Drug Detox in Tyler, TX
Drug detox in Tyler is a treatment for drug abuse that involves using medications and therapy to help a person go through drug and/or alcohol withdrawals. When a person experiences a drug addiction, their brain becomes addicted to the substance.
What is Drug Detox?
Drugs and/or alcohol have, by definition, psychoactive effects on the brain that can change its chemistry. When a person stops abusing drugs, they can experience side effects because the body is unaccustomed to being without the drug. Similar effects can happen if a person is taking medicine to lower their blood pressure, then suddenly stops taking the medicine.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), drug detox is the first step in helping a person become sober. The aim of drug detox is to "safely manage the physical symptoms of withdrawal." This can be through assuring an individual that the symptoms they are experiencing are normal, keeping them safe, and encouraging a person to continue through the most acute effects. Other services associated with the drug detox process include administering medications to reduce the likelihood of drug withdrawals as well as prevent the likelihood that relapse will occur.
Examples of medications that might be administered when a person is going through drug detox include anti-nausea medications and anti-seizure medications, such as lorazepam (Ativan) or alprazolam (Valium). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved the use of the medications buprenorphine (Suboxone) and methadone for the treatment of opioid withdrawals.
Examples of opioids include heroin, oxycodone, morphine, Dilaudid, and hydrocodone. These medications reduce the euphoric effects of taking painkilling medications while still blocking the opioid receptors. A person who abuses alcohol can also take the medication disulfiram (Antabuse). This medication will make a person feel very ill if they start drinking again.
Withdrawal Symptoms Associated With Drug Detox
Because each drug and/or alcohol affects different receptors on the brain, the effects of withdrawals can vary based on the common symptoms of abuse. For example, cocaine is an addictive substance known as an amphetamine. It stimulates the central nervous system, causing a person to feel more alert and also to generate feelings of euphoria. When a person experiences cocaine withdrawal, they can have symptoms that include:
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Feelings of being extremely sleepy
- Agitation
- Extreme suspicion and/or paranoia of others
Sometimes a person withdrawing from cocaine can also experience feelings of depression and even suicidal thoughts. Because of these serious symptoms, it is important that a person seek treatment at a drug and alcohol detox center. There is absolutely nothing fun about suffering from withdrawal. Our many treatment methods for drug withdrawal in Tyler are what sets us apart from most other treatment centers.
Alcohol withdrawals are an example of an addiction that can cause severe health effects when a person goes through alcohol withdrawal treatment. Examples of alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Anxiety
- Difficulty thinking clearly
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Nightmares
- Tremors or muscle shaking
- Sweating
Sometimes alcohol withdrawals can cause a severe syndrome known as the delirium tremens or the DTs. These symptoms include agitation, high body temperature, hallucinations, and extreme confusion. A person may also experience seizures, which can have deadly effects if left untreated.
Why Should I Enter a Center for Drug Detox in Tyler?
Knowing exactly what symptoms a person will experience when they go through the drug detox process are difficult to predict even for the most expert drug addiction specialist. However, at drug detox in Tyler, professionals are prepared to treat any symptoms and side effects that a person may experience.
If a person tries to go through the drug detox process alone, they may not be aware of the symptoms they could experience and when they are expected to end. As a result, they may give up and relapse, just as they are about to go through the worst of the withdrawal process. Sometimes a person may try to use an abundance of a substance in an attempt to reduce the effects they're experiencing, which can have disastrous effects by resulting in drug overdose.
At a drug detox center in Tyler, a person has a safe and supportive place to withdraw from drugs and alcohol. They have access to a staff that will administer medications whenever possible to minimize the symptoms associated with drug withdrawals. While the detox process is a difficult one, drug detox programs aim to make the process easier whenever possible. As a result, a person can emerge a sober individual who can continue their sobriety journey. This can include engaging in relapse prevention therapy, 12-step programs, and continued group or individual counseling whenever possible.
To learn more about our drug detox center and our addiction treatment programs in Tyler, call us today at (877) 804-1531.