Start Your Recovery with Safe Drug Detox
When someone is addicted to drugs and wishes to overcome addiction, detoxification is a necessary first step towards recovery.
Detoxification, also known as detox, is the process of clearing the body of substances, such as drugs and alcohol, and managing any withdrawal symptoms that occur1 . This part of recovery sets the stage for therapy by ensuring that you are physically and emotionally fit and ready.
The drug detox process can seem daunting if you have become dependent on substances, but don’t let it become a hurdle in your recovery. Additionally, different medications and drugs carry unique risks–and can be dangerous to stop suddenly or on your own.
The most effective form of detox or withdrawal management is one that is medically supervised and supported by trained professionals, as it ensures the best–and safest– outcomes for your recovery.
At Castle Craig, we prioritise the safety and comfort of our patients, doing our best to support them from detox through to aftercare.
If you’re considering medical detox or looking into treatment for a loved one, call us today to learn more about our residential detox programme and how we can help you.
Table of Contents
Why Professional Drug Detox Is Necessary
Psychological and physical drug addiction can be difficult to manage on your own. The main goal of professional medical detox treatment is to ease the discomfort of withdrawal from drugs.
Drug withdrawal symptoms encompass a variety of physical risks and psychological challenges. These risks and challenges depend on the type of substance used, level of dependence and duration of misuse, but there are some common symptoms. 1
What are the Physical Withdrawal Symptoms from Drug Detox?
Common drug withdrawal symptoms include nausea and vomiting, aches and pains, difficulty sleeping and diarrhoea. However, the body adapts to the long-term presence of a drug, so severe drug withdrawal can occur during detox. The physical risks of severe withdrawal include:
- Raised blood pressure, heart rate and/or breathing rate
- Seizures
- Heart problems
- Respiratory issues.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), medically managed treatment is important during detox to help manage these physical risks and prevent loss of life.
What are the Psychological Withdrawal Symptoms from Drug Detox?
Common psychological symptoms and signs associated with drug withdrawal include1 :
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Restlessness, irritability or agitation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mood swings
- Intense cravings.
Aside from these symptoms, more severe psychological withdrawal symptoms such as paranoia, hallucinations and psychosis can occur. In such cases, patients may be transferred to hospital for specialist care. 1
These psychological challenges, while perhaps not as life-threatening as physical ones, pose a major problem as they can derail the recovery process by reducing motivation.
If you’ve decided to seek help, opting for treatment in a rehab facility may improve your chances of successful recovery. The physical risks of withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous and sudden, while the psychological challenges of withdrawal can offset your recovery.
Attempting to detox by yourself at home may lead to:
- Increased risk of relapse and overdose
- Lack of access to prescription medications or substitution treatments
- Lack of medical support and professional guidance.
Medically managed drug detox delivers emotional support, reduces physical discomfort and mitigates relapse and overdose risks.
Drug Detox Process and Timeline
One of the first questions many patients ask is, “How long does drug detox take?”.
The answer to this question depends on the substance used, how long it was used for and the level of dependence. The duration of detox can also be affected by a person’s motivation and their access to support and professional help. Typically, the detoxification process takes between a few days and a number of weeks to complete. 3
Medical detox at Castle Craig begins with a one-to-one assessment to determine the best course of treatment for you and your unique circumstances.
Once an appropriate course of action has been discussed and implemented, you may start to experience the effects of acute withdrawal. Acute withdrawal includes physical withdrawal symptoms and can be followed by signs of post-acute psychological withdrawal. In a professional detox setting, appropriately controlled medications may be given to help you cope with acute and post-acute withdrawal effects.
If acute and post-acute withdrawal isn’t carried out in a supervised setting, it can have dangerous health consequences or increase the chances of relapse.4
Research has shown that supportive care, engagement in social aspects of recovery and exposure to role models during the recovery journey can promote sustained abstinence.5 Professional medical detoxes offer consistent emotional and medical support and can present opportunities for engaging in aftercare activities following the withdrawal process.
Types of Drug Detox
Professional detoxification treatment can differ depending on the specific addictive drugs. Distinct substances can affect the body and mind in unique ways, so can present certain challenges during the withdrawal process.
Castle Craig specialises in delivering expert care and support during detoxification. We provide personalised, comprehensive approaches to detox and treatment which promote lasting sobriety. Our experienced teams provide medically supervised detox to support recovery from a range of drug addictions.
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Cannabis Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms
Detoxifying from cannabis is not typically life-threatening, but it can be a challenging process for people who are dependent on it.
Eliminating cannabis metabolites from the body can take several days to a couple of weeks, depending on physical dependence and heaviness of use. The early stages of cannabis withdrawal include symptoms such as headaches and gastrointestinal discomfort.
However, the psychological withdrawal symptoms of cannabis can persist for several weeks. These symptoms include intense drug cravings, mood changes, sleep disturbances, and restlessness, amongst others.
Attempting to detox from cannabis at home can pose challenges due to the unpleasant effects of withdrawal and access to the drug. Castle Craig’s cannabis detox treatment programmes can provide a secure and comfortable environment to support you during the withdrawal period.
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Cocaine Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms
When people choose to detox from cocaine, it takes time for their brains to adjust before delivering ‘feel-good’ chemicals again.
