According to an estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2012, more than 9% of people over the age of 12 abused drugs in the previous month, but only 2.3 million of 21.6 million people who needed treatment actually received it. For many people struggling with drug addiction, detox is the first step to remove harmful substances from the body. Following detox, a rehab program can be an effective way to learn new coping strategies and overcome addiction for good.
There are many forms of detoxification, but one of the most beneficial is medication-assisted detoxification or medical detoxification. This type of detoxification uses various medications to ease the process and relieve many withdrawal symptoms. The type of medication used to assist with withdrawal and how long the medication is used depends on the severity of the addiction and the type of substance abused. The following are the most common types of medication used in medical detox.
Opiates such as heroin, morphine, and prescription painkillers are among the most commonly abused drugs and the most deadly: 25% of all overdoses in the United States involve heroin while opioid-related overdoses represent 60% of all overdose fatalities.
Medications commonly used to ease opiate withdrawal include:
Severe alcohol dependency can result in dangerous or very painful withdrawal symptoms. Many alcoholics also suffer from depression, irritability, and disturbed sleep during withdrawal.
Medications that may be used to ease alcohol withdrawal include:
Withdrawal symptoms from stimulant addiction can be serious and many people are left with depression and anxiety. Antidepressants are commonly used during the course of stimulant detoxification.
Common medications during stimulant withdrawal include:
Some addictive substances like heroin, stimulants, and even alcohol can be dangerous to quit cold turkey without assistance. Supervised detoxification with the help of prescription medications can make withdrawal easier and safer and increase the chance of successful rehabilitation.
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Dr. Vikram Tarugu, M.D, is the CEO of Detox of South Florida, Inc and medical professional focused on addiction. A veteran in the medical field with over 25 years of professional experience. He is a consultant for many South Florida Rehab centers. Patients travel from allover the US to seek his help with addiction and Hepatitis C treatment.
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