Medical Detox in Cape May County, NJ

For most individuals facing drug or alcohol addiction, medical detox constitutes the first measurable step forward into recovery. During medical detox, the symptoms of drug and alcohol withdrawal can be treated safely and systematically by doctors and other health professionals who are knowledgeable about the nature of addiction. Cape May County Drug Treatment Centers knows that by addressing physical dependence and its accompanying symptoms, medical detox makes it possible for additional treatment to be effective.

Detox Environment

Some people, given the option, choose to undergo medical detox in an outpatient facility, which can intrude less upon other aspects of an individual’s personal life, career, and relationships. Other people find that they are best served by committing to an inpatient detox program, in which there is immediate 24/7 help available in the event of urgent medical situations arising as a result of withdrawal. Regardless of whether detox occurs as an inpatient or outpatient treatment, it’s important that the setting be one in which the individual in treatment can feel safe, secure, and as comfortable as possible.

These qualities are crucial for a detox environment because of the extent to which withdrawal from drugs and alcohol can be a physically and psychologically difficult experience. Symptoms of withdrawal are uncomfortable and disorienting, and in many cases even become debilitating. Without access to proper medical care, some symptoms can even develop into life-threatening emergencies. Combining medications, counseling, and other proven therapies, the highly trained staff of a detox facility can alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal and make the experience of detox more endurable overall.

Why Not Natural Detox?

As opposed to medical detox, you may hear the term natural detox touted as an effective way to eliminate drug dependency. Typically, “natural detox” involves little or no professional medical oversight, home remedies in place of proven medications and treatments, and takes place in the home or other non-medical setting. While in some rare cases, it is possible for addiction to be brought under control without the help of experts, both the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration advise that willpower and good intentions are very seldom sufficient to deal with addiction. Instead, treatment is typically brought to a premature end when individuals return to addictive behaviors in order to escape the hardships that accompany drug or alcohol withdrawal.

How Long Does Medical Detox Take?

In most cases, the amount of time required for the body to break free of its chemical dependence on an addictive substances can be measured in days, or possibly weeks. It all depends on the substance in question, as well as the individual’s personal background and medical history. The quality of the detox program also plays a role. The important thing to remember is that while detox takes a relatively short time, recovery is a lifelong journey that can’t be sped up.

If you are interested in finding out more about our recovery options at Cape May County Drug Treatment Centers, or have questions about medical detox, please feel free to get in touch with us at (609) 756-3686 today.