Teen Drug Detox
Teen drug detox, when used in relation to alcohol or drug rehabilitation is short for detoxification. Detox is the time period where the body is allowed to make necessary adjustments (normalization) after a period of intoxication caused by drugs, alcohol or other substances of abuse. Also, there are often still toxic residues stored in the tissue, and a regular drug detox is unable to handle this. A biophysical program is suggested to be able to completely detoxify the whole body, not just what's floating in the system.
Withdrawal during detox is caused by stopping or dramatically reducing the drug after heavy and prolonged use. The reaction frequently includes:
- abdominal cramping
- agitation
- anxiety and other behavioral changes
- confusion
- depression
- diarrhea
- drug craving
- headache
- inability to sleep
- nausea
- shaking
- sweating
- vomiting
A teen drug detox or drug detoxification center is a facility where the process of detoxification can occur safely, while a patient remains under close supervision. Due to the seriousness of withdrawal securing licensed, professional detox is highly recommended. The process of detoxification, or detox at an alcohol or drug detox center is one where individuals are withdrawn from drugs or alcohol in a systematic way, usually in professional medical care.
Teen drug detox centers and programs in hospitals and residential treatment facilities often include medical support structures. Effective detoxification programs assemble the best available practices for self-care, self-transformation, and self-discovery. One type of teen drug detox is partial hospitalization. This level of care allows an adolescent to receive intensive services on site five days a week. The youth continues to live at home during the evenings and on weekends. Another type of teen drug detox is known as medically monitored detoxification. Under specific circumstances, teen patients are admitted to a detox unit located where nursing care is provided 24 hours a day.
Medications are sometimes used to assist in detox from opiates, nicotine, alcohol and other drugs. In some cases, professional medical detox may be a critical necessity, because unsupervised detox and withdrawal can be fatal. Teen drug detox alone is not designed to produce lasting changes, but rather to help an individual adjust physically, prior to, or while being treated for psychological issues surrounding drug addiction.
Certain types of drugs require a period of medical detox, others do not. Opiates, such as heroin and methadone do require medical detox. Prescription medications, of all classifications, require medically supervised detox. Other illegal drugs, such as marijuana, crystal meth and cocaine (crack) do not require medical detox. Unlike initial withdrawal, post acute withdrawal can last from 6 weeks to 18 months. Teen drug detox is sometimes considered an individual treatment program, but is usually part of a full drug rehab program. Detox is necessary to allow an addicts body to adjust physically to the absence of a substance. Just drying out rarely solves the entire problem, which is why a longer-term residential drug rehab program is recommended. Getting support and advice from others can be extremely helpful in the journey towards sobriety.