Sometimes, it is possible or even necessary for a person to detox outside of a treatment program or medical setting. If this is your plan, then it is important to make sure that you have a trusted friend or family member lined up to monitor your status and get you emergency care, if needed. At Highland Hospital Behavioral Health in Charleston, West Virginia, we offer medically supervised drug and alcohol detox, and we know the risks of people detoxing without medical supervision, so we want to ensure that you have as much information as possible so you can stay safe.
Symptoms of Withdrawal
When a person who is addicted to alcohol or other drugs stops using that substance, they will likely experience some withdrawal symptoms. These could range from relatively minor to life-threatening, depending on what substance they used, how much, and for how long. The primary job of a friend or family member who is looking out for someone who is detoxing is to try to keep them hydrated and to get them to the hospital if things turn serious.
Some of the symptoms a person in withdrawal could experience include:
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Fever
- Sweating
- Fast heart rate
- Digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Any of those symptoms that would normally make you think someone needs to see a doctor, such as a fever, seizures, hallucinations, or significant digestive issues, should cause a person who is in withdrawal to also access medical care.
Just because they are detoxing does not mean that these symptoms are any less serious. Also, the excruciating nature of some of these symptoms increases the risk of the person relapsing.
People Who Should Have Medically Supervised Detox
It is not recommended for people who detox at home if:
- There is no support person available who can stay with them throughout their withdrawals and get them medical care if needed
- They have a history of seizing during detox
- They have engaged in long-term or heavy use that is likely to result in especially bad withdrawal symptoms
- They are suicidal
- They have serious medical issues
How Medical Detox Is Different from Detoxing at Home
If you can detox under the care of a trained medical professional, they will be able to offer certain benefits that are not available at home, such as:
- Medications to alleviate discomfort and cravings
- Treatment professionals who can help you to taper, instead of going cold turkey
- Around-the-clock care
- Trained staff to monitor your vitals, manage seizures, address dehydration, and handle other potentially dangerous side effects of withdrawing
- More specialized knowledge than the staff at the local emergency department, regarding how to manage detox and withdrawal
What Happens After Detox?
Detox is just one step in the recovery process. What comes next varies from one person to the next. Many people find it helpful to complete treatment for their chemical health once they are done with detox. This may occur in an inpatient or outpatient setting, depending on the person’s unique needs.
Often, therapy (individual, group and/or family), case management, and aftercare planning are part of the treatment process. Sometimes, people who complete inpatient treatment will follow it up with outpatient treatment to ensure that they have a solid foundation for their recovery. This may or may not include living in a sober living community, depending on how supportive their home environment is to their newly found recovery.
Beyond treatment, there are recovery groups, such as AA, NA, Celebrate Recovery, and SMART Recovery, that allow people in recovery from addiction to get support from other people who have been in their shoes.
At Highland Hospital Behavioral Health, we offer detox services and a highly structured daily schedule that can help clients jump-start their recovery process. The services offered include medical monitoring, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), 24/7 nursing care, Group and individual therapy, case management, aftercare planning, peer support, and recovery groups.
