If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, your doctor may have recommended enrolling in a medically supervised rehab program. Undergoing a detox is one of the first steps towards treating an alcohol or substance use disorder. The detox process allows you to manage withdrawal symptoms like cravings, irritation, palpitations, and even seizures. This, in turn, is how you adhere to the recovery process without experiencing painful symptoms.
Outpatient Vs Medically Supervised Detox Programs
You can undergo a detox in two main ways: inpatient and outpatient therapy. The first is medically supervised program that takes place in a hospital or rehab facility. You’ll be supervised by medical professionals to avoid complications and manage withdrawal symptoms.
In an outpatient detox, you’ll be detoxing at home and checking in with healthcare professionals at a rehab facility every week. Though you will receive some support, there’s little control over the type of environment you’ll be in. Another type of detox is to quit cold turkey, but medical experts agree that it’s highly unsafe.
Why A Cold Turkey Detox is Unsafe
When you have a drug or alcohol use disorder, your brain learns to complete most functions despite ever-increasing levels of toxic substances. When you suddenly stop taking the substance, whether it’s alcohol or drugs, it has significant effects on how your brain responds to normal stimuli. And when you’re in that state, it leads to what we call ‘withdrawal,’ such as shaky hands, insomnia, sweating, and nausea.
By stopping cold turkey, you’re at risk of experiencing dangerous withdrawal symptoms like hallucinations or seizures about 12 to 24 hours later – this is the brain trying to get used to life without the substance. With medically supervised rehabilitation, you can be sure that when you experience similar symptoms, you’ll receive a combination of medical support and therapeutic intervention.
1. Better Addiction Treatment
One of the first benefits of getting a medically supervised detox is that it improves your substance abuse treatment. That’s because it has various additions that aren’t a part of outpatient programs, like medical care, therapy, and medication for withdrawal symptoms. Let’s go over each of these:
Safe Withdrawal Management
In any addiction, the body develops a tolerance to the substance, so it becomes impossible to function without it. When you stop taking alcohol or any addictive substance, the body experiences withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, and muscle cramps. In some cases, people even experience seizures and hallucinations, a subclass of severe withdrawal symptoms called delirium tremens. Experiencing these symptoms at home, without any support, can be dangerous, which is why medical supervision is recommended. It ensures that you’re safe during potentially life-threatening symptoms.
Symptom Relief
Another common symptom among people detoxing is an increased craving for alcohol or the specific substance they’re addicted to. Unfortunately, it’s possible that you may still have drugs or alcohol at home, making it difficult to ensure a complete detox. Many people fail during this step of the recovery process because they relapse after experiencing withdrawal symptoms and cravings. At a detox facility, healthcare professionals can prescribe medications to ease cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms.
Therapeutic and Medical Support
At a clinic, you don’t just detox from alcohol and other addictive substances. You also receive a combination of medical care and therapy, which improves the likelihood of a successful detox. Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure, temperature, and other vital signs while preventing issues like dehydration or seizures. Meanwhile, mental health support from behavioural therapists can help you understand triggers, develop coping strategies and prevent relapse.
2. Provides Comprehensive Care
Compared to outpatient setups, inpatient clinics offer comprehensive care for their detox programs. The focus goes beyond detox and ensuring your overall well-being.
Holistic Treatment
Unlike traditional outpatient settings that only adopt a medical approach towards treatment, medically supervised detox programs take a holistic approach. So, they don’t just address the physical aspects of recovery but psychological and behavioural aspects, too. So, you can expect more than medical detox and psychotherapy sessions. During your stay, treatment professionals will ensure mind, body, and spiritual wellness through methods like meditation, fitness programs, and nutritional counselling.
Personalised Plans
Another benefit of enrolling in a medically supervised detox is that they take a personalized approach to treatment. Addiction specialists tailor your treatment plans according to your individual needs. For instance, you may struggle with high blood pressure, diabetes, or a co-occurring mental disorder. In this case, your plan may also include ensuring you get medication for co-occurring health concerns or mental health conditions. Similarly, you may have mobility issues or problems of chronic pain. A personalised approach is how you receive appropriate care, with adjustments being made as needed.
