In 2018, more than 21 million Americans, ages 12 or older, needed substance abuse treatment. Approximately 3.7 million of those in the requirement of drug or alcohol treatment received such care. These numbers, no doubt, involve many who would benefit from detox and withdrawal management services. Throughout the country in 2018, nearly 3000 treatment facilities administered varying types of detoxification services. Many people require medical detox at the start of additional addiction treatment programming and aftercare. Such detox services may occur in a Pembroke Pines detox center or a more extensive drug rehab program.

What is Detox?

Detox is the process of facilitating the safe clearance of drugs or alcohol from a person’s body. Often taking place in the early stages of addiction treatment, a supervised, medically managed detox may be essential for treatment and recovery to progress. Depending on the substance of abuse, the typical Pembroke Pines detox process lasts anywhere from a few days to weeks.

Abruptly quitting alcohol or using certain drugs on your own can be both gratuitously difficult and problematic, mainly when severe physiological substance dependence as developed. With substances such as opioids or alcohol, many people will experience characteristic symptoms of physical withdrawal such as anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and tremors. More severe withdrawal symptoms or withdrawal complications, such as marked agitation and seizures, can occur depending on the substance of use.

It’s worth noting that there may be a difference in the levels of detox services available. In some cases, detox may not necessarily mean medical detox. While many places may offer a supportive or social detox setting, not all facilities can medically manage certain withdrawal types. While in a medical detox program, you may be given medications to help control the severity of withdrawal symptoms and minimize cravings to use. You may also have extensive medical monitoring, in case you experience complications from withdrawal.

What is Medical Detox?

Medically supervised Pembroke Pines detox usually involves 24/7 monitoring and care from nurses, doctors, and other treatment team members. Medical detox is commonly utilized for managing potentially severe withdrawal syndromes, such as those associated with opioids. To keep people safe and minimize the risk of withdrawal complications, detoxing from alcohol, and other central nervous system depressants such as benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium) may also be necessary.

When a person has developed significant dependence levels with alcohol or benzodiazepines, sudden withdrawal can result in serious side effects, including marked agitation, delirium, and potentially-fatal seizures.

In some cases, medical detox in Pembroke Pines may involve using medications to help with withdrawal’s side effects. For instance, opioid withdrawal symptoms can be reduced by using suboxone during the withdrawal process.