It’s quite a process to go through Drug Detox. This covers a range of addictions, but for survival this means you must endure the process.
Lets not forget that there are many types of addictions and I still claim that sin is at the center of it. If you get to the point where it becomes a chemical imbalance, then your problems go beyond sin.
Will cover the general drug detox process and more specific, opiate detox.
What is a Detox?
A detox is the initial steps to clear your system of toxins. In the case of drugs this is a combination of withdraws and sometimes medications.
You have heard of liver detox or colon cleanses, well drugs are the same thing. The exception is the drugs penetrated at a deeper cellular level and the detox is more intense.
The Process
The withdrawal/detoxing process begins when the ongoing administration of the drug or alcohol stops abruptly. Withdrawal symptoms are generally the opposite of the effects induced by the substance itself. Symptom severity varies based on several factors.
The detox process, partly because it is short-term, is not designed to deal with the psychological, social, and behavioral problems associated with addiction.
It does not typically produce the lasting behavioral changes necessary for recovery. Detoxification is most useful, and has the greatest chance of making a long-term difference, when it incorporates assessment and referral to subsequent treatment programs.
There are some things you can do to ease the process.
- Drink water to clean system.
- Cranberry juice to purify your body.
- Eliminate fats to aid in digestion.
- Eat high potassium foods as potassium is depleted during detoxing.
- No caffeine, you need good sleep.
- Teas w/o caffeine.
- Exercise, speeds up healing process and calms emotions.
There are some things to consider after you start your detox sessions.
Medical Detox
Some addictive substances and prescription drugs can cause unbearable withdrawal effects. These effects are very hard on the body, and it is ill advised and potentially dangerous to just stop ‘cold turkey’.
Medical detox will help you safely detox from the drugs while making you feel as good as you did on the street. This is a medically supervised drug detox in a residential treatment center that has expert staff trained in dealing with prescription drug addiction and substance abuse.
In some cases you just not able to stop “cold turkey”, the shock could do more damage than the detox. In these cases a gradual withdrawal is needed, medical detox is where people turn.
Opiate Detox
Opiates fall into the category of Opium, codeine, morphine and heroin.
The opiates are found in a gummy substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian poppy, Papaver somniferum. Opium is produced from this substance, and codeine and morphine are derived from opium. Other drugs, such as heroin, are processed from morphine or codeine.
Opiates have been used both medically and non-medically for centuries. A tincture of opium called laudanum has been widely used since the 16th century as a remedy for “nerves” or to stop coughing and diarrhea.
Like any drug, dependency occurs when you have to use more to get the same feeling. Your system builds a tolerance against the drug which then requires you to increase usage to satisfy the need. Addiction occurs when you Have to have it to survive.
Psychological dependence exists when a drug is so central to a person’s thoughts, emotions, and activities that the need to continue its use becomes a craving or compulsion.
With physical dependence, the body has adapted to the presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur if use of the drug is reduced or stopped abruptly. Some users take heroin on an occasional basis, thus avoiding physical dependence.
Long-term effects appear after repeated use over a long period. Chronic opiate users may develop endocarditis, an infection of the heart lining and valves as a result of unsterilized injection techniques.
Drug users who share needles are also at a high risk of acquiring AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) and HIV infection (human immunodeficiency virus). Unsterile injection techniques can also cause abscesses, cellulitis, liver disease, and even brain damage. Among users with a long history of subcutaneous injection, tetanus is common. Pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia, may also result from the unhealthy lifestyle of the user, as well as from the depressant effect of opiates on respiration.
Detox Process
Opiate detox is the cleansing of the system of the harmful toxins associated with opiate use. These toxins build up during heavy use of drugs and are commonly found in..
- Heroin
- Vicodin
- Oxycontin
- Morphine
Opiate detox helps the individual overcome their physical addiction to drugs. It is an important first step in the addiction recovery process and one that greatly reduces the chance of relapse.
In cases where there is a physiological addiction, further treatment is needed and a different course of treatment is prescribed.
Withdrawal Symptoms
When detoxing you will experience withdrawal symptoms, the urge to relapse is great, this is why you need assistance.
Here are some of the symptoms you might have:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Fever and chills
- Strong drug cravings
- Sleeplessness and restless behavior
- Mood swings and irritability
With addictions, sin takes you down a path that feels good, but it knows all along how it ends. I can’t imagine the pain and thoughts one must have during this detox period.
It has to help hearing from someone who has been there. If you are that someone your story can help others. We have a share your story section and we would be glad to post it.
Look for a detox center near you, others have broken the chains, so can you.
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