Detox is an essential first step for those trying to beat an addiction of a substance. Some rehab is generally needed for most people who are suffering from drug abuse and need to stop. It can feel daunting before taking the first step of rehabilitation, however, detoxing safely from opioids can help get you back on your feet and grab life by the horns.

When someone uses a drug or alcohol in excess over an extended period of time, their body will become dependant on it. This means that the person must take the drug to function normally. When the drug is then taken away and removed from someone’s system, they will feel a range of negative symptoms, both physical and mental. If the substance is taken away too quickly or in the wrong environment, this may lead to additional negative consequences or even worse.

If someone has experienced these adverse effects, is it recommended that an addiction recovery program is used. This will help the user get support from medically trained staff who will be able to assist with the recovery process. By stopping the use of these substances through addiction treatment can lead to effects that are unpleasant, but can even be potentially fatal if the drug is particularly strong and the addiction is prolonged. If a drug has been abused chronically and the patient has a pre-existing medical condition or mental issues, a professionally supervised detox is definitely recommended. Other situations may not be as severe, and the withdrawal may be unpleasant but manageable. This would mean that the person would most likely not need close medical inspection, but some additional help may be required. A social detox may be a better route, which puts the recovering addict in a situation where there is help on hand if necessary.

How long does detox take?

The amount of time that detox will take is entirely dependant on the drug being used and the extent of the abuse. There is no set time frame for how long it will take. For some drugs, the process may only take a few hours, for others it may take weeks before the substance is entirely out of the patient’s body.

Factors that come into play that can increase or decrease the time it takes to detox include:

• The drug of abuse
• The rate, dose, and duration of use
• The presence of any poly-substance abuse
• The detox setting
• The goals of the patient
• Previous detox attempts
• The individual’s health condition

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) states that the median time a detox takes is below eight days. Some substances like methadone and buprenorphine may take longer than this due to the drug being longer lasting in the system. If this is the case, a strategy will often be put in place to reduce the amount of the drug the patient takes slowly over a long period of time. By gradually tapering off the extent of the withdrawal will not be as intense, and the amount of suffering because of this will also be reduced.

Everyone deserves full control of their mental and physical bodies. When you’re under addiction, it can be hard to grasp life fully. Rehab centers are a great way to help get you back on track.