This article is an attempt to increase the awareness about the negatives and dangers of at-home drug and alcohol detoxing.
As a rehab in South Africa we often hear from patients of their attempts to rehabilitate themselves without using professional addiction rehabilitation treatments and programmes.
Granted, while there may be some people capable of successfully recovering without professional help, attempting an at-home detox can be dangerous and in a few cases life-threatening.
Addiction is a multifaceted disease, one with many layers.
When entering an addiction treatment programme at Step Away there is far more than just the goal of staying sober in mind.
Yes, of course staying sober is a huge factor in your recovery however there is far more to your addiction than just taking drugs or excessively drinking.
Although every person’s addiction is different , years of medical and psychological research on addiction have allowed us to successfully create a treatment programme, that when applied and followed correctly has progressive results.
Unlike at-home detoxes, our treatment programme is monitored and guided by professionals trained and skilled in the addiction process, treatment and recovery.
Alcohol and drug detoxification is a complex medical process with a number of noteworthy dangers.
When drugs or alcohol are abruptly stopped often referred to as going “cold turkey” it can bring on extremely unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as:
These withdrawal symptoms can differ in duration and intensity based on the length and severity of your addiction, and your physical and mental health.
Withdrawal from alcohol and certain drugs can be dangerous, and even life-threatening.
It is critical for people addicted to alcohol, benzodiazepines or opiates to undergo a supervised medical detox as these substances have severe withdrawals and can be life-threatening.
In a professional drug detox with Step Away, the entire process is carefully supervised by our nurses, doctors and other health care providers who have specialised training in drug detox.
During the detox our doctor is able to prescribe safe, well-researched medications, which are designed to minimize withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings, making your detox more comfortable.
Choosing to use professional help is not just about granting yourself the “luxury” of less discomfort, it’s about staying committed to your program of addiction recovery.
Detox is just the first step of many in the long process of recovery.
Being able to achieve a fulfilling life in sobriety necessitates the development of new coping skills, this development can only take place in our one-on-one counselling sessions, group and family therapy, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA) support group meetings, and other psycho-educational therapies personalised to your needs.
By avoiding or missing these steps the chances of relapse increase, a study done by John Hopkins in 2012 found that continuing addiction treatment following detox dramatically increased an addict’s chances of remaining drug-free six months later.
If you have made the right decision to stop using drugs or drinking, then give yourself a real chance at a better life by making another brave decision: asking for our help.
We are committed to your recovery, let us help you.
For more information, please contact us.
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