Medical Detox in Hackensack, NJ – (201) 450-9668

There are many ways to overcome a drug addiction, from extensive medical treatments through to counseling, 12-step programs, and behavioral therapies. Medical detox often takes place at the outset of the treatment process, including the administration of medications to help manage and alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Medical detox is the process and experience of drug withdrawal under medical supervision, with different drugs prescribed according to the substance and extent of addiction. Medical detox clinics can be found throughout Hackensack and across the United States, both in commercial rehab facilities and private hospitals. If you need to access professional treatment for a drug or alcohol problem, it’s important to contact Hackensack Drug Treatment Centers.  

What is Withdrawal?

Withdrawal describes the set of symptoms experienced by drug and alcohol dependent people when they stop or dramatically reduce their drug consumption. Different psychoactive substances are associated with different types of withdrawal symptoms, some of which are physical-somatic in nature and others of which are emotional-motivational. Medical detox is the process of managing specific withdrawal symptoms in a safe and effective manner, often with the help of medications. While natural and “cold turkey” detox programs are also used in some situations, slow and steady medical detox is widely believed to be the safest and most effective way to withdraw from problematic drugs. In order to understand why withdrawal symptoms present themselves, it’s important to understand more about the nature of drug dependence and addiction.

What is Drug Addiction?

Drug addiction involves the compulsive use of psychoactive drugs despite the existence of negative consequences. People can become physically and psychologically dependent on a range of problematic drugs, including alcohol, prescription medications, and street drugs. While dependence typically involves the existence of tolerance and a physical withdrawal syndrome, addiction is also recognized by psychological symptoms such as drug cravings, uncontrolled use patterns, and an inability to reduce consumption levels. Drug addiction is a learned behavior that normally develops over an extended period of time, with people often abusing drugs before becoming addicted to them. A withdrawal syndrome is experienced when drug intake is abruptly stopped after the body and brain have become accustomed to drug exposure.  

Medications Used During Medical Detox   

A range of medications can be applied during detox depending on the substance and extent of addiction. Central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as alcohol, opiates, and benzodiazepines are more likely to produce physical withdrawal symptoms upon drug discontinuation, with medical intervention typically recommended. Methadone or buprenorphine are often prescribed to help manage opiate withdrawal, both in the early stages of detox and throughout extended pharmacotherapy programs. Benzodiazepine medications are often prescribed for alcoholism and sedative dependence, including the long half-life drugs Valium and Serax. While CNS stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine do not typically respond well to medication, certain drugs may be applied to promote sleep and help stabilize patients prior to rehab. If you know anyone who is living with a drug addiction, please call Hackensack Drug Treatment Centers at (201) 450-9668 today.  [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]