Detox, as a process, is little understood by those without personal experience of it. The average person expects it to be uncomfortable, perhaps even painful, but overall they see it as little more than just a protracted process of quitting. Much like someone who’s had a cup of coffee every morning for years might feel empty for a while if they decided to cut it out of their routine, they know the addict will miss their substance abuse, but they hardly understand how truly dangerous it can be. But detox is a precarious time for the addict, one that requires proper observation and care to be done as safely and completely as possible.
That’s why it’s vital to understand the dangers of detoxing at home and why professional help is critical to ensure the addict’s success.
Under a layman’s understand of detox — that is, a simple process of choosing not to take drugs or consume alcohol and then utilizing willpower to stick to this choice — the idea of needing to do this in a clinical setting, rather than in the comfort one’s own home, may seem unnecessary, even overly precautious. Why go to a hospital or addiction treatment center and endure withdrawal in a strange place when you can do it in your own bed?
This conception of detox, however, shows a clear lack of understanding of withdrawal and how dangerous it can be to the addict’s health. Withdrawal from serious alcohol abuse, for instance, can carry serious symptoms, including tremors, nausea, sweating, vomiting, anxiety, headaches, auditory and visual disturbances and, of course, heavy cravings for alcohol. Within the first 48 to 72 hours, patients can even experience delirium tremens, or DT, which can include heavy shaking, agitation, confusion and the possibility of seizures.
Trying to undergo such a process at home with only a friend or family member to oversee things could be dangerous enough, particularly if the worst happened and a true medical emergency occurred. Trying to do it alone, without any supervision even from a concerned loved one, could be potentially fatal.
That’s why it’s so important to undergo detox in a safe, controlled environment with trained medical professionals available to ease you through the process and treat any serious medical issues that might occur. At Good Landing Recovery, patients can find just such an environment and professionals and be assured their safety and health are of paramount concern throughout the entire detox process.
Detox isn’t always going to be a life or death proposition, and it’s possible you could endure an uncomfortable detox experience at home without any serious side-effects. But the chance of health dangers should have any addict looking to try and detox nervous about doing it anywhere other than an accredited medical care facility with experience in detox cases.
By understanding the dangers of detoxing at home, the patient can acknowledge that professional help is critical to the process and seek out such help when the time comes. Good Landing can offer such help to the addict, and much more beyond that in a full addiction treatment program. Give them a call to get started today.