One of the first and most challenging aspects of breaking free from a drug or alcohol addiction is overcoming withdrawals from alcohol or drugs. Withdrawals can be painful and even dangerous. Thankfully, detox centers in CT can vastly reduce your symptoms and help you start the path to recovery safely.
Drug and Alcohol Withdrawals
Every addictive substance, when used to excess, can cause the phenomenon of physical withdrawal. This includes drugs such as:
- Alcohol
- Heroin
- Fentanyl
- Benzodiazepines
- Sedatives
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamine
While each specific drug has a different mechanism for causing withdrawal and typically a unique set of symptoms, the phenomenon of withdrawal can be understood based on a few core principles.
These drugs are addictive because of the way they interact with neurotransmitters within the brain, typically leading to a feeling of reward, pleasure, excitement, or relaxation. Yet when they are used chronically, the brain becomes accustomed to the heightened level of neurotransmitters and begins to make changes to adjust to the addictive drugs.
When someone suddenly stops using their drug of choice, the brain is thrown out of balance. This can cause several uncomfortable symptoms, including1:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Shakes
- Depression
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Intense drug cravings
Withdrawal from any addictive drug can be incredibly painful and difficult. However, some drugs, particularly alcohol and benzodiazepines, can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms if they are stopped abruptly. Resolving these symptoms and keeping you safe during the process is the goal of medical detox centers in Connecticut.
How Medical Detox Centers in CT Help
Medical detox centers in CT are specialized facilities dedicated entirely to helping people overcome drug and alcohol withdrawal. They typically combine medical and mental health treatment, but the focus is on ensuring your safety and comfort during this uncomfortable period.
The length of stay at a detox center depends on several variables, including the amount of drugs you’ve used, the frequency with which you’ve used them, how long you’ve lived with a substance use disorder, and several medical considerations. In general, most people will recover from the effects of drug or alcohol withdrawal within a period of two weeks.
During this time, detox centers in CT use several strategies to help you make it through the withdrawal period and on to the next phase of your recovery, including:
Withdrawal Medications
Several medications can vastly reduce the intensity and frequency of your withdrawal symptoms. Some of these medications were designed explicitly for particular addictions, such as the medication buprenorphine, designed to treat opioid withdrawals. In contrast, others are generic medications that can reduce many of the more general symptoms of withdrawal.2
Detox centers provide these medications on a tightly controlled and monitored schedule to ensure that you get the relief you seek when you need it. Additionally, these medications can vastly reduce the risk of you experiencing harmful side effects from withdrawal, ensuring that you achieve recovery safely.
Medical and Mental Health Support
Detox centers provide medical support throughout the day. They are typically staffed 24/7, with medical professionals on-site and ready to help with emerging symptoms or medical events.
In addition, most detox centers provide some level of mental health support — either through group therapy, counseling, or structured activities that can help alleviate many of the psychological aspects of drug or alcohol withdrawal.
Safety and Security
Safety is the number one priority of medical detox centers in CT. While much of the focus is on helping prevent life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, this extends into other areas as well, such as keeping you safe from relapse or preventing you from experiencing triggers that may shake your confidence in recovery.
A detox center is often the first refuge people have away from a life of chronic substance use. They are designed to be warm, welcoming, and comfortable — and to be an entirely sober and drug-free environment.
Start Treatment at Connecticut Center for Recovery
Detox is only the first step in the path to recovery. It must be followed by evidence-based addiction treatment to produce lasting sobriety. At Connecticut Center for Recovery, we can help you find a medical detox center that caters to your specific needs and will be there to provide quality addiction treatment after you’ve overcome withdrawals.
To get started, call our team at (888) 387-5741 or fill out our confidential online contact form for more information. You don’t have to go through this alone; from the moment you call, we’ll support you every step of the way.
Sources:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/
[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526012/
