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What is Medical Detox?
Detoxing from drugs and alcohol can be a severely uncomfortable – and sometimes life-threatening – process. Individuals who have been actively abusing a chemical substance of any kind for any length of time will experience physical and psychological symptoms upon abruptly ceased use. In order to effectively treat these symptoms as they arise and make the withdrawal process as pain-free as possible, individuals who have been struggling with substance abuse must check themselves into a medical detox facility as soon as they decide to quit and strive for long-term sobriety. There are many benefits involved in medical detox. For most, this is the very first clinical phase of a multi-phase continuum of care, one that will pave the road for a successful long-term recovery journey. Medical detox allows those involved to develop reasonable aftercare plans and find a drug and alcohol rehab that they can immediately transfer into once they are physically stabilized.
Chapel Hill Detox – Comprehensive Care
At Chapel Hill Detox, we offer comprehensive care – we believe that the first stage of the recovery process should be about more than pain-free withdrawal, client comfort and ultimate physical stabilization. We believe in providing our clients with services and amenities that will make for an integrated detox experience quite unlike any other. Some of the amenities we provide include:
- Private or semi-private bedrooms decorated professionally for peace and tranquility.
- A fully stocked, state-of-the-art kitchen and dining area where clients can either prepare their own nutritious snacks and meals or enjoy meals prepared by our experienced personal chef.
- Common areas that were designed with comfort in mind and come fully equipped with flat screen televisions and board games over which clients can bond and remain engaged.
Some of the recovery-related services we provide include:
- Weekly individual therapy sessions and regular group therapy sessions, where clients will learn more about the disease model of addiction and be able to discuss and recovery-related concerns that may arise while they are in medical detox.
- Case management services – our case managers help clients develop personalized treatment and recovery goals while walking them through the detox process and onto the next phase of clinical care (inpatient drug and alcohol rehab).
- Family resources – our case managers communicate with the loved ones of our clients, keeping them informed and providing them with any additional resources they may need.
- Medication management – in many instances, our prescribing physicians will utilize non-narcotic medications to help alleviate the more severe symptoms of withdrawal.
- Psychiatric services and evaluation – we have on-staff psychiatrists who will work with clients that suffer from dual diagnosis disorders.
- Rehab placement – it is important that our clients transfer directly into rehab once they have completed detox in order to prevent relapse. We help with rehab placement, working closely with many reputable, licensed and accredited treatment centers in the area (and in surrounding areas).
No matter what your personal detox-related needs, Chapel Hill Detox has you covered. We provide a clinically comprehensive program that is both unique and highly effective.
What Happens After Detox?
What happens once the detox process is complete, and the individual is finally physically stabilized and deemed fit to leave? The truth is, there are several options. We always recommend that the individual transfers into a residential treatment center as soon as he or she is able to do so. At Chapel Hill Detox we believe that the only way to ensure long-term sobriety is by enforcing a multi-phased curriculum of care, one that begins with medical detox, moves on to inpatient rehab and concludes with sober living and intensive outpatient (or outpatient) treatment. Sadly, many individuals who return home after completing detox will relapse within the first two weeks. It is important to thoroughly understand that addiction is much more than a physical issue. It is a diagnosable disease of the mind – one that has major effects on mental, emotional and spiritual health as well as physical well-being.
Here are the standard options as far as what happens after detox:
- The individual returns home. This is common practice, but it is truly never a good idea. Not only do those that return home after detox have a significantly increased risk of relapse, but they often return to detox multiple times before finally committing to an inpatient rehab program – which is a waste of time and of money. In order for detox to be worth your while, it is crucial that you follow it up with long-term clinical care.
- The individual enters into an inpatient treatment program. This is what we always recommend, regardless of the severity of the substance abuse disorder. Inpatient treatment provides individuals with intensive therapeutic care and helps them develop the coping skills and relapse prevention skills that are necessary to maintaining sobriety in the long-term. Inpatient treatment can last for anywhere from one to six months.
- The individual moves into a sober living home and continues with a slightly lower level of clinical care. This might be a good option for someone who was suffering from a mild substance abuse disorder. For example, if a middle-aged woman began drinking a bottle of wine every evening after a particularly messy divorce, and simply needed some extra accountability while she got back on her feet and stayed sober – sober living would be appropriate immediately following detox. However, a short stint in inpatient treatment would also be appropriate – it all boils down to personal preference, in a case like this. While in sober living the individual would participate in intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) or outpatient treatment (OP) depending on the recommended level of care.
More About Inpatient Treatment
As previously stated, we always recommend inpatient treatment directly after medical detox, regardless of the severity or length of the substance abuse disorder. Intensive therapeutic intervention is extremely beneficial for everyone. Working through underlying issues in a safe and supportive environment will help pave the road for long-term sobriety. Chapel Hill Detox works closely with several of the most reputable, gender-specific treatment centers in the area. If you have not decided on a rehab before entering into our medical detox program, we will gladly help you with rehab placement, finding an inpatient treatment center that will cater to all of your unique, individualized needs and requirements.
Begin Your Personal Journey of Addiction Recovery Today
Addiction is a progressive disease. Without professional treatment, the symptoms associated with addiction will always get worse – they will never miraculously resolve on their own. For those who are in the grips of a severe substance abuse disorder, seeking treatment might seem unnecessary, or like something that can continuously be put off until things get “really bad.” This is because addiction is a disease of denial. It can be glaringly apparent to everyone involved that the individual who is suffering from addiction is in desperate need of help. However, the individual might remain convinced that stopping at any point is a matter of deciding to do so… it just isn’t quite the right time. We understand how difficult it can be watching a loved one actively suffer from addiction and consistently refuse to seek the professional help that is so clearly needed. If you have a loved one who has been suffering from a substance abuse disorder of any severity, please feel free to give us a call. We will gladly offer support and guidance, and help you get your loved one started on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.