Understanding The Counseling Process

Understanding The Difference Between Natural, Medicated, And Medical Drug Detoxification

23 August 2016

Timmothy Washington

If you or a loved one has an addiction to any type of drug, the first step to recovery is to get the substance out of your body. This is referred to as the detoxification process. Depending on the substance and severity of the addiction, your counselor will determine whether you should undergo a natural, medicated, or medical program. To better understand what each entails, here are the basics of each program.

Natural

A natural drug detoxification program should be done in some type of facility, or you should have some type of medical supervision while detoxifying. This approach involves quitting the drug cold turkey. Simply put, you get up one morning and just stop using the drug completely. You will go through withdrawals. How soon and how bad the symptoms are will depend on how long, how much, and how often you used the drug. Common symptoms can include:

• Nausea
• Tremors
• Mood swings
• Vomiting
• Insomnia
• Bone pain
• Muscle aches
• Sweating

The need for supervision is due to the fact that you may also experience life-threatening symptoms such as a heart attack or stroke, or you may have hallucinations that cause you to do something dangerous.

Medicated

Medicated detoxification is done with non-addicting medications to ease the withdrawal symptoms. This program is done under medical supervision too. As the different symptoms begin, you will be given some type of medical intervention to keep you from suffering as much as a natural detox program. A few examples include giving you a non-addictive sedative to help you sleep or other medicine. Keep in mind that you will still have the symptoms, and some may not be alleviated much, but it will still be more comfortable than having no medicines.

Medical

A medical detoxification program involves taking a prescription drug to replace the one you are addicted to. However, these drugs are strictly monitored, and you will be required to follow all regulations to continue to receive them. This approach takes a lot more time than the other two and you will not need constant medical supervision. Where natural and medicated programs will be shorter, you will not go about your normal life until the programs are complete. When you are going through a medical detox program, you will stay at home and continue to go to work and live your normal life. However, you will need to see your doctor and counselor regularly. You will be slowly weaned off all medications as your need for the drugs diminish.

Drug detoxification is not going to be easy, but is the first step to overcoming your addiction after admitting you have a problem. Talk with a counselor to discuss which method will work best for you. For more information, contact local professionals like those found at Evergreen Recovery Centers.

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