If someone tries to quit drugs cold turkey, they are being optimistic and ambitious because of withdrawal symptoms that happen. Withdrawal symptoms can vary in intensity and duration and symptoms can present in different ways, depending on which drugs someone is addicted to. For example, people detoxing from alcohol may have seizures, while someone detoxing from cocaine is at risk for depression during detox. The withdrawal and detox timeline can also vary due to someone’s health, weight, the severity of the addiction, and metabolism. Those who are addicted to several substances at once can have a longer detox and withdrawal period. For those who want to get clean, the detox process at a Phoenix detox center is important.
The Detox Process
When someone abuses alcohol or drugs, the brain and body start to develop a tolerance for the substance. This means a user needs to start taking more and more in order to get the same high. Soon the body can become dependent on the substance in order to function. When someone isn’t able to get the same amount of alcohol and drugs they need to function, that is when withdrawal symptoms set in. The withdrawal process is the body’s way of getting rid of the toxins and drugs from the system in order to reestablish a normal state of equilibrium. The withdrawal process can be distressing and painful. In some cases, it can even be dangerous. Getting help from a professional during the detox process at a Phoenix detox center helps keep a patient safe and lessens the severity of the symptoms. How long the process is going to last will depend on each substance. For example, alcohol lasts for 12 to 24 hours in someone’s system, heroin stays one to three days, cocaine for two to three days, and methamphetamine for two to three days.
The time frames don’t necessarily mean that someone will have withdrawal symptoms for the same amount of time and withdrawal symptoms can last for weeks. In some severe cases, it’s possible to develop a condition called Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. This is where someone experiences prolonged symptoms related to withdrawal sometimes for months or years after stopping use. This is more common with opioid use and this is why drug replacement therapies can be helpful for these individuals. Detoxing from prescription drugs can also vary. Many prescription drugs come with time-release formulas so it can take longer to clear your system since the drug is metabolized at a slower rate.
The Most Effective and Safest Way to Detox
Recovering from drug addiction requires patience. While there are many products that claim to flush drugs out of the system faster, these typically don’t work and the process can’t be rushed with a magic supplement or pill. There is no specific method that can help the body metabolize the drugs faster than the standard timeline. It may take several days to detox and then several weeks for the withdrawal symptoms to disappear but someone can get sober if they stay on track. It can be a risk to detox without medical intervention since withdrawal symptoms may be deadly. Many withdrawal timelines come with the risk of anxiety and depression. The most effective and safe way to detox is with help from medical professionals. Clinicians are able to monitor someone’s progress, as well as prescribe safe medications that can help lessen the severity of symptoms. Making the detox time less stressful and painful can also make sure that someone doesn’t relapse during this time. Relapsing during this phase will send someone back to square one and make it even harder to reach sobriety.