Which Substances Warrant Detox Treatment?
As you may be aware, not every person who enters rehab requires detox at the beginning.
It all depends on the substance that was abused and how long this abuse has been going on, among other determining factors. Withdrawal from some substances can be deadly in some cases, so do not try to go through this process alone before seeking professional treatment.
Drug substances that might require detox:
In general, someone will usually require detox if they’re addicted to one of the following substances:
- Cocaine/Crack
- Heroin/Opiates
- Opioids (oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, etc.)
- Alcohol
- Methamphetamine
- Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, etc.)
Addiction treatment is not a one-size-fits-all scenario. So, let us first determine if your dependence on alcohol or drugs necessitates detox treatment after you’ve been admitted into our rehabilitation program.
Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Risks
Anti-anxiety medications known as benzodiazepines (aka “benzos) are among the deadliest drugs when it comes to stopping use and going through withdrawal. Seizures are a common risk when trying to quit benzodiazepines cold turkey, and any seizure could turn fatal without immediate medical care. Benzo withdrawal may also elicit symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, severe depression and low blood pressure.
Prolonged benzodiazepine use rewires the brain to point where users feel like they can’t function without one of these drugs. When they attempt to quit, relapse happens in many of their cases. Many people who relapse will overdo it in resuming their benzo use, and it may cause their breathing or heart rate to drop low enough to the point of death. To put this into perspective, there were nearly 9,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. involving benzodiazepines in 2015.
This is why you need to undergo benzodiazepine detox in a professional setting. Detox experts can help keep you stable through the worst of times during benzo withdrawal, and they can help wean you off these drugs safely.