In most cases of addition, especially drug addiction, an individual gets physically dependent on a certain substance. Once an individual gets dependent on a substance, he or she is not able to function well and may feel physical pains when he or she doesn’t take in the drug. This is because the drug has by now affected the chemical balance in the brain allowing the person’s structure to crave for the certain drug in order to attain sense of balance. Much worse is that the body later on tolerates the drug that enters the system, thus, resulting to a higher dosage requirement the next time the drug is taken to achieve the desired result.
By its very classification, addiction is the situation of being enslaved to a practice, such narcotics, to such an extent that its discontinuation causes severe trauma. This distress can differ in intensity from intense cravings to life threatening illness (depending on the drug), making it virtually impossible for an addict to give up without assistance. Because the majority withdrawal symptoms can be relieved instantly upon consumption of the drug that the body is withdrawing from, the desire to use that drug is very high during this period, often resulting in defeat of the healing before it can even begin.
As the addict recognizes the problem, the treatment process is another cross to carry. Curing substance dependence means taking away the dependency on the drug. This would mean that the person had to stop taking the drug. However, reducing the body of an addict from taking in the drug would lead to withdrawal symptoms. And it is not easy having to deal with these symptoms. The severity of the symptoms depends on the kind of drug the person is addicted to. Moreover, to ease the pain of the withdrawal symptoms, detoxification should be done.
The process of detoxification is the cleansing of the toxins in our body. In the case of drug addiction, it is the removal of the drug residues from the body and controlling the symptoms of withdrawal. Detoxification is not the whole treatment process but it is the first step towards recovery. Eliminating the toxins that have been controlling the body system of the addict should be done first before any behavioral based theraphy which would cure the underlying factors of addiction.
Drug detoxification can be referred to as the stage of withdrawal during which the person’s body eventually returns to balance after long-term use of an addictive substance. Depending on the addiction, the process will vary.
Detoxification can be for both inpatient and outpatient basis. Inpatient detoxification will agree to close monitoring on the patient. Also, the contact to the substance of abuse could be avoided. On the other hand, outpatient detoxification allows greater social support. In comparison to inpatients, patients in outpatient theraphy keep greater freedom, continue with their day-to-day activities with lesser disruptions. However, with outpatient treatment, there is an higher threat of no improvement because the patient is more likely to be exposed with the substance of abuse.
The process of drug detoxification seeks to decrease the severity of the trauma associated with the body’s withdrawal from dependence on a particular drug by medically alleviating and monitoring the intense physical symptoms associated with stopping drug use. Once the drug is cleared from the system and the pain and discomfort associated with stopping its use have been alleviated, the other reasons contributing to the addiction, such as the emotional and psychological issues, can be taken cared of.
Addiction is a very serious problem among the many people in all walks of life. More than intensive treatment, self-determination is also a requirement. The curing process is to be deal very hard everyday.
