alcohol barbiturates and benzodiazepines not only lead to psychological dependence but physical dependence as well.
Detoxification is considered a painful process but it is compulsory to start the treatment for drug abuse as the continuous consumption of addictive substances can become more dangerous and painful in comparison to detox. Moreover treatment cannot be initiated as long as there is a physical presence of such substances in the body. The medical staff associated with detoxification makes sure the process is comfortable and less painful and they are fully equipped with all medical aid. However all said and done it is not a walk in the park.
Alcohol detoxification- Alcohol is the most dangerous culprit in the category of addictive substances owing to its easy availability damaging physiological and psychological effects and risky detox. The symptoms of withdrawals of alcohol can be serious. Alcohol detoxification depends on the level of the abuse and the severity of consumption. The patient is monitored continuously in the process during which he may face headaches sweating delirium tremens seizures anxiety insomnia and increase in heart rate agitation and sometimes even death. Medicines can ease these symptoms sometimes. Medical staff may use drugs such as Clonazepamdiazepam which are anti-consultants to calm muscles. These benzodiazepines can calm the withdrawal symptoms as these are mild tranquilizers. Detox always runs great risks. Patients with cirrhosis of liver or other complications caused by drinking can take months to detox. The standard duration for a normal detox period is 3-10 days.
Opiate detoxification- Opiates are easily available like Vicodin or oxycontin. They create intense addiction which has withdrawals like abdominal pain nausea insomnia or flu symptoms. The detox procedure for this is to block the influence of opiate from reaching the brain and minimizing the opiates in the body. This is effected by administering buprenorphine which is an opiate agonist medication which merges with the opiate receptors of the brain and blocks the opiates of abuse. This drug has been approved by the FDA as an effective and safe detox medication for opiates like heroin oxycodone methadone and hydrocodone. One example of buprenorphine is Subutex which is used in sublingual treatment.
Benzodiazepine detoxification- These are low-level tranquilizers or depressants which attack the central nervous system causing depressed respiration and they make the pace down the general metabolism and relax the muscles. These have benefits but when abused can cause dependence making the process of detox risky. Patients at drug and alcohol rehab Pennsylvania addicted to benzodiazepines such as Valium ataman and Xanax experience symptoms like nausea insomnia vomiting agitation fatigue anxiety headaches while undergoing the detox process. Benzodiazepines are used to detox but the addiction of these can cause the withdrawals which create the symptoms that they have to treat. The detox is done by administrating small amounts of Clonazepam as it is less addictive and not powerful enough. This is done until the body has been detoxified. The detoxification processes implemented everywhere including drug and alcohol rehab Pennsylvania contains its risks and can cause seizures until the drug is completely flushed from the system. It can take 4-6 weeks for stronger drugs.
