Mens – All About

Detoxification is the crucial, absolutely necessary, and difficult first step in the treatment of all addictions. Some drugs like marijuana, phencycli­dine, amphetamines, and cocaine can be discontinued without much prob­lem. Abruptly stopping depressant drugs like alcohol and sedatives can trigger a potentially life-threatening withdrawal. Detoxification of alcohol, barbiturates, and sleeping pills requires substituting with equivalent doses of a sedative (like Librium or Ativan), which is then tapered in a controlled way to avoid withdrawal. Although the withdrawal symptoms that arise during detoxification of opioid are not life-threatening, they are uncom­fortable. Medications like clonidine (an anti-high blood pressure medicine) are helpful in softening the intensity of the symptoms.

Patients often fail at this stage because it is so tough to overcome craving and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. There is also a paradox in physicians’ attitudes that may account for the problems many addicts have with with­drawal. Physicians are taught to be very careful and deliberate in tapering any of the psychiatric medications on the assumption that too abrupt a removal may lead to withdrawal symptoms or a recurrence of the illness the med­ications were meant to treat.

In contrast, when it comes to the powerful sub­stances that cause addictions, clinicians usually recommend detoxification regimens that are remarkably abrupt, tapering from extremely high doses to nothing in five days. It is no wonder that such rapid detoxification often fails. Even for those substances that cause no physical tolerance or withdrawal, a more prolonged detoxification period is often necessary to reduce craving and the physical and psychological triggers to relapse.

Our advice to society would be to expend more resources on detoxifica­tion so that it becomes universally and easily available. Our advice to the individual clinician and patient is to stay focused on detoxification as a potential turning point in life. It is often wise to engage in drug rehab center for assistance as they are professional in helping patient in these matters. Drug Rehab Florida has the expertise and experiences in helping patients to succeed in their quest to overcome substance abuse and withdrawal symptoms.

Nevertheless, don’t be discouraged if there have been many failed efforts at detoxification. Circumstances and people change. Almost everyone who successfully goes on to beat a habit has had a large number of failed previous tries at detoxification. Most addicts appear to be much sicker than they really are because of the noxious effects of the drugs. It is difficult to evaluate someone’s psychiatric status if he is forever either intoxicated or withdrawing from a substance. There will often be a substantial improvement in emotional status once the person is successfully detoxified.

During the detoxification period, it is also important to evaluate for any concurrent medical or psychiatric illnesses that have previously been ignored or under-treated. The patients who develop the most serious with­drawal problems are usually those who also have medical problems like cir­rhosis, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, or undetected infections.