Addiction is an illness that flares up at certain times. However, it is often treatable medically. The role of medical detox for addiction is similar to that of an emergency room in a hospital. It stabilizes a temporary, acute flare-up of the disease without changing the long-term course of the patient's condition. This article will discuss three benefits of medical detox for addiction.
Symptom-triggered therapy
One of the problems with symptom-triggered therapy is the need for specialized training in how to properly apply these scales. The benefits of symptom-triggered therapy include shorter detoxification times, avoidance of medications that patients do not need, and enhanced safety and comfort. In the case of the present study, nurses were more comfortable with an objective scale that helped them determine how much medication to administer. The study also showed that symptoms-triggered therapy reduced the use of benzodiazepines. However, the present results are not the same as those of Saitz and colleagues6.
Safe
If you have a 401k or personal savings account, you might be reluctant to use this money for medical detox. However, you need to look at the costs of an active addiction, as well as the potential financial loss of going through an extended detox. You'll lose even more money as your symptoms worsen and your personal career goals will eventually fall by the wayside. Fortunately, medical detox is often financed with a low interest rate.
Effective
Medical detox is often the only way out of a life of substance abuse. It is an excellent option for people with an extended history of substance abuse who have not yet experienced life-threatening symptoms. While detoxification is not the only treatment for substance use disorder, it can be a very effective option. A trained medical professional can assess the patient's risks and provide a comprehensive treatment plan. This professional will assess substance use, frequency, duration, and mental health symptoms. They will also evaluate the patient's support network and the extent of their dependency.
Addresses physical and psychological aspects of addiction
There are many reasons to undergo medical detox. For starters, it's an effective method of dealing with the psychological and physical effects of drug addiction. Patients are treated with various medications to help regulate their brain chemistry, such as benzodiazepines and opioids. Other forms of treatment include counseling and behavioral therapies. Depending on the type of drug abuse, certain medications may be prescribed during the detoxification process. In addition, any other medications or allergies the patient may have can also affect the withdrawal symptoms.
Benefits
Aside from providing clinical support to patients in recovery, the medical detox process helps minimize the risk of relapse. Patients who undergo medical detoxification can easily transfer to rehabilitation after the process, minimizing the risk of early relapse. Additionally, the medical staff at the detox center understands the unique needs of each patient and can manage the symptoms of withdrawal. The medical staff can also monitor patients closely for complications during withdrawal, such as seizures.