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Alcohol and Drug Detox

Alcohol and Drug Detox

Some people put off addiction treatment because they’re afraid of drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. The truth is side effects from alcohol and drug detox are much more tolerable when you undergo them at a medical detox center. It’s when you detox at home and stop alcohol and other drugs cold turkey that your risk increases for the very painful, dangerous, and deadly withdrawal symptoms that you fear.

Medical Detox

Vogue Recovery Center offers detox services in addition to evidence-based addiction treatment. With primary locations in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Phoenix, Arizona, addiction specialists can work alongside you or a loved one to pursue long-term recovery.

If you need detox services, you are in capable and caring hands at Vogue Recovery Center.

What is Medical Detox?

During drug and alcohol detox, the body flushes out the harmful substances and toxins from the drugs you’ve used. This process can be intense and dangerous, depending on factors like:

  • The amount of drugs or alcohol you abuse
  • How long you’ve been misusing substances
  • Your physical makeup
  • Co-occurring medical conditions

Supported alcohol and drug detox is necessary so medical professionals can intervene if you experience life-threatening drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Detox specialists can ease pain and intense cravings. Quitting cold turkey at home is not recommended due to the potential danger of stopping the use of a dangerous substance abruptly.

Signs and Symptoms of Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal

Medical DetoxAlcohol and drug detox can be a grueling ordeal to endure on your own. Without medical interventions, the effects of withdrawal can cause extensive physical pain and psychological distress. It doesn’t get any easier with repeated detoxes. The more frequently you go through alcohol and drug detox, the higher the risk is for complications during the process. That’s why it’s imperative to enter an addiction treatment program after the detox process to prevent relapse.

Depending on the substance, your drug and alcohol abuse history, and physical make-up, withdrawal symptoms will vary and may include:

  • Body aches and pain
  • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
  • Mood swings and irritability
  • Psychosis
  • Hallucinations
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Dehydration
  • Seizures
  • Delirium tremens

What Is Alcohol and Drug Detox Like?

In the care of medical professionals, the process of detoxification is safer and much more tolerable than trying to quit cold turkey at home. Physicians prescribe medications to help ease withdrawal from alcohol and drugs, and medical staff monitor your comfort and safety 24/7. Many detox centers provide private or semi-private rooms for detox to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

Drugs like heroin and opioid painkillers present a painful set of withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal is also intense, with potentially the most dangerous detox timeline. The detox process, when conducted safely, is not typically life-threatening. However, in cases with medical complications, opioid withdrawals are severe and potentially deadly.

Tranquilizers and sedative drugs like benzodiazepines and barbiturates often require a slow tapering down of dosages until a full withdrawal can occur safely. In most sedative detox cases, the patient has been using more than one drug, so detox addresses all substances concurrently.

How Long is Medical Detox?

The time it takes to detox differs for everyone. Typically, a person will endure two to seven days of clearing substances from the body. Withdrawal symptoms may be mild to severe, depending on:

  • How long you’ve abused substances
  • The substances you’ve abused
  • The severity of your drug or alcohol addiction
  • Your physical health
  • Co-occurring medical conditions

Medical detox usually lasts from 3 to 11 days. If you have a complicated case or require a larger detox, check with the facility to ensure there is availability. The most important factor is to make sure you can safely detox from your substance of choice before moving on to the next step in your recovery from addiction.

During your intake interview, the intake specialist will be able to give you a better idea of the time you will spend in medical detox.

When is Medical Detox Needed?

The two main classes of drugs most treated in medical drug detox are stimulants and depressants. Each class has a unique set of addictive effects on the user and a unique set of withdrawal symptoms during detox.

Medical DetoxThe specific symptoms vary by type of drug, and the severity of the symptoms depends on individual circumstances, including:

  • Length and severity of drug use/abuse
  • Pre-existing medical conditions, such as heart, liver, or lung disease
  • Co-occurring mental health issues (dual diagnosis), such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and PTSD

Some of the drugs that commonly require medical detox are:

  • Opioids
  • Heroin
  • Alcohol
  • Meth
  • Cocaine
  • Fentanyl
  • Prescription drugs like benzodiazepines & sedative-hypnotics

Most addictive substances have their own set of withdrawal symptoms, and some can be life-threatening without medical assistance and supervision. Although the goal of a drug detox program is to rid the body of substances and their toxins, the process can vary significantly depending on what drugs are in the system.

Alcohol and drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and prescription drugs, alter the brain in ways that make quitting difficult outside a medical detox program. The FDA allows medication-assisted detox that helps you wean off a substance as opposed to quitting cold turkey.

Detox Medications

In some cases, the medical team overseeing your detox plan may prescribe a class of medications for your detox symptoms. Some clients find it helpful to utilize addiction medicines during detox to ease the symptoms of withdrawal or lower their cravings. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these medicines are only given to specific patients after being approved by a healthcare professional.

Self-Assessment: Am I Addicted?

What Happens After Detox?

Drug detox is the first step in recovery but not the last. Alcohol and drug detox programs safely remove substances from your system but do not address the underlying reasons behind the development of your addiction. Detox also doesn’t typically teach you healthy coping skills, which is why pursuing substance abuse treatment following a detox is crucial.

alcohol effects on the body

With treatment, you gain additional support as you begin a path toward long-term recovery and develop healthy coping skills to use in the real world. Drug rehab provides the tools, education, and skills to help prevent relapse.

Detox Program Locations

Vogue Recovery Center has three unique locations that provide detox services. Our medical detox program in Phoenix, Arizona, is staffed with caring healthcare professionals who provide 24/7 support in a home-like setting.

At our Las Vegas, Nevada location, program participants can undergo a supported detox experience, transitional living, and extended stay residential programs.

The Los Angeles Vogue Recovery Center location admits just six clients at a time to allow for discreet and customized detox and addiction treatment.

dessert of nevada

Las Vegas, NV

Los Angeles, CA

Phoenix Arizona residential; rehab facilityDoes Insurance Cover Detox?

Most insurances cover all or a portion of alcohol detox and drug detox. The Affordable Care Act provides expanded access and coverage for treatment and detox and requires insurance to cover rehab services similarly to treatment for physical ailments. Detox related to a substance use disorder is considered a “medical necessity,” which means insurance benefits should apply to it.

Insurance policies can vary in how they cover members who require medically assisted detox, so the best way to determine out-of-pocket costs is to call us.
Our admissions team will work directly with your insurance to provide you with an estimate.

Private insurance or self-pay, we’ll work with you.

TriWest

Enduring detox and recovery is not a process to take lightly. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction issues that require medical detox services, contact us at Vogue Recovery Services now. You are worthy of living a healthy and fulfilling life in recovery, no matter your story.

Detox FAQ

Alcohol detox is unpredictable, as there is no exact science behind who will experience severe withdrawal symptoms, though advanced age and medical history play a significant role. The most severe symptoms present between 24-72 hours after the last alcoholic beverage.

Opioid detox involves uncomfortable symptoms but is generally not life-threatening with proper detox support. Often, withdrawal symptoms become the main reason for continued drug-seeking behavior, as taking more drugs can prevent painful withdrawal symptoms.

Fentanyl, as a type of opioid, involves detox symptoms similar to those of other opioids with a painful withdrawal experience.

Meth is a stimulant drug that has the potential to have significant withdrawal effects if usage is stopped suddenly. The first 24-48 hours of meth detox are the most crucial due to the “crash” effect that is common among users.

Heroin is a short-acting opioid, meaning that withdrawal effects start quickly. Heroin detox supports symptoms, which peak around 24-36 hours and begin to subside after 72 hours of the detox process.

Benzo detox involves tapering the dosage of long-acting benzos slowly over time under medical supervision. Depending on the length and severity of the benzo use, this process can take several days or weeks.

Cocaine is a stimulant that carries the potential for intense psychological dependence. Cocaine detox symptoms can peak a few hours after a person stops using the drug and can continue for another few days.

Medical detox is a safe and effective process for helping eliminate drugs and alcohol from your body. Vital signs, like heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature, are closely monitored by a medical team during every step of the detox process to ensure you are safe.

VRC offers several levels of care. Our clinicians work with you to determine the most appropriate treatment after detox. Inpatient or residential treatment is available for more intensive treatment needs. Outpatient options include partial hospitalization programs (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP).

VRC has three locations in Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Los Angeles, California. Each location offers medical support and expert care for individuals needing a safe place to endure drug or alcohol detox.

At VRC, we’ll personalize your treatment plan for your needs. We use a wide range of therapies and approaches that help mend the emotional, physical, and spiritual wounds of addiction.

Therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), mindfulness and meditation, yoga, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), psychiatry, art therapy, and music therapy. These therapies are available in individual, group, and family therapy formats.

Dual diagnosis is a term used to describe the combination of a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health issue, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or PTSD. VRC offers treatment for dual diagnosis to treat the whole person rather than addiction and mental health disorders separately.

Don’t Wait to Get Help

Addiction won’t go away on its own. Take the first step to a better life. Call us today.

Kelsey Jones

Medically Reviewed by Kelsey Jones, MS, LPC