Professional Drug Detox Centers vs. Home Detox
Is it better to use a professional drug detox center or a home detox to get clean from substances? Let’s go into the pros and cons of each.
Detox is often the most intimidating part of recovery for people addicted to drugs. The person is already anticipating the challenges of a life free of substances, and popular representations of detox have made it appear excruciating. However, there is no need to despair.
Drug detox can be grueling. The person’s body has become dependent on substances. While the substances are doing the body tremendous harm, they have also taken on the role of other physical processes.
Stopping using drugs therefore creates complications. The body goes through the pains of withdrawal and, if not done properly, it can be dangerous.
This is why professional drug detox centers have become so popular. They offer a program for detox that ensures it happens slowly, safely, and as comfortably as possible.
But what if you would rather remain in the comfort of your own home while going through this tough time?
Before getting into what professional drug detoxes offer, it is important to understand detox in more detail.
Understanding Detoxification
Detoxification or detox is the first step in the addiction recovery journey. It refers to the process of eliminating toxic substances from the body while managing the challenges and dangers of withdrawals. Recovery cannot continue until detox is completed, as it is necessary to clear the mind, enabling the person to work on themselves effectively.
During detox, the person experiences a range of withdrawal symptoms which differ depending on the substance they were using. Withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, depression, nausea, sweating, and severe cravings.
In some serious cases, the person may go through seizures, hallucinate, and face other life-threatening symptoms. This is why careful management of detox is so important. It is not something you should attempt without help.
How do professional drug detox centers help ensure the process goes smoothly?
What do Professional Drug Detox Centers Offer?
Professional drug detox centers are not just convenient places in which the person cannot access substances. Rather, they manage the detox in the most effective way possible.
They offer the following:
Medical Supervision
This is perhaps the most important benefit that professional drug detox centers offer. In these centers, there is constant medical supervision. Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and therapists, are available to monitor patients and step in if they go through a medical crisis.
In addition to reducing the risk of severe health complications, medical supervision also makes the process more comfortable. Professionals are able to advise on the best course of action, including which medications and therapies will work best for the individual.
Structured Environment
While most of the structured work of recovery will start after detox, it is still important to have a structured environment in the early stages. Life can become very chaotic when addicted to substances, leading to many triggers and emotional suffering. Detox centers have schedules and routines which help create a stable and predictable environment, while removing the distractions and temptations present in their usual surroundings.
Access to Medications and Therapies
As we mentioned before, one of the benefits of medical supervision is in providing a program that makes detox not only safer but more comfortable as well. Medication is one aspect of this. Various medications help with a range of withdrawal symptoms. A medical professional will determine which medications are appropriate for each person’s specific situation.
Although a systematic therapy process needs to wait until after detox, therapy sessions can still be very important in the meantime. Many withdrawal symptoms are of an emotional nature, and a therapist can guide the person in managing their feelings during this time.
What Does Home Detox Offer?
Considering all of the above, it is difficult to make a case for home detox being more comfortable, regardless of the familiarity of the space and people around. That is not to say it can’t be done.
Detox can be carried out at home as long as there is someone available at all times to ensure the person’s safety. However, offering such supervision is difficult without hiring multiple people. Since they are unlikely to be medical professionals, they also may not be able to respond to a crisis quickly enough.
Home detox also does not keep the person away from triggers and access to substances. When detox is carried out at home, even with the best preparation possible, it is likely to be less successful, more dangerous, and more painful.
The one reason people may try it is in order to save money. However, hiring people full time is expensive and taking one’s own time to supervise is costly in another way.
Insurance is also more likely to cover a professional detox center than what you require at home.
Should I Go to a Professional Drug Detox Center?
If you or a loved one are addicted to substances, detox is the first step in recovery. It is highly advised that you use a professional drug detox center or rehab to ensure both safety and comfort. The idea of a detox center may seem intimidating, but they can make the process as effective as possible while minimizing the risk of bumps in the road.
Call Serenity Malibu now to enquire about recovery from drug addiction, including the process of medically-supervised detox.