What to Expect During a Drug Detox

Medically supervised drug detox programs at Alpine Recovery Lodge help those with moderate to severe drug or alcohol addictions manage the symptoms of withdrawal. Using a combination of medications and therapy, assisted detoxification helps ease the discomfort of symptoms and helps people detox without feeling ill.

What are common withdrawal symptoms?

Withdrawal symptoms, as well as their severity, vary depending on a number of factors, but here are some of the most common:

• Changes in appetite
• Changes in mood
• Congestion or runny nose
• Fatigue and restlessness
• Sweating
• Irritability
• Muscle pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Shakiness or tremors

How severe are withdrawal symptoms?

Withdrawal symptoms and their intensity vary from person to person. Here are some things that can influence how severe your withdrawal symptoms will be:

• How long you were addicted
  Daily use of a substance over an extended period of time can lead to higher tolerance and therefore more severe withdrawal symptoms.
• The combination of substances used
  A co-occurring dependence on substances and alcohol may make symptoms worse, as one withdrawal symptom may worsen the other and vice versa.
• Co-occurring physical or mental disorders
  If you suffer from a mental health disorder (e.g., depression or anxiety) or a physical condition like chronic pain, withdrawal symptoms could be intensified.
• The half-life of the drug
  Generally speaking, if the drug is short-acting, withdrawal symptoms will occur more immediately after the last dose. If it’s long-acting, withdrawal symptoms may be delayed a few days.

What happens during a drug detox program?

Each person receives individualized care and treatment protocols at Alpine Recovery Lodge, but we want to share basic steps you can expect during the initial evaluation. We will work together to determine:

• What substances you are addicted to
• When you consumed the last dose
• The dose and frequency you’re accustomed to
• How long you’ve been using the substance or substances
• How many times you’ve tried to detox before (and if so, what happened)

After the initial evaluation, our skilled clinicians will work together to design a customized drug detox program for your unique needs. This program will include medications, nutrition, emotional support and alternative medicines (e.g., spiritual therapy and emotional processing therapy). As you move through the drug detox program, your team of specialized clinicians will closely monitor your progress and adjust your treatment protocol as needed to ensure optimal results. Once you are no longer dependent on any substance or medication, you will transition to a recovery program.

What is a recovery program?

When you are ready to take the next step of your recovery journey, we will work together to develop a personalized recovery program based on your individual needs. There are many ways we can work together to diagnose and treat your mental or emotional disorders, personality disorders or even a dual diagnosis, including:

• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
  CBT focuses on challenging and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, improving your ability to regulate emotions, and developing personal coping strategies.
• Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
  REBT helps you identify irrational beliefs and negative thought patterns and develop strategies to replace them with more rational thought patterns. This therapy is particularly helpful if you suffer from anxiety, depression or overwhelming feelings of anger, guilt or rage.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  DBT is an evidence-based psychotherapy that began with efforts to