The impact of addiction is rarely limited to the person who develops the disorder. Friends, family members, colleagues, and others also feel the effects. If you care about someone who is entering a detox program, you can play an important role in their efforts to achieve long-term recovery.
Educating yourself about addiction, treatment, and recovery is an excellent way to learn how to support someone in detox. The information you gather will also help you provide optimal support throughout their recovery journey.
What is Detox?
Detox is a shortened version of the word detoxification. The goal of detox is to help people rid their bodies of addictive substances safely and with minimal discomfort.
When a person becomes addicted to alcohol or another drug, their body adapts to the presence of the substance. When this person tries to stop using the drug, their body can quickly react with a series of painful physical and psychological symptoms. This experience is known as withdrawal.
Withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on which type of drug a person has become addicted to. Common withdrawal symptoms include intense drug cravings, nausea, vomiting, muscle and bone pain, anxiety, depression, paranoia, and hallucinations. If a person tries to get through withdrawal on their own, these symptoms can quickly push them back into substance abuse.
When a person enters a detox program, they will be under the care and supervision of a team of professionals. These dedicated experts can protect the patient’s health and help them manage their pain. Completing detox can be an essential step on a person’s journey toward long-term addiction recovery.
What is Involved in Detox?
If you want to learn how to support someone in detox, it’s important to understand what they’re experiencing.
The detox process can vary from person to person depending on their unique circumstances. In general, detox typically involves three stages: evaluation, stabilization, and transition.
Evaluation
Completing a thorough evaluation is a critical part of the detox process. When the professionals who provide detox services have a detailed understanding of the patient’s physical and mental health, they can offer focused care that will yield maximum benefit.
Stabilization
The stabilization phase of detox is the time when the person’s withdrawal symptoms are strongest. During this phase, the patient may receive both medical and therapeutic support to keep them safe and comfortable.
The stabilization phase usually lasts three to 10 days. This length of time can be influenced by the type of drug the person has become addicted to and the severity of their withdrawal symptoms.
Transition
Once the person has stabilized and their withdrawal symptoms have subsided, they will be ready to transition to the next part of their recovery journey. In most cases, the patient will transition into an inpatient, residential, or outpatient treatment program.
The Importance of Support in Recovery
Having a strong support system can have a powerful impact on a person’s ability to remain in recovery. One of the many devastating effects of addiction is that it can cause people to withdraw from their friends and family. Overcoming this sense of isolation can be a vital step in a person’s efforts to build a foundation for successful recovery.
Effective recovery support can come from a variety of sources. Close friends, trusted family members, and other members of the recovery community can all play important roles in the effort to help a person resist relapse and face challenges without resorting to substance abuse.
How to Support Someone in Detox
You may not be sure how to support someone with addiction while they’re in treatment. Determining how to support someone in detox can be even more confusing. But you can find the answers you need.
The facility where your loved one is completing detox can be an excellent source of information. A staff member at the facility should be able to explain their policies for contacting people while they’re in detox. They can also tell you how these policies may change once your loved one has transitioned into the next level of care.
During detox, your loved one may not have many opportunities to communicate with you. But knowing they have your support can be a source of both inspiration and motivation. Contact the facility and find out what you can do to ensure your loved one knows you’re thinking about them during this challenging time.
What Follows the Detox Process?
The next steps a person takes after they complete detox will be determined by their needs, goals, and preferences. Most experts agree that transitioning directly into a treatment program is the best way to help them achieve long-term recovery.
Completing detox is an important step, but detox alone can’t prepare a person to make the behavioral changes that will support a successful recovery. Follow-up programming can help them achieve true healing in mind, body, and spirit.
Begin Detox Today in Nashville, TN
If you or someone you care about needs to complete detox for alcohol or another drug, our center in Nashville, Tennessee, may be the ideal place for you. Brentwood Springs Detox is a trusted source of superior detoxification services. Our experienced professionals can help you take this essential step on your path toward successful, long-term recovery. Contact us today to learn more.
