Drug Detox Los Angeles
What is Detox?
The first step in many addiction treatment programs is detox. Detox is necessary to cleanse your body of any remaining substances before you can effectively begin addiction treatment. Detox and withdrawal are not often easy. In some instances, they can bring about unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects. Such effects are one of the reasons why you should not “cold turkey” or self-detox from drugs or alcohol.
During detox, your body will learn to function again without the influence of substances. There are circumstances where the detox process can be dangerous. This is especially true when detoxing from opioids and alcohol. While using or drinking, the body becomes accustomed to functioning with certain substances circulating throughout the body. The organs and brain will change how they work to actively accommodate and flush toxic chemicals from the body each day. During detox, your body is deprived of the substances it craves, leading to withdrawal symptoms. These can include nausea, tremors, gastric problems, dizziness, and elevated heart rate in mild cases. The intensity and severity of your withdrawal symptoms will depend on the type of substance you use, how often you use, and how long you have been using.
How Can Supported Drug Detox in Los Angeles Help Me?
Withdrawal symptoms are an inevitable part of detox. For some, withdrawal may include mild symptoms that are easily manageable. For others, the symptoms that accompany detox and withdrawal can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. The more severe symptoms only occur in a small portion of cases, but it is impossible to predict which cases. For this reason, detoxing on your own may not be safe or beneficial.
If you seek sobriety and have an addiction to alcohol or opioids, medically supported detox is vital to your health and safety. Choosing to detox alone may mean that medical help is not available if needed in an emergency. Acute (sudden) opioid or alcohol withdrawal can also lead to heart attack, stroke, and respiratory arrest.
What to Expect During Detox
Detox itself is not a form of addiction treatment. It is the first step towards the treatment process. When you start an addiction treatment program, members of the treatment team will conduct an intake evaluation to determine if detox services are necessary and what level of support you may need during the early stages of withdrawal. Because the detox process varies, the treatment team must understand your specific needs.
During detox, you can expect to receive full medical support throughout the process. Trained medical professionals will provide support and guidance throughout. Medical staff will continually monitor vitals (including blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and breathing) to ensure your ongoing safety and reduce the chances of an acute medical emergency. Depending on your unique needs, medication may be administered to help alleviate the more overwhelming symptoms. Once detox is complete, you can easily transition into the therapeutic portion of your treatment program.
The length of detox also varies depending on several factors, including the substance you use, how long you have been using and how much or how often you use. For some, detox lasts a few days. However, in other cases where addictions are more severe, it can last up to a week. When you choose a medically supported detox program, you can focus on healing, knowing a team of caring and compassionate professionals is there to provide necessary medical and mental health support. Without these vital elements of a treatment program, many will relapse before they can successfully detox, making detoxing alone not only unsafe but often unsuccessful.
Begin Healing with Mariposa Detox Center
If you or a loved one struggles with a drug or alcohol addiction and are ready to start over, free from the hold of addiction, a drug detox in Los Angeles may be the right place to start. Choosing a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment program with highly trained staff to help guide you through the early and often most challenging days of your sobriety journey is a key factor in maintaining lasting sobriety. Detox programs provide the opportunity to quit drugs and alcohol in a safe, comfortable, and supported setting.
If you are ready to take your first steps towards healing, contact Mariposa Detox Center today. Our admissions professionals are here and ready to answer your questions about treatment programs and how we can help take the first steps towards freedom from addiction.