Drug
or alcohol detox begins when a person stops consuming
a substance that the body has become dependent on.
Though the recovery process from alcohol or drug addiction
doesn't really begin until the detox or withdrawal
period has ended, detox is the first step to recovery
and should only be attempted in the safe and comfortable
environment of a licensed alcohol and drug detox center.
Detox
from alcohol or drug addiction can produce withdrawal
symptoms that range from mild to severe. Some acute
drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms can even be fatal
if not treated medically. Some of theses withdrawal
symptoms are the sweats, shakes, headaches, cravings,
depression, insomnia, loss of appetite, vomiting,
cramping, diarrhea, seizures and convulsions. Often,
without medical help, the more severe withdrawal symptoms
can become so unbearable that the person experiencing
them will return to the substance that he or she is
detoxing from rather than complete the detox.
Whenever
a person is considering detoxification from an alcohol
or drug addiction a complete physical check-up from
a physician is always a good idea to avoid complications.
If one has a history of heart, liver or kidney problems,
as well as diabetes or high blood pressure, they should
not detox non-medically. These conditions can cause
complications or can even be fatal. Always see a doctor
before beginning a detoxification from any substance.
Managing
severe withdrawal symptoms through the use of medication
is what takes place in a Medically-supervised detox
center. Some centers have a medical staff on site,
while others have enlisted the assistance of a nearby
physician that either visits the detox center on a
regular basis or the detox staff transports the clients
to the doctors office.
