Medical Detox in Newark, NJ

Medical detox is the process and experience of withdrawing from drugs or alcohol in a safe and secure medical setting. Drug addiction and dependence is a serious and chronic condition that requires careful evaluation and treatment, with medical detox often marking the start of the treatment process. While medical detox is not always required, it is typically recommended when physical withdrawal symptoms are present or likely to be present. Once the detoxification process has been completed, patients are normally directed towards ongoing rehabilitation and aftercare services.

What is Medical Detox?

Medical detox describes the process of drug or alcohol withdrawal under medical supervision. While it’s possible to withdraw from addictive substances at home on your own terms, this can be dangerous and is never advised. Medical detox generally takes place at dedicated detox facilities, large rehab centers, or private hospitals where patients can be continually evaluated and medicated accordingly. Around-the-clock access to medical support services may be needed in some situations to avoid complications that can arise during the withdrawal process.  

Drugs that Require Medical Detox

Psychoactive substances that may require medical detox include alcohol, heroin, morphine, codeine, and benzodiazepine drugs such as Klonopin and Valium. While medical intervention is largely ineffective for the treatment of marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine dependence, a detox period is sometimes initiated to support drug discontinuation prior to rehab. Medical detox is the best way to manage withdrawal symptoms safely and effectively, giving patients the best chance to get clean and sober before starting a rehabilitation campaign.

Why is Medical Detox Needed?

Withdrawing from psychoactive substances can be both uncomfortable and dangerous. Depending on the substance in question, possible symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, cramps, intense drug cravings, anxiety, and depression. It can take a period of days or weeks before someone has totally withdrawn from the drugs causing them problems, with additional complications often arising during this time unless appropriate action is taken.

Medical detox is useful on two fronts, not just helping to manage the drug discontinuation process and make it comfortable for patients but also helping to make it safe. Effective management of the withdrawal process helps to reduce the potential for relapse, with patients who go through detox much more likely to enjoy a long and sustained recovery. Medical detox also helps to reduce the chance of potentially dangerous physical and psychological complications, including delirium tremens and long-term depression disorders.   

Medications Used During Medical Detox

A range of medications can be applied during medical detox, depending on the substance in question, severity of dependence, and history of addiction. During alcohol withdrawal, benzodiazepine medications such as Valium and Serax may be used to help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms, with Neurotonin also used to help manage seizures and Chantix applied to reduce the severity of cravings. Opiate drug dependence, including heroin and morphine, also require extensive medication, including Clonidine to ease body aches, Paxil to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, and methadone to manage the withdrawal period and reduce the potential for relapse. Drugs are also applied to treat sedative withdrawal, with benzodiazepine medications often administered over a long time period as dosage levels are gradually reduced.

Let Newark Drug Rehab Centers be your primary guide to recovery. Just give one of our friendly recovery advocates a call today at (862) 930-4070.