Drug detox
Drug detox during your primary care programme (the first step in the UKAT treatment pathway) is a life-changing first step because it breaks the immediate hold of addiction. It works by clearing drugs from your body so you can begin treatment free from their effects. The process isn’t simple, and it can be a scary prospect, but drug detox with medical professionals makes it far safer and more manageable. UKAT offers drug detox in our centres, helping people just like you turn their lives around.
What is drug detox?
Drug detox or drug detoxification refers to the process of removing addictive and harmful substances from the body through abstinence. If you have ever tried to quit taking drugs, you probably already know the shock it can cause to your system.
This is because when you take drugs excessively over an extended time, your brain eventually starts to rely on them to function or produces chemicals to balance out their effects. When you suddenly quit without warning, your brain takes a few days to work out what is going on, and this causes drug withdrawal symptoms.
Fear of withdrawal symptoms is very common among our clients, and everyone has heard a horror story or seen a scary depiction in films or on television. But it is important to understand that undergoing drug detox is nothing like quitting “cold turkey” on your own at home.
At a UKAT rehab centre, you will receive an initial assessment to plan every detail of your detox, which may involve a controlled dosage tapering to prevent a shock to your system. You may also be provided with medication for drug detox, which can help with symptoms and possibly replace harmful drugs with safer alternatives. Once you are feeling better, you can then begin our drug rehab therapy programme without any gap in treatment.
Who is drug detox beneficial for?
Drug detox can be vital if you have been using for years, if you’ve tried to stop before and found it too hard or if you have been mixing multiple drugs or alcohol. It is also especially important if you have health issues or mental health conditions, because withdrawal can make these worse without proper support. For families, drug detox can be life-changing as it can save relationships harmed by addiction.
But drug detox isn’t only for people at a crisis point. Even if you use drugs regularly but don’t see yourself as “addicted,” giving your body a rest can make a real difference. And the best thing is that the rewards of drug detox come sooner than you expect. Within weeks, your sleep can improve, your energy can return, and your brain can begin to heal from the stress of drug use.
What drugs does UKAT offer detox from?
All of UKAT’s drug rehab centres provide inpatient drug detox programmes, but which substances they cater for can vary. It is worth contacting UKAT directly so we can find the right centre for your individual detox needs.
To give you an idea of which substances we can help with, here are the drug detox programmes at our Sanctuary Lodge centre:
What drug withdrawal symptoms can you expect?
Which drug withdrawal symptoms during detox you will experience and how severe and long-lasting they will be can depend on the type of drug (or drugs) you have been using, the amounts and frequency of use and if you have co-existing mental health and addiction issues. Some of the most common but manageable drug withdrawal symptoms include:
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Nausea and diarrhoea
- Stomach cramps
- High temperature
- Muscle aches and pains
- Shaking, shivering, and sweating
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Vivid bad dreams
- Irritability and mood swings
- Anxiety and depression
- Cravings
In more severe cases, you may experience more dangerous drug withdrawal symptoms. These can include:
- Hallucinations
- Psychosis
- Seizures
- Dangerously high blood pressure and heart rate
- Coma
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
Battling these symptoms alone is very difficult and can be very, very dangerous. That is why attempting a drug detox at home is never a good idea, even if you think you can handle it.
What does the drug detox timeline look like?
Every person’s experience is unique, and the drug detox timeline can vary a lot between different drugs. For example, benzodiazepines can cause a very long withdrawal period with psychological symptoms, in particular, potentially stretching for months.
On the other hand, stimulants like cocaine or amphetamines often leave your body more quickly, but can cause an intense “crash” in the first few days. Opioids such as heroin usually bring the strongest physical withdrawal symptoms, which tend to peak within the first week before gradually easing off. Cannabis and ketamine often have milder but still uncomfortable withdrawals, which still need a lot of support.
While the timelines differ, most people find the first few days to be the hardest. Symptoms usually peak early and then taper off, though psychological cravings can be frustratingly stubborn. This is why drug detox is only the first step as ongoing therapy and support are vital for addressing the underlying causes of addiction once your body is free of drugs.
The drug detox timeline that you are likely to experience will be explained to you after you have received your medical assessment at a UKAT centre. No matter how long it takes for drug withdrawal symptoms to pass, our teams will do everything they can to reassure you and make drug detox as easy as possible.
Where is the best place to undergo the drug detox process?
You may be considering a home drug detox because you feel embarrassed, don’t want to discuss your situation with strangers or are worried about the costs of private care.
But drug detox at home can be very hard, and many people relapse because they can’t cope with withdrawal. Sadly, large numbers of people tragically die every year due to relapse after a period of detox because their systems were no longer able to tolerate their old dosage.
It is strongly advised that you seek the help of experienced professionals if you plan on detoxing from drugs. UKAT has drug detox centres across Britain, and there are also NHS drug detox services available, though these can be hugely over-subscribed.
The most important thing is to never go it alone. A professional medical detox will boost your chances of a successful recovery and prevent any tragic accidents.
What medication for drug detox will I receive?
The type of medication you may be given depends on which drug you’re stopping, what symptoms you have and your overall health. The UKAT rehab centre medical staff decide what each client needs based on their assessment and the progress of their detox. Some of the most common forms of medication for drug detox include:
What comes next after completing the drug detox process?
Once detox is over and the drugs are out of your system, rehab therapy looks carefully at why you started taking drugs, how your addiction developed and what needs to change for the future.
UKAT offers all kinds of effective therapies, including one-to-one counselling where you can talk openly, group therapy where you learn from others in the same boat and holistic treatments that help you heal in different ways. Every centre is different, so contact us and we can help you find the rehab treatment programme that feels right for you.
When rehab finishes, we will stay with you through aftercare, relapse prevention planning, and our UKAT alumni community. Drug detox sorts the body, but therapy and these post-rehab services are what make long-term recovery possible.
Where can I receive inpatient drug detox?
Beginning drug detox can seem like an insurmountable task, but with the right help, it is 100% possible. Thousands of people have completed drug detox across UKAT’s rehab centres and have gone on to live healthy, happy lives. If you are ready to start drug detox or have any questions relating to the treatment options available to you, don’t hesitate to contact us. We have supported so many people just like you to start over again, and we will be by your side no matter what challenges arise.
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