Alcohol and drug abuse change the brain in profound ways, with some substances quickly leading to physical dependence. Opioid dependence and alcohol use disorder are the substances that cause the most severe withdrawal symptoms due to the way the body adapts when you’re addicted.
Luckily, your body is amazing, and it’s capable of adapting back to life without drugs or alcohol. While you’ll need to actively maintain sobriety on an ongoing basis, we can help you restore your health and well-being. At Brookside Treatment, we offer medical detox, residential and outpatient treatment services.
Get in touch today at 606-342-7089 for help managing drug and alcohol withdrawal and the physical and psychological symptoms that come with it.
What Are Substance Withdrawal Symptoms?
When you have a substance use disorder, your body has adapted to the regular presence of a chemical, such as alcohol and opiates. When it adapts, it gets used to the natural chemicals that govern your central nervous system (dopamine, serotonin, etc.) being affected by the chemicals you use to get high. Withdrawal symptoms occur because you take away the drugs or alcohol after your body has gotten used to their presence. This leads to a range of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms as the levels of naturally occurring chemicals return to normal.
Going cold turkey or suddenly stopping is the most dangerous way to stop abusing drugs and alcohol, and it’s the most unpleasant. When you seek treatment in a drug rehab center, we help you manage withdrawal symptoms and provide medical supervision to mitigate any adverse consequences.
We can also help manage opioid withdrawal symptoms and alcohol withdrawal symptoms with FDA-approved medications. Medically assisted detox helps people with substance use disorders manage the most unpleasant symptoms associated with the withdrawal process.
Alcohol is a depressant of the central nervous system, which means it slows down your reactions, movements and mind. When alcohol levels in your blood remain high over a long period of time, the body adapts to having chemicals in the blood that slow down the CNS. As such, stopping drinking suddenly causes an imbalance, with the body producing too many excitatory chemicals and not enough calming ones. Acute alcohol withdrawal can lead to potentially life-threatening symptoms and shouldn’t be carried out without medical supervision.How Long Does Alcohol or Drug Withdrawal Last?
Withdrawal symptoms vary significantly between people, but there’s a general timeline when it comes to alcohol and opiates:
- Opiate detox: For short-acting opioids like heroin and oxycodone, withdrawal symptoms usually occur between eight and 24 hours after last use. On average, withdrawal from opioid addiction to this type of substance lasts between four and 10 days. With longer-acting opioids such as methadone, it can take up to four days for the onset of withdrawal symptoms.
- Alcohol detox: Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually occur a few hours after your last drink, with acute symptoms taking hold between 24 and 72 hours after the last drink.
What Is Drug Detox at an Addiction Treatment Facility?
Drug detox is the first stage of addiction treatment for many people with a severe substance addiction. During this process, drug toxins are purged and the body attempts to rediscover balance without the influence of drugs or alcohol. While undergoing detox, you’ll take part in gentle exercise and might attend some group sessions, but the main focus is relaxation as your body goes through the necessary changes.
A couple of major benefits of going through the detox and withdrawal process at an addiction treatment facility are medical supervision and medication assisted treatment. Health care professionals are on hand to help you manage symptoms and provide support if needed. Medical detox can drastically reduce the uncomfortable symptoms associated with withdrawal and make the entire recovery process easier.
Some of the medications used during detox include:
- Buprenorphine: This partial opioid antagonist eases opioid withdrawal symptoms without causing the same high as full agonists.
- Naltrexone: This full opioid antagonist completely blocks opioid receptors and is used in the treatment of opiate and alcohol addiction.