Access To Specialists
When you’re detoxing at home, various problems can go unnoticed because a medical professional isn’t monitoring you every day. At a residential detox setup, you can see a psychiatrist, therapist, and addiction counselor in addition to medical staff. They can detect co-occurring issues like eating disorders and excessive stress and incorporate management strategies to ensure a successful detox and treatment process.
3. Improves Recovery Outcomes
Addiction specialists at a residential detox facility don’t just help you detox before sending you home. Instead, the goal is to strengthen your chances of recovery by managing other issues that could cause a relapse.
Improved Physical Health
One of the first ways that medical supervision during detox can improve recovery outcomes is by ensuring physical recovery. Medical professionals can help manage withdrawal symptoms with nutrition, hydration, and medication. This reduces the risk of complications like heart issues, seizures, or dehydration, which weaken your physical health and make you less resilient. And when you’re less resilient, you’re at risk of relapsing to reduce discomfort.
Mental Clarity
Addiction can take a toll on your cognitive abilities, making it harder to engage with therapy and commit to a sober life. It’s quite common for people to abandon recovery due to cravings or emotional instability. By adhering to a medically supervised detox process, you go through controlled withdrawal instead of quitting cold turkey. This gradual process is less likely to cause withdrawal, which makes it harder for you to commit to long-term treatment. For instance, confusion, depression, and anxiety.
Higher Success Rate
Seeking addiction treatment at a residential facility can lead to a higher success rate. This is partly thanks to its controlled environment, which ensures that you don’t have access to drugs or alcohol at your most vulnerable time. It’s also because of the ongoing support you receive to help you reintegrate into society. With professional help, you can eventually transition into long-term treatment. Meanwhile, a lack of supervision would increase the likelihood of relapse as you try to self-medicate, making it harder to achieve long-term sobriety.
4. Medication Management
A major benefit of medically supervised rehab is that you’re prescribed medication to improve your adherence to therapy. Over the course of treatment, professionals provide long-term support and ensure safe administration for sustainable recovery.
Long-Term Support
In a medically supervised rehab program, you’ll continue taking medication for addiction and co-occurring mental health issues. This means you’ll be treated for addiction and mental health problems like major depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders, or psychosis. Common examples include prescribing benzodiazepines for alcohol withdrawal or methadone for opioid detox. Both medications can manage withdrawal and reduce cravings so you can transition comfortably into therapy and seek long-term treatment, reducing the chances of a relapse.
Safe Administration
While prescribing medication can certainly make detox programs more effective, there’s a potential for misuse without adequate supervision. For instance, self-administering detox medication can lead to an accidental overdose or even a dependence on the substance. When you’re medically supervised at a detox facility, there’s a much lower risk of this happening. Moreover, medical professionals can monitor your dosage and adjust medications so you don’t overdose, become dependent, or experience adverse reactions.
5. Better Emotional Health
Being under medical supervision during detox means that the facility will offer emotional and psychological benefits as well. In the long run, these can support your recovery and keep you on the path to sobriety.
Confidence in Recovery
With professional guidance during detox, you feel reassured that you can manage withdrawal symptoms safely with help from professionals around you. This reduces feelings of fear and self-doubt while increasing confidence in your ability to complete the detox and move forward with further treatment.
Peace of Mind
Oftentimes, stressful situations in everyday life and an unsupportive environment are what result in a relapse among people undergoing detox. This can include living or working in places where alcohol and drugs are easily accessible. With medically supervised detox, you can find peace of mind while staying in a structured and stable environment that’s conducive to treatment. This encourages you to engage in therapy and make informed decisions on your recovery journey.
Motivation for Treatment
A lack of safety and support during detox can make it harder to continue with therapy and commit to long-term sobriety. It can make you feel as though a life of sobriety isn’t possible. Meanwhile, a safe, stable, and supportive space can prove that recovery is possible. This is because you’ll have access to support staff and counsellors who make sure you feel supported and heard, so you feel less alone and are committed to therapy. When you stay at a medically supervised detox facility, you’re also likely to have a stable mood, which reduces emotional distress and keeps you on track.
6. Independence and Quality of Life
Another benefit of medically supervised detox programs is that they help you become independent and improve your quality of life. They do this by restoring your physical and mental functionality and helping you regain control over your everyday life.
Restoring Functionality
One of the ways that enrolling in medically supervised detox restores your functionality is by eliminating your physical dependence on substances. When you gradually eliminate alcohol or other addictive substances from your body, you’re no longer physically dependent on it. As your body recovers, you regain strength and an improved sense of well-being. This allows you to engage in work, relationships, and everyday responsibilities much more effectively.
It also makes a significant difference in brain functions because the effects of alcohol and drugs impair your focus and decision-making. A gradual and thorough detox will help you focus better, make informed decisions, and regulate your emotions, allowing you to rebuild your personal and professional life.
Return To Normalcy
Another advantage of enrolling in a medically supervised rehabilitation program is that it encourages a return to normalcy. It sets the foundation for long-term recovery by helping you adjust to a routine so you can transition to outpatient care, therapy and employment without needing to take addictive substances. At the same time, it stabilises your emotions and behaviour so you can work on repairing strained relationships with family and friends – an important step in creating a supportive environment. After all, recovery is about more than just becoming sober; it’s about reclaiming a fulfilling and independent life.
7. Prevents Complications
Many individuals experience complications in finishing the detox program because of cravings or stressful situations. Being under medical supervision can prevent such issues by helping you avoid relapse and addressing underlying issues that fueled your addiction.
Avoiding Relapse With Structured Environments
When you live in an unpredictable environment, a lack of stability and safety can make it harder to focus on recovery. In that moment, alcohol or drugs can seem like the only way to self-medicate and relieve your stress. Enrolling in a residential rehab facility can provide a structured environment that’s conducive to recovery by eliminating your access to substances.
You’ll have regular sessions with therapists to deal with emotional triggers using effective techniques, preparing you for long-term sobriety. Moreover, you’ll have a specific schedule that includes meals, therapy, and medical check-ins to help you stay focused on recovery.
Addressing Underlying Issues
Over the course of medically supervised detox, you’ll also receive simultaneous support for co-existing health conditions or injuries. One common example is that it offers non-addictive pain management options, reducing the risk of patients returning to alcohol and other addictive substances for pain relief.
Similarly, you have the opportunity to address co-occurring mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, and depression, which are common precursors or occur as a result of addiction.
Should I Choose a Medically Supervised Rehab Program?
If you’re physically dependent on alcohol or any other addictive substance, i.e. you can’t function without it, then you should undergo a medically supervised detox. Detoxing on your own can result in serious cravings that cause you to relapse quickly or severe physical symptoms that require urgent medical attention. Here’s what you can expect
Initial Assessment
It starts with an initial assessment in which professionals ask about your substance use habits, medical history, and other health information. This is important for determining whether you’re eligible for a residential rehab program and creating an individualised treatment plan.
Withdrawal Management
At the start of your detox process, a team of medical professionals will help manage your symptoms by relieving discomfort and pain. This is when you’ll receive medication to manage dangerous symptoms and reduce the intensity of cravings.
Therapy and Support
While your body detoxes from alcohol during the medically supervised program, mental health professionals will also implement emotional motivation strategies through therapy sessions. These are designed to encourage and motivate you during a crucial part of recovery.
Comfortable Amenities
While you’re in a medically supervised rehabilitation program, you’ll receive comfortable amenities in a quiet and secure environment. These include private and semi-private rooms, nutritionally balanced meals, and fitness amenities.
Choose a Trusted Medically Supervised Rehab For Detox
Considering the benefits listed, you should enrol in a medically supervised rehabilitation program for the best chance at recovery. Of course, it’s important to remember that not all of them are built the same. When selecting one program over the rest, you should evaluate its accreditation and staff qualifications.
It’s important that the program has licensed healthcare professionals on board, such as doctors, therapists, and nurses, who follow individualised treatment plans. Not to mention, the best types of programs will offer continued support after you complete the initial rehab program, so you can expect follow-up appointments, support group meetings, and outpatient therapy.