Drug Rehab Center in Tampa

Understanding Detox

The first step in the rehabilitation process, medical detoxification is the challenging process of eliminating drugs and alcohol from the system in order to stabilize and reduce symptoms of withdrawal. Most medical detox centers in Florida provide 7-14 days of stabilization treatment before transitioning the patient to the next phase of treatment which generally includes inpatient counseling and therapy followed by ongoing outpatient support and care.

Medical detox centers deliver powerful protocols of effective treatment that aims primarily at the minimization and stabilization of withdrawal symptoms that may otherwise make continued abstinence or cessation difficult to remain committed to. If you or someone you love is addicted to drugs or alcohol and experiencing withdrawal when you try to quit or cut back, contact SJRP admissions to discuss our medical detox program and the benefits our treatment programs can offer.

What is Medical Detox?

Defined as the process of eliminating harmful substances from the body of an individual that is physically dependent on drugs or alcohol, medical detoxification is designed to help clients overcome symptoms of withdrawal. This period of stabilization allows patients to begin to overcome the harsh symptoms of withdrawal so that they can soon begin to focus their efforts on behavioral therapy and coping techniques that will help them to avoid relapse.

During medical detox for alcohol or drugs clients are monitored by medical professionals who help them manage withdrawal symptoms. Medications, rest, nutrition, and unique therapy programs are utilized during the medical detoxification process to help clients maintain abstinence from drugs or alcohol and remain committed to their recovery.

Certain symptoms of withdrawal can be uncomfortable and hard to deal with, but others are life-threatening. Depending on the types of substances that were used or the severity of drug or alcohol use, withdrawal treatment may require extensive medical intervention to ensure client safety and prevent serious complications or potentially life-threatening side effects of withdrawal.

Due to the severity of withdrawal from alcohol, benzos, opiates and certain other prescription medications, most rehab centers begin the drug and alcohol addiction treatment process with a period of medical detox to ensure client safety and comfort during their time in treatment. Our FL detox center promotes safe, comfortable withdrawal for all clients as we believe this sets the tone for their recovery. Nobody should suffer during withdrawal, doing so in no way aids the healing and recovery process. Therefore, at SJRP we work hard to keep clients comfortable during their early days in treatment at our Florida drug and alcohol detox center. Because the stronger you are when you finish detox, the more prepared we believe you will be for the hard work that is expected of you when you begin group therapy.

Who Needs Medical Detox?

Medical detox is not vitally necessary for everyone that enters a recovery program at SJRP, or any treatment program for addiction. However, a person that has been using drugs or alcohol for an extended period of time (more than a few weeks in most cases) will most likely need medical detox to treat withdrawal symptoms that they experience when abruptly eliminating or reducing their drug or alcohol use. We provide multiple levels of care at St. John’s. Detox is one of several levels of treatment provided at our centers.

Medical detox centers deliver powerful, safe, effective care to patients that are physically dependent on drugs or alcohol. Chances are, if you or someone you know is addicted to any of the following substances, medical detox will be required in order to safely treat their withdrawal symptoms:

• Alcohol
• Benzodiazepines
• Heroin
• Prescription Opioids
• Sleeping Pills
• Prescription Stimulants
• Methamphetamine
• Crack Cocaine

If you’re wondering what medical detox is like think about your brain and your body. Both parts work together, the brain sending signals to the body to tell it how to function. When you use these drugs, the brain tells the body to go into overdrive, and “function” much more frequently and it comes to expect these powerful substances on an everyday basis.

When the brain doesn’t receive the substance, it doesn’t send signals to the body like it normally would — and the body reacts by violently seeking the expected contribution from the brain. Essentially, the substances that you use play a key role in the way every part of your body functions over time – and when the substances are gone the body doesn’t know how to react in any way other than to “freak out.”

Thus, you begin to experience withdrawal — UNLESS… you receive treatment that tells the body to remain calm and helps the brain to stabilize while it adjusts to life without the toxic substances it has become so accustomed to having.

Medical detox allows clients to safely begin to overcome addiction to drugs or alcohol. In the most severe cases, medical detox minimizes potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms warding off side effects such as coma and the risk of death. In less severe cases, medical detox helps patients feel at ease with the symptoms of withdrawal that they are feeling so that they can focus heavily on recovery and healing.

Why is Medically Monitored Detox Necessary?

Medically monitored detox ensures client support and safety during the most crucial, potentially dangerous period of treatment which occurs in the first days after entering a residential rehab program. Research suggests that medically monitored detox is a significantly safer alternative to any type of medical detox at home or unsupervised detoxification program.

Drug and Alcohol addiction is a relapsing brain disease that is defined by a psychological and physical dependence on alcohol, a behavior, or drugs. Addiction is considered to be more than a behavioral disorder. Some of its features include the aspects of an individual’s interactions, emotions, and cognition with others; including their ability to relate to family members, the community, and even their own psychological state. Drugs, apart from bringing about changes in the brain, heavily impacts the way a person feels, acts, and thinks. This addiction has many times been misunderstood to be a result of a few “bad choices” caused by a lack of willpower or moral principles. Studies have shown, through extensive research, that addiction is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite its harmful and negative consequences.

Often times, the urge to use drugs or to consume alcohol is compulsive and extremely difficult to control or refrain from. In the scientific world today, addiction is still not fully understood as to why addiction occurs in some and not in others. However, what we do know today, is that addiction can be part of a genetic component that can be passed on through generations. It is also known that our environment plays a significant role in the component of the illness. There are powerful influences in the environment that can cause an individual to be at a higher risk for addiction. For example, peer pressure, exposure of drugs and/or alcohol at an early age, exposure to stressors or trauma can overwhelm an individual’s coping abilities, sexual or physical abuse, friends, and even family influences can increase a person’s risk for drug or alcohol addiction.

Addiction is caused by the repeated use of drugs and/or alcohol that eventually contributes to a chemical shift in the brain, interfering with a person’s self-control, self-esteem, and the inability to resist using drugs. Over time, the brain continues to develop and hone in on these changes, which is why, in many cases, it becomes a challenge to quit using drugs or drinking alcohol. This is why many people relapse, even though they truly want to regain control of their lives, as well as individuals in the recovery stage are at risk of relapsing, even after years of not using drugs.

Overcoming an addiction may involve medication to combat withdrawal issues, detoxification, and group and individual therapy for various lengths of time. The motivation for change can often fluctuate, and typically, there is great ambivalence around stopping the drug use. Confrontational and coercive approaches can actually increase an Individual’s determination to keep engaging or using in the addictive behavior; versus using a style of interaction that is more guided, person-centered, and accepting, that focuses more on helping the individual explore their own need to stop the behavior, using their own ability, desire, and reasoning.

Our primary focus will be to safely provide customized treatment plans tailored to address each individual’s drug-related psychiatric, social, medical, and drug use patterns so they can rebuild their lives. Today, science and research have lead proven ways to help individuals with addiction problems. Through customized treatment plans, ( as there is no one-size-fits all approach) individualized therapies, modern holistic medicines etc., we will holistically address all areas of their lives, not only their addiction or substance abuse, but with a supportive environment; we will continuously revise our treatment plans to help meet their circumstances and needs throughout the course of treatment towards a successful recovery at St. John’s. Detox in our residential center is one of multiple levels of care offered to meet client needs throughout the recovery process.

Addiction, despite being a chronic disease can be successfully treated. We understand the process of addiction and have developed a detox program to aid individuals during this difficult process to give them the highest recovery success possible. To better assist you please call, email us or click “Chat Now” and a Admission Specialist will help you.