Medical Detox

Detox at Northridge Addiction Treatment Center

Studies show that detox directly linked to the appropriate treatment level leads to increased recovery and decreased use of detox and treatment services in the future. NATC’s medical detox program provides a calm haven with around-the-clock medical care and expertise. Our team of professionals embraces every resident with compassion and understanding while putting extraordinary care into alleviating withdrawal symptoms. NATC integrates the detox process into rehabilitation to tailor an individualized plan based on your health, type of substance used, the amount used, and the length of time. Comfort and safety are our objectives during this dreaded process to foster our resident’s confidence in a lasting recovery after a successful detox.

What Is Detox?

Detoxification refers to removing harmful substances such as poison or toxins from your body. Alcohol and drug detox specifically refers to freeing oneself of an intoxicating or addictive substance from dependency. The body attempts to regulate itself when a substance is removed that was once overused by producing uncontrolled effects such as withdrawal symptoms. An individual’s withdrawal response can be unpredictable depending on the type of substance and length of use.

What Is Medical Detox?

The National Institute of Health (NIH) defines the medical detoxification process as a set of interferences directed at managing severe intoxication and withdrawal. Medical detoxification or medically supervised detox seeks to eliminate the threat of physical harm under medical professionals’ supervision and care. It has proven significant in reducing a substance use disorder’s intensity to become sober. The three critical components of the detox process are:

• Evaluation – involves testing for the substances in the body and determining the level of concentration present. It includes a complete assessment for co-occurring conditions and an individual’s medical and mental state. The process of evaluation helps shape the treatment plan provided after a successful detox.
• Stabilization – the central part of detox, consists of ongoing care through an individual’s intense withdrawal, sometimes with the aid of medication. Stabilization aims to reach a state of clinical and medical stability without substance dependency.
• Nurture the individual’s motivation to enter treatment – the entire team prepares the individual to transition into addiction treatment by encouraging care continuation. Educating the individual that detox alone is not supposed to treat substance abuse is heavily emphasized.

What Is Withdrawal?

Withdrawal is the development of a substance-specific unstable behavioral change, usually with uncomfortable physical and psychological consequences resulting from discontinuing or reducing excessive and prolonged substance use. Withdrawal is a diverse and progressively shifting process. There are physical manifestations and psychological changes such as anxiety, low mood, and the diminished ability to experience pleasure from naturally rewarding things.

What Are the Symptoms of Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal?

Alcohol and drug withdrawal presents several dangerous medical problems, from minimal anxiety to fatal seizures. The symptoms of withdrawal can be so intense that it sometimes becomes the reason for continued substance use. Withdrawal symptoms start to occur after the substance is removed from the body when it tries to maintain a balance. The symptoms associated with withdrawal vary according to the substance of dependence and severity but frequently include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, and insomnia.

• Alcohol withdrawal can be very challenging and, in some cases, life-threatening. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically include tremors, especially in hands, excess perspiration, increased heart rate and blood pressure, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting. More severe withdrawal can include seizures, hallucinations, and delirium tremens, or DTs.
• Opioid withdrawal can be pretty agonizing, like coming down with a terrible flu. However, it is not usually life-threatening. Opioid withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, watery discharge from eyes and nose, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, hot and cold flushes, and perspiration.
• Benzodiazepine withdrawal tends to be subjective. Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms are anxiety, insomnia, poor concentration and memory, muscle tension and aches, and restlessness.
• Stimulant withdrawal has a broad range of symptoms. Stimulant withdrawal symptoms consist of depression, agitation and irritability, increased sleeping and appetite, and muscle aches. Individuals who used an excessive amount of stimulants, particularly methamphetamine, can develop psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, disordered thoughts, and paranoia.