According to the 2015 data released by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2014, nearly 22.5 million Americans aged 12 years or older needed treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, however, only 4.1 million people received treatment for substance use disorder during the same period. Thus, there continues to be a large treatment gap in the country, despite a significantly high rate of substance use, abuse and dependence among Americans.
When people think of starting a new life free from alcohol and drugs, they look for detoxification as a first step toward becoming healthy and sober. In fact, the psychological, social and behavioral processes in the rehab cannot be initiated until the detox process is performed to eliminate the physical dependence existent in one’s system.
Steps one can take to prepare for detoxification
Many people with a severe addiction problem believe that they can come out of a prolonged dependency on their own. After making a few unsuccessful attempts to quit substance abuse on their own, many people seek help from a residential rehab center for professional help. Knowing that entering a rehab can dramatically change one’s life, many people still take the big step to seek detoxification, which requires a lot of courage and commitment. The patient’s participation and dedication are equally important as the detoxification process cannot work on its own.
A typical detoxification process involves two major steps including rapid detox, which is a quick method to flush out impurities from the body, and the tapering method, which requires longer duration to process the toxins. This process can generally last for a few days, depending on the level of addiction.
However, there are certain self-help strategies which can help a person eliminate the toxins accumulated in the body due to a prolonged substance abuse. Some of the self-help techniques are:
- Drinking plenty of water: Water is a naturally detoxifying agent. Drinking plenty of water can flush out the impurities and eliminate the risk of severe complications. Moreover, keeping one’s body hydrated can prevent some of the after-effects of withdrawal, such as headaches, fatigue or exhaustion.
- Indulging in physical exercise: Exercise is the best way to eliminate the wastes from the body through sweat. A regular exercise not only helps in detoxifying unwanted elements from the body but also produce endorphins in the brain which relaxes the mind and the body.
- Eating healthy food: The large amounts of toxins present in alcohol and drugs have a devastating effect on the body. Drinking fruit and vegetable juice, along with including a lot of green leafy vegetables in one’s diet, can go a long way in getting rid of the adverse impacts of substance abuse.
- Reducing stress and getting more sleep: An adequate sleep and rest are important to optimize the detoxification process. During the detox period, a person may feel irritable and tired, as the body releases a lot of toxins. Hence, it is important to allow the body to rest properly so that one can easily cope with implications of the detox procedure.
Road to recovery
Although the process of making a person become addiction-free can be different at various treatment centers, the first step at all the centers is detoxification. During detoxification, patients experience withdrawal symptoms as the doctors combine a host of medications along with therapies to flush out the toxins accumulated in the body. Detox is always carried out under medical supervision.
If you know someone who is suffering from addiction to substances, such as drugs or alcohol, it is time to seek professional help. Contact the California Detox Helpline to find the top detox and rehab centers in California. Call us at our 24/7 helpline number 855-780-2495 or chat online with our experts to know about the best detox centers in California.