After you or a loved one has agreed to get help for drug addiction — the first major step to overcoming it — it is time to decide where to seek treatment. There are numerous options, and thinking about them can be overwhelming. Is a trip to the emergency room needed? Would self-help, the support of friends, or AA suffice? Outpatient services are a possibility. If inpatient treatment is the first place to go, perhaps driving the individual to a medical detox center is the first true step. Even if the individual is not high now, stabilization and medical evaluation are always needed. The best route to take depends on the type of addiction.
When you or someone you love is addicted to drugs and suddenly stops using or abusing certain substances, serious, potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms can take place. Medical detox helps prevent fatal withdrawal symptoms from occurring while also easing pain and discomfort.
If you or a loved one is about to start the journey to sobriety, it is important to know what drugs require detox. By understanding the drugs and substances that require drug detox, extreme pain, discomfort and fatal withdrawal symptoms can be avoided.
What Drugs Require Detox?
Certain drugs and substances are so powerful that your body becomes physically dependent on them. Once you stop ingesting that drug or substance, your body goes into a state of shock and instantly starts to shut down. While your body is shutting down, you can experience a grand mal seizure, end up in a coma, or even die.
To avoid these serious withdrawal symptoms, medical detox is necessary. During detox, medical professionals can help you slowly and safely stop using a specific drug or substance.
The following are substances and drugs that require detox:
- Alcohol
- Benzodiazepines — Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin, Librium
- Barbiturates
- Fentanyl
- Opiate-based drugs and substances
Medical Detox Is Optional for These Drugs and Substances
There are some drugs and substances where it isn’t absolutely necessary to go through medical detox. People who choose to skip medical detox with these drugs and substances will likely deal with uncomfortable and painful withdrawal symptoms — but there isn’t a possibility of experiencing problems that could be fatal.
Medical detox is considered optional for the following substances and drugs:
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Heroin
- Methamphetamine
Failing to attend medical detox if you stop using these drugs and substances will not be a pleasant experience. You will not only experience extreme physical withdrawal symptoms — such as pain, vomiting or tremors — but you could experience emotional and psychological symptoms. Emotional and psychological symptoms — such as increased anxiety, depression, paranoia and emotional withdrawal — may cause suicidal thoughts.
Beating Your Addiction — Once and for All
Going through medical detox can help as you undergo painful, uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and even save your life by preventing fatal withdrawal symptoms — but it does have another benefit.
People who try to quit certain drugs and substances on their own often end up relapsing before they can complete treatment. The chance of relapsing is extremely high because people may suffer from intense withdrawal symptoms, and they feel the only way to relieve those symptoms is to use the drug or substance that started the addiction.
Medical detox can dramatically lower your risk of relapsing. By reducing your withdrawal symptoms and becoming more comfortable, you will be able to safely learn to live without your drug or substance of choice. You won’t feel as if you need to use or abuse the substance or drug to relieve intense withdrawal symptoms.
Seek Help for Yourself or a Loved One Today
Do you have additional questions about medical detox? Buena Vista Recovery to speak with an addiction professional. After speaking with one of our professionals, if you or your loved one feels ready to take the next step on your journey to sobriety, we will help make arrangements to get detox and treatment started.
