Drug addiction and alcoholism are common issues in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “One in 7 Americans reports experiencing a substance use disorder.”
When you become addicted to a substance, your brain and body begin to rely on that chemical to function properly. If you were to suddenly stop taking that drug, you will experience a combination of mental and physical withdrawal symptoms. Oftentimes, these withdrawal symptoms can be incredibly uncomfortable, impossible to cope with, and in some cases, life-threatening.
Because of the potential dangers of experiencing drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms, you should always seek medical attention before stopping the use of a substance you are dependent on. Thankfully, there are plenty of drug and alcohol detox centers in Boston that can provide you with the treatment and support you need to recover.
What Happens at a Drug and Alcohol Detox Center?
The goal of detox is to provide you with the medical care necessary to safely overcome physical and psychological dependency on a substance. Typically, this includes the use of FDA-approved medications, 24/7 monitoring, psychological support, and holistic treatments to soothe uncomfortable symptoms.
Understanding what happens during drug and alcohol detox in Boston can help you determine what you should be looking for when choosing a reputable program to attend.
Assessment
When you arrive at a detox facility, you will undergo an in-depth initial assessment. These assessments are designed to gather relevant information about your substance use disorder, mental health, and overall physical health. In doing so, the staff members can create an individualized treatment plan that is specific to your needs and goals in recovery.
Examples of common assessment questions include:
- How long have you been abusing drugs and alcohol?
- What substance are you addicted to?
- When was the last time you used “x” substance?
- How often and what dosage?
- Do you abuse more than one substance?
- Have you ever been to treatment or relapsed before?
- Does addiction or mental illness run in your family?
- Are you diagnosed with any co-occurring mental health conditions?
- Do you experience any chronic health conditions that require treatment?
- Are you currently taking any prescribed medications for physical or mental health conditions?
This information will allow the physicians to determine a general timeline for your withdrawal process, what types of medications you may require, whether you need targeted mental health treatment, and more.
Stabilization
After your assessment is completed, you will begin the stabilization stage of detox. This is where you receive medical treatment to soothe withdrawal symptoms and prevent cravings. It is important to note that the medications and treatments you will receive depend heavily on the type of substance you are addicted to, how long you were using it, and how much of it you used at a time.
For substances like alcohol and opioids, you may receive FDA-approved tapering medications to prevent you from experiencing severe symptoms of withdrawal. For example, medications like Suboxone and methadone are used to treat opioid withdrawal because it targets opioid receptors like opioid drugs of abuse, tricking your brain into believing it is receiving the substance it’s dependent on.
Withdrawal symptoms from other substances like methamphetamine or cocaine may be treated with symptom-specific medications. For example, methamphetamine withdrawal often causes severe flu-like symptoms and psychological effects. If you are detoxing off of meth, you might receive anti-nausea medication, anti-anxiety pills, or medicine for symptoms of depression.
Treatment Planning
Once you have overcome your withdrawal symptoms, you will begin working with your doctor and psychologist to create a treatment plan. After all, detox is only the first step in addiction recovery. The staff members will help you determine what services you will require to maintain long-term sobriety and live a fulfilling life without substances.
Oftentimes, this includes attendance in an inpatient or outpatient rehab program, services for co-occurring mental health conditions, and sober living housing programs to help you transition into independent living as a sober individual.
What to Look for in a Boston Drug & Alcohol Detox
Unfortunately, not all drug and alcohol detox programs are created equally. Its important to know how to differentiate between a reputable detox program and an untrustworthy one.
If you are thinking of attending a drug and alcohol detox program in Boston, look for the following qualities:
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) – the use of medications during detox is vital to your safety and success, as withdrawal symptoms can be difficult to overcome and life-threatening in some cases.
- Qualified and experienced staff members – drug and alcohol detox is a highly specialized field, which means it requires extensive knowledge to provide proper care.
- Insurance and payment options – detox can be extremely expensive, however, detox facilities accept a wide range of insurance and/or offer payment plans to make treatment accessible to everyone.
- Access to mental health services – the best drug and alcohol detox centers near Boston will include some form of mental health treatment, as it is widely understood that addiction is both a psychological and physical disease that commonly co-occurs with additional mental illnesses.
- Assistance with further treatment planning – detox centers should always help their patients find additional treatment programs (i.e. inpatient or outpatient rehab) if they do not offer a continuum of care themselves.
Get Connected With a Drug and Alcohol Detox Center in the Boston Area
If you or a loved one suffer from a substance use disorder, the first step to recovery is attending a medical detox program. Detox facilities in Boston can provide you with the support, treatment, and tools you need to recover from withdrawal symptoms safely and comfortably. Unfortunately, attempting to detox at home could result in life-threatening withdrawal symptoms or relapses and overdoses, making it vital that you receive professional care.
Woburn Wellness is here to help. To learn more about our drug and alcohol detox facility in Boston, contact us today.
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