Drug Detox for Irvine Residents

What is Drug Detox?

Drug addiction is a powerful disease that can quickly take over someone’s life and, often, by surprise. It is almost unheard of that someone intentionally develops a drug addiction but the unfortunate reality is that it happens to millions of Americans each day. With the powerful and addictive components that make up each drug, it can quickly lead to a physical and emotional dependency meaning that your body becomes accustomed to the use of drugs to function normally throughout each day. When you attempt to quit your use of drugs, it often will result in unpleasant or uncomfortable side effects known as drug withdrawals. In order to mitigate these symptoms, you will need to go through a drug rehab Costa Mesa program that will safely have you remove the influences of drugs and move towards a life of sobriety. 

An effective drug detox program will be geared towards helping you safely remove the influences of drugs without causing severe or life-threatening symptoms. Patients are always recommended to complete their drug detox within a medically supervised detox program. Patients will sometimes ask if they should attempt to detox on their own or just enter directly into a drug rehab program. It is important to note that a drug rehab program is aimed at helping you heal from the emotional and mental ties to your addiction while detox is specifically geared towards the physical dependence drugs have on you and safely removing that hold. 

Is Drug Detox Necessary?

Drug detox is the first, crucial step towards your ultimate goal of a life in sobriety. In order to be able to give your full attention to understanding the root causes of your addiction, you will need to be of sound mind and body first. Drug detox is the only way to eliminate the influences of drugs from your mind and body. 

Many patients often wonder if they should detox at home before coming to drug rehab at Resurgence. Patients are encouraged to come to stay within our facility to complete a medically supervised detox program. It is hard to predict how your body will react to having drugs leave your system and some individuals run the risk of experiencing high-risk withdrawal symptoms if not treated by a medical professional. When you are under the care of nurses and physicians monitoring your detox progress, you will have the added benefit of knowing that there are options for medical treatments to ease the severity of your symptoms and maintain your safety and comfortability. 

For some patients, depending on your drug of choice, a doctor may recommend that you slowly taper off of the substance to allow your body the time and space it needs to adjust to functioning normally without the influences of drugs. Having direction from a physician for how to safely remove drugs from your system without adverse effects is essential for your safety and wellbeing. During this time, it is important that your detox progress is monitored so that an accurate dose decrease can happen while maintaining your safety. 

The Stages Of Drug Detox

Drug detox programs can look different for each person as each individual has a unique story and history with drugs. While some may have had a prolonged period of regular drug use, others may have been binge users or recreational users. Detox for each will require different levels of care ranging from moderate support to intensive medical support. 

Drug detox can occur in these stages:

• Ambulatory detoxification without extended on-site monitoring- This is often done with patients completing outpatient detox and attending their doctors office at predetermined intervals to assess your progress in drug detox 
• Ambulatory detoxification with extended on-site monitoring- Similar to the previous stage, patients will be monitored by nurses for several hours a day where your safety will be maintained and your progress will be assessed. 
• Clinically managed residential detox program- This method of detox is a 24/7 care program for patients that allows you to have the support of peers and social support within the residential facility. It often relies less on medical professionals and more on the recovery community to support one another. 
• Medically monitored inpatient detoxification– This method invites patients to attend the treatment center and be under medical supervision 24/7. Patients will be provided with support in managing uncomfortable or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. 
• Medically managed inpatient detoxification- This method is often considered the most restrictive as you are under medical supervision 24/7 and as you experience withdrawal symptoms you will do so in an acute patient setting. 

Detox often occurs in three stages for all patients:

• Evaluation- During this time, medical and clinical staff will gather information about your history with drug use as well as your current physical and psychological state and wellbeing. Patients often undergo assessments that will help detox staff understand the depths of your addiction and potential withdrawal symptoms. From this information, a well designed detox plan will be created that will provide you with the proper level of detox care to ensure your health and wellbeing during this time. 
• Stabilization- During this time, your withdrawal symptoms will be managed by medical and clinical staff who will provide medications or treatment options to reduce the severity of symptoms felt. 
• Supporting patients in transitioning into a rehab program- During drug detox, the goal is to have patients become prepared to enter into drug rehab where you will be able to address the factors that have impacted your ability to previously remain sober. 

Sides Effects Of Drug Detox

When you stop using drugs, your body often reacts with certain physiological responses due to the abrupt cessation of the substance. These reactions are commonly referred to as withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the specific drug you’ve been using, these withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe. Seeking assistance from an inpatient rehab Costa Mesa can provide the necessary support and medical care during this challenging phase, ensuring a safer and more comfortable detoxification process.

Typical side effects or withdrawal symptoms are:

• Mood swings or changes 
• Anxiety 
• Depression 
• Flu like symptoms 
• Nausea
• Vomiting 
• Seizures 
• Hallucinations 
• Tremors or shaking 
• Intense, strong drug cravings 
• Muscle aches or body aches

Benefits of Drug Detox

Patients often find comfort in knowing that when they enter into a drug detox program, that their physical and emotional safety is always considered a top priority. Giving yourself the option to safely rid your body of drugs under the supervision and guidance of a medical professional will help to keep your level of comfortability at top regard. As you experience uncomfortable or unpleasant symptoms, you will be offered holistic, natural methods of treating these symptoms, and, in some instances, medication can be offered to lower the level of severity in withdrawal symptoms. 

When patients choose to enter into a medically supervised detox, you will get the added support of onsite counselors who will help you work through any challenging emotions that arise for you. Detox can be a difficult time emotionally as you embark on a new way of life and it is often the time that is the highest risk for patients to leave the facility due to what they are experiencing. Our counselors will be by your side providing you with the emotional, therapeutic support you need to get through this uncomfortable time. 

What Happens after Drug Detox?

You completed drug detox and have begun to feel healthy and more like yourself again. While it can be misleading that you feel back to normal so there must not be anymore that is needed to do to rid your addiction. But in order to make a long-lasting change, you need to understand the whys of your addiction and get to the bottom of the underlying causes of your addiction. Through various evidence-based therapy methods, you will begin to identify the emotions, thoughts, and actions that contribute to your drug use. By learning skills of emotional regulation and awareness, you will be able to identify problematic and triggering moments and have the tools to avoid potential relapse behavior. 

A common occurrence for many struggling with drug addiction is a history of traumatic incidents or painful memories that have not been resolved. Resurgence offers patients opportunities to participate in trauma therapy as well as dual diagnosis programs that will assist you in learning effective, natural ways to manage your co-occurring disorder. 

Drug Detox Treatment at Resurgence

Resurgence offers patients of Irvine a drug detox program that exceeds other comparable programs for the unique, individualized plans that are offered to each and every patient that enters our program. We see addiction as a multifaceted disease that requires a variety of levels of care and approaches for healing. Patients can rest assured that when you put your recovery in our hands, we will go above and beyond to ensure your comfortability and safety are always met while providing a place that honors and respects your unique story and circumstances. Resurgence is dedicated to providing each patient with a complete healing experience that will change their mind, body, and soul by ridding them of the powerful nature of addiction. 

We are waiting by the phone for your call to get you started on the life-changing course of drug detox treatment offered within our facility. 

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

Research | Editorial