Detoxing From Drugs or Alcohol at Home – What You Need to Know

Drug detox and alcohol detox are essential to the recovery of patients who wish to overcome substance use disorder. Nevertheless, unsupervised detoxification may harm the physical and mental well-being of a person.

Continue reading to learn what drug detox and alcohol detox are. Discover what the dangers of self-detoxing from drugs or alcohol at home are. Find out why participation in a detox program in a detox center is a better alternative than DIY detox.

What Is Drug Detox

Drug detoxification is the process of clearing toxins from the body of a patient who is dependent on illicit substances. It aims to reduce the physical harm that is caused by the abuse of these substances.

There are three steps in the drug detox procedure, according to the Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment book by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):

1. Evaluation: It involves testing for the presence of substances in the blood of the patient and the measurement of the concentration of these substances. It also entails the screening of the individual for co-occurring disorders.
2. Stabilization: It provides step-by-step help to the patient so that he or she can achieve a medically stable, substance-free condition.
3. Preparation: It prepares the patient for participation in a substance abuse treatment program. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is usually employed in the treatment of substance use disorders, based on a publication by ScienceDirect.

Why Is DIY Drug Detox Risky

Some persons who are struggling with substance use disorder choose to self-detox at home. However, this decision could lead to physical and mental harm to the patients.

Drug detoxification usually involves withdrawal symptoms based on the type of substance that is abused. RxList explains that withdrawal symptoms are abnormal physical or mental effects that occur when a person stops or reduces the intake of a substance.

These are some examples of typical withdrawal symptoms for common opiates:

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Sweating
• Vomiting
• Muscle pain
• Goosebumps

Patients who conduct drug self-detox without the proper supervision and guidance of licensed healthcare professionals may not be able to manage the detoxification process correctly. As a result, they may experience an increase in drug withdrawal symptoms.

What Is Alcohol Detox

Alcohol detoxification refers to the process of removing toxins and waste products from the body that are caused by extreme, long-term alcohol intake. The proper alcohol detox procedure typically involves medication, observation, and behavioral treatment.

Why Is DIY Alcohol Detox Risky

Patients who are dependent on alcohol could experience withdrawal symptoms if they abruptly cease or minimize their alcohol consumption. These are several examples of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, based on WebMD resources:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Anxiety
• Hand tremors
• Insomnia
• Sweating

These symptoms may become aggravated if a person attempts alcohol self-detox at home instead of undergoing it in the proper medical setting.

Join a Detox Program in a Detox Center in Los Angeles

Participating in a medically supervised detox program in an accredited detox center is a safer, better alternative to self-detox. Connect with NorthStar Detox & Rehab Center in Tarzana, Los Angeles if you or your loved one wish to attain freedom from alcohol or substance dependence.

Get in touch with us to find out how you can undergo drug detox or alcohol detox in California with the guidance of our highly qualified team.