What is Drug Detox at Home?
Congratulations, you are ready to quit the substance use and reform your life. Therefore, drug detox at home Los Angeles is the very first step in your recovery from substance use disorder.
Completing the drug detox at your home is the same process you would undergo in a clinical setting. The main difference is that you complete the detox process within the comfort of your home versus a facility.
Have you reached a crossroads in your battle with a substance?
If you are seeking at-home support when starting the recovery journey, you may have questions about detox and withdrawal. To learn all about drug detox at home Los Angeles, read on!
Understanding Why Medical Support is Needed During Detox
It is important to understand that an at-home drug detox should always involve medical support and monitoring. Stopping drugs cold turkey can be risky, even life threatening. For this reason, it is never advised to attempt detox alone.
Without the needed medical and emotional support, the chances of actually completing the detox are quite low. This is because the powerful cravings and physical and mental discomfort experienced during detox may be too hard to bear. Without support, the person is likely to return to the substance and never make it into treatment.
Can I Safely Detox from Drugs at Home?
Prior to entering recovery, it is important to have a doctor or addiction specialist assess and stage your substance use disorder. During this evaluation, the doctor or clinician can determine whether it is safe to undergo an at-home drug detox.
Once it’s decided that an at-home detox is a safe option for you, the next step is to arrange for medical support. To safely detox from drugs at home, you will need a trained detox nurse to guide you through the process.
The private nurse receives guidance from a physician who specializes in addiction treatment. This collaboration provides the medical support and oversight you will need to safely detox at home.
Why Choose to Detox from Drugs at Home?
Ambulatory, or at-home detox is a viable option for some individuals depending on several factors. These include how severe the substance use disorder is, your health status, your mental health status, and your detox history. A doctor can guide you toward the best detox setting for your particular substance use disorder, such as at-home detox.
For those who are good candidates for an at-home detox, there are many benefits versus a detox facility. These include:
- Privacy. By choosing drug detox at home you enjoy a higher degree of personal privacy compared to entering a detox center.
- Less stress. Being at home while going through the withdrawal process is much less stressful than being in a busy detox facility.
- Personalized care. A private nurse provides one-on-one individualized care and attention while you go through detox at home.
- Comfort. Being at home in your familiar surroundings provides a higher level of personal comfort versus a detox facility.
- Family support. Going through detox at home allows you to have easy access to your loved ones and their support.
- More freedom. At-home detox provides more freedom, such as remaining somewhat engaged in work activities or sitting outside in the backyard.
- Concierge services. An at-home drug detox program can provide additional holistic services to enhance comfort during the process.
What is Drug Withdrawal?
Substance withdrawal is the physical and psychological process that ensues hours after you stop taking drugs or pills. Once someone has become dependent or addicted to a substance, the brain chemistry has adapted to its presence. When the person decides to stop taking the drug, the brain and body undergo a period of destabilization, as if in shock.
During this period, uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms emerge. The symptoms eventually subside once the brain can once again produce its own chemicals. This timeline varies based on the type of substance involved, and how long the person was dependent on it.
What to Expect During Drug Detox at Home
When enlisting the support of a private detox nurse, you may be put on a drug-tapering schedule. Tapering is common for those who are dependent on prescription pills, as it allows the body to adjust gradually over time as the dose is reduced.
Some common drug withdrawal symptoms include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- GI distress
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Joint and muscle pain
- Shivering or goose bumps
- Confusion
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Hallucinations
- Suicidal thoughts
- Seizures
Although the specific withdrawal symptoms and timelines will vary depending on the substance, there is a predictable pattern to expect:
- Stage one of detox: The first stage of detox starts about 6-12 hours after the last dose of the drug. This stage features emerging symptoms and only lasts about a day.
- Stage two of detox: The second stage of detox features the most intense withdrawal symptoms. This stage may last 2-3 days.
- Stage three of detox: The final phase of detox may last days or weeks, and features the withdrawal symptoms resolving to a large extent.
Do You Need Treatment After Completing Drug Detox at Home?
To vastly increase your chances of recovery success, you will want to enroll in an outpatient or residential addiction treatment program. This is because detox alone is not adequate for long-term sobriety. A rehab program shows you how to sustain sobriety by helping you develop new behavior patterns.
Both outpatient and residential rehabs offer similar treatment elements, although in differing levels of intensity. These elements include:
- Individual psychotherapy
- Group therapy
- Family group
- 12-step program
- Life skills classes
- Addiction education
- Holistic therapies
- Nutritional counseling
If you are ready to get clean and sober and are interested in drug detox at home, reach out today.
Contact us for a FREE consultation today!
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