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REHAB vs DETOX
Seeking treatment is an important first step in recovery, but how do you know where to start? Should you detox? Should you go to rehab? Aren’t they the same? Although many use these terms interchangeably, detox and rehab each have their own specific purpose.
Detox primarily focuses on addressing the physical effects that substance dependence has had on the body.
Rehab focuses more on the psychological effects.
DETOX
The process of removing toxic substances from the body.
To ensure safety and comfort, it should be done under medical supervision.
LENGTH:
On average 3 to 10 days
BENEFITS:
Cleanse body of toxins
Manage withdrawal symptoms
Reduce pain and discomfort
Lower your stress and anxiety levels
Strengthen your body’s immune system
Regain your ability to control behavior
Lessen drug and/or alcohol cravings
REHAB
Counseling and education focused on helping individuals stop using drugs and alcohol by addressing their psychological dependence for the substance.
LENGTH:
On average 30 days
BENEFITS:
Receive individualized therapy
Receive psychiatric services
Gain relapse prevention tools
Relearn practical life skills
Develop support network
Engage in therapeutic activities
DETOX
(PHYSICAL)
While there are some exceptions, generally, if you are physically dependent on drugs and alcohol, you will benefit from medical detox. A medical detox means detoxing under the care of medical personnel.
Detoxing alone can be painful and extremely dangerous. Unsupervised detox can lead to severe nausea, seizures, hallucinations, coma, and even death.
When detoxing under medical supervision, you will have a professional medical team monitor your progress 24/7 throughout the process to ensure your comfort and safety.
If deemed necessary, they can also provide you with medication to alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal. The goal of detox is to stabilize your body. Once your body has been stabilized, you are then ready to move to rehab.
If needed, a medical team will suggest personalized options for additional treatment. While not everyone who completes detox continues onto rehab, studies have shown that the longer an individual undergoes addiction treatment, the higher their chances of maintaining long-term sobriety.
DEFINING DRUG OR ALCOHOL DEPENDENT OR DEPENDENCE
A person is said to be “dependent” on a drug if the person is going to have uncomfortable physiological symptoms when they stop taking the drug.
Many times a person will continue taking the drug, not because they believe that it is helping them, but because stopping the drug will be very painful for them and will possibly prevent them from working or doing their normal activities for days or even weeks.
Detox is for patients who are dependent on drugs or alcohol.
REHAB
(MENTAL/EMOTIONAL)
If you are not physically dependent, or your substance of choice does not require a medical detox, your recovery journey can begin directly with rehab (also known as inpatient or residential treatment).
A good rehab program will offer holistic programming to help you discover the root of your addiction and learn relapse prevention skills, as well as teach you healthy life habits including proper self-care. Throughout rehab, you will work on developing a strong support network and improving communication skills so that you can rebuild any broken relationships.
For those who suffer from co-occurring disorders, psychiatric services can also be a part of holistic addiction treatment.
It is important to consult a professional addiction treatment specialist to determine the best treatment plan to meet your specific needs.
CONTACT US
Struggling with addiction is hard enough, and trying to do it alone is practically impossible. Misuse of drugs or alcohol hides the underlying causes of your addiction and these will continue to disrupt your life until they are uncovered and addressed.
If you are reading this right now and need to change things in your life, please call us now. We understand how you feel and the struggle to pick up the phone. Our staff recognizes that people who try to quit by themselves oftentimes get frustrated and feel helpless when they can’t. You can, and we can help.