Cocaine detox may pose less physical risk than some other illicit drugs, but a ‘cocaine crash’ can cause psychological overwhelm and emotional damage. Common symptoms of psychological withdrawal include intense cravings, depression, anxiety, irritability and sleep disturbances, amongst other issues.
A medically supervised detox may therefore be the safest option for people looking to overcome addiction to cocaine. Cocaine detox at Castle Craig provides understanding, empathy and 24/7 medical monitoring to support patients on their unique journey to recovery.
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Heroin Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms
As heroin is a short-acting opioid drug, acute withdrawal symptoms can happen quickly and suddenly. Physical opioid withdrawal symptoms can be highly unpleasant, but with appropriate withdrawal management, they should not be life-threatening.
Heroin withdrawal can cause pain and discomfort and is often referred to as being similar to a severe flu. In severe cases, there is the risk of delirium and seizures. The psychological symptoms of heroin detox include intense cravings, anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia and inability to concentrate or make decisions.
Depending on the level of physical dependence, these post-acute withdrawal symptoms can last for periods up to months, and without professional management, they increase the risk of relapse–or even overdose.
Castle Craig’s heroin withdrawal treatments can provide assistance and support for anyone considering heroin detox.
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Benzodiazepine Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms
Benzodiazepines can be short or long-acting drugs. Short-acting benzodiazepine withdrawal can start several hours after stopping the drug. However, long-acting benzodiazepine withdrawal can take up to three weeks to start.
Physical withdrawal symptoms of benzodiazepines include nausea, stomach cramps, sweating, loss of appetite, headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound, blurry vision and tinnitus. Severe, potentially life-threatening, withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepine detox include seizures, delirium tremens (DTs) and coma.
Psychological withdrawal symptoms of benzodiazepines include anxiety, depression, panic attacks, irritability, decision-making difficulties and insomnia.
Suddenly stopping benzodiazepines can be dangerous. Professional benzodiazepine detox helps to gradually reduce the drug from the body in a medically managed tapering process. This process reduces the risk of complications during withdrawal, promoting the best possible outcomes for patients. (1)
Castle Craig’s benzodiazepine detoxification programme offers professional support to anyone hoping to overcome benzodiazepine addiction.
Why Choose Castle Craig for Drug Detox?
Castle Craig is one of the UK’s leading residential addiction and detoxification treatment centres and has helped countless patients regain control of their lives.
With decades of experience in addiction treatment, our medical professionals offer 24/7 support in a secure and friendly environment. Our clinical team are committed to promoting the utmost safety and comfort throughout the medically supervised detox process.
At Castle Craig, we recognise detox as a crucial first step in overcoming addiction, but realise that this is not a standalone treatment. After withdrawal management, our team facilitates participation in a range of evidence-based therapies which target the psychological, emotional and behavioural aspects of addiction.
After completion of the detox phase, a seamless transition to the therapeutic phase of treatment begins. This phase of treatment, in a serene, private and distraction-free environment means that people overcoming addiction only have to focus on one thing–their recovery.
All of our treatment services are compliant with guidelines set by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and we are regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and inspected by Intertek ISO 9001.
Our Drug Detox Specialists
Begin Your Journey to Recovery at Castle Craig
Safety and comfort are at the forefront of our detox treatment, with personalised care plans that focus on each patient’s unique needs and circumstances.
Contact us today to find out how we can support you on your journey to recovery.
Related Guides on Medically Managed Residential Detox
Alcohol | Drugs | Cocaine | Heroin | Crystal Meth | Valium | Tramadol | Benzodiazepines | Xanax
Important Drug Detox FAQ’s
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What does it mean to detox from drugs?
Detox, also known as withdrawal management, is the process in which all traces of drugs and alcohol are removed from the body, allowing for optimum physical health before therapeutic interventions.
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What are the withdrawal symptoms of drug addiction?
The withdrawal symptoms of drug addiction can vary depending on a variety of factors, including the substance taken, duration of use and the general health of the individual.
However, drug withdrawal commonly includes physical and psychological symptoms.1
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What is the process of drug detoxification?
Medically supervised detox programmes, like the one at Castle Craig, typically involve an initial medical assessment to formulate a personalised treatment plan. Following this, specialist teams can offer support and care whilst managing withdrawal symptoms. Patients then transition to evidence-based treatment services after the detox process has been completed.
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What happens when you stop taking a drug?
If you have developed dependence on a substance and the amount of this drug is reduced or stopped, you will typically experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the substance, duration of use, your physical and mental health and the method of withdrawal, these symptoms can range from mild to severe.
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References
- World Health Organization (WHO). Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009.
- Sadock BJ, Sadock VA, Ruiz P. Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry: Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry. 11th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2015.
- Diaper AM, Law FD, Melichar JK. Pharmacological strategies for detoxification. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2014;77(2): 302-14.
- West R. Theory of Addiction. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing; 2006.
- Best D, Lubman DI. The recovery paradigm – a model of hope and change for alcohol and drug addiction. Aust Fam Physician. 2012;41(8): 593-7.
Experts You Can Trust
With a wealth of knowledge and services to help you regain control of your life, request a call-back from one of our professionals today. The choice you make today could change your life forever.