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Is My Loved One Safe in a Medical Detox in Texas?

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A family member struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) is incredibly challenging to watch. You just want them to stop and heal. Yet, when a person with a physical dependency on a substance stops using it, their body reacts. Pain, emotional turmoil, and intense physical symptoms create a high-risk situation. So, you may be wondering, is detox from drugs safe?

At The Ranch at Dove Tree, we offer our clients a medically supervised detox program. That means there is always medical support available to monitor and support your family member through the detoxification process.

What Is Medical Detox and Why It Is Necessary

Detox is the process by which a person’s body eliminates toxins from the bloodstream and tissues. In a medical detox, a licensed medical provider oversees the process, allowing the patient to undergo it within a controlled environment. Most often, this means that a physician will oversee the program, while nurses, clinical staff members, and therapists will provide ongoing oversight.

Medical detox is necessary in situations where the risks of the withdrawal process could create unsafe complications. If you are physically dependent on a substance, that typically means your body will have significant symptoms, called withdrawal symptoms, when you stop using that substance. This happens in numerous situations, including:

  • You used a substance for a very long time.
  • You are using the substance in a large amount at one time.
  • You tried to stop using the substance in the past and could not do so.
  • The amount of substance being used continues to increase to reach the same high desired.
  • When not using the substance, intense cravings occur, often to the point where nothing else is important.

In these situations, the body’s physical chemistry is dependent on that substance. When you stop using it, the brain reacts with these negative symptoms, as if it is encouraging you to seek out that substance again.

Drugs That May Cause Serious Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal can be dangerous in numerous situations. It is especially dangerous the longer the person uses a substance, as their body has become so accustomed to it that it has to relearn to function without that substance. As noted, continuous substance exposure makes withdrawal symptoms more likely. However, the type of symptoms and their intensity also depend on the substance itself.

In the detoxification process, the goal is to minimize and prevent the onset of withdrawal symptoms. It also enables providers to react in case adverse conditions become dangerous to the person’s health.

Consider the following substances that often cause serious withdrawal symptoms:

  • Alcohol: A person using alcohol for a very long time may experience changes to body temperature, a faster heart rate, increased blood pressure, and tremors when they stop using it. Some also suffer from hallucinations and seizures.
  • Benzodiazepines: These substances often help with seizures and anxiety relief in controlled doses. However, long-term use increases the risk of withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, hallucinations, anxiety, and seizures.
  • Opioids: A commonly prescribed pain medication, opioids create a high risk of dependency with continued use. When a person stops using them, the risk of muscle aches and pains increases, with some suffering intense bouts of nausea and vomiting.
  • Cocaine and methamphetamine: These substances are stimulants when misused, which means they rev up your body’s functions, including the brain. When you strip that access away, it can create a high risk of depression and suicidal thoughts.

There is often the risk of serious withdrawal symptoms that include seizures, heart attacks, emotional breakdowns, and mental health collapse. That is what is scary about the detox process.

How a Medical Detox Program Protects Your Family

As worrisome as detox can feel, in a medical detox program, there is an incredible amount of protection. Depending on the drug type, medications may be available to ease withdrawal symptoms or eliminate some risks. In other cases, your loved one’s doctor may prescribe medications that mimic the drug’s effects long enough to ease the brain away from the toxic substance.

In the event something bad does happen, there is no safer place for your loved one to be than in a medical center where they can react immediately. Drug addiction is a very complicated disease, and one that often involves numerous risks to health and well-being, including the withdrawal process.

Let Our Team Help You Get the Necessary Support

When your family member is struggling under the intensity of addiction, treatment is available at The Ranch at Dove Tree. When your loved one is here, they will receive exceptional attention to their individual needs. Let us help you. Contact us now to learn more.

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