The road to recovery from substance abuse is challenging. It requires you to put your life on hold, at least temporarily, as you focus on your health. The first part of that journey is detox from drugs and alcohol. But how long does detox takes? And does it mean you’re recovered?
Detox is a process that follows its own timeline, based on the reaction and response of your body. During detox, you are provided with close medical supervision to make sure you stay safe and comfortable. Some withdrawal symptoms in detox can become so severe that it puts your life in jeopardy.
How long detox takes will depend on how well your body readjusts to a world without alcohol or drugs. It can be an unpredictable road. But with the right support, you can come out stronger.
Detailing the Detox Process
The underlying principle of detox is that if you continue to drink and use drugs, your ability to get through counseling in a positive, trouble-free way is greatly impeded. Medical detox seeks to fix the physical side of addiction first. This gets the drugs and alcohol out of your system so you can look at yourself in a clear-headed way.
The most effective form of detox is on an inpatient basis. You will have round-the-clock professionals monitoring your condition. Withdrawal symptoms can be both physical and psychological. Some of the common signs of withdrawal include:
- Fatigue or exhaustion
- Nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
- Fevers
- Alarming dreams
- Paranoia
- Confusion
- Anxiety
As you can see, detox can come with symptoms that run the gamut. Your detox care team provides the skills that help you past those difficult moments.
How Long Does Detox Take?
As we said earlier, it’s hard to give a single answer to how long detox takes. Everyone is a little different. Not only that, but specific drugs also work in different ways.
For example, sedatives can produce withdrawal symptoms within two days of the last dose. But the symptoms can carry on longer for two to four weeks.
Opioid detox has withdrawal typically starting within 8 to 24 hours of the last use, lasting from four to 10 and even 20 days. Alcohol starts causing problems within 6 to 24 hours and may last as much as 10 days.
Detox functionally will last until the drugs or alcohol are out of your system. Only at this point, you are physically stable to move on with recovery.
Other Facets of Recovery
Detox is step one on your journey to a sober life. What follows is the hard work of individual and group counseling. Counseling is aimed at helping you look inward, to understand how the substance abuse problem began.
Another goal of counseling is to help you develop better coping skills. The pressures of life can drag any of us into a substance abuse situation. It’s how we deal with life’s curveballs that make the biggest difference.
Therapy could involve non-traditional activities over the long term, such as recreational therapy used to embrace the outdoors as a way of refreshing your perspective.
Once counseling concludes, the aftercare services begin. You may still receive outpatient counseling and you’ll be encouraged to attend 12-step support programs.
Find the Help You Deserve
The best way to get a more accurate answer to how long detox takes is to contact Midwest Detox Center’s experts. When you contact us, you can get a better estimate based on your unique situation.
The path through recovery is different for every individual. It’s difficult to predict how your body will react to the withdrawal stage. That’s why it’s smart to have professionals on your side every step of the way. The care team at Midwest Detox Center understands the needs of people going through detox and can orient you to the next stages of your recovery.
Your needs are our first concern. Call a detox specialist today at 833.647.0392 to get started on your recovery.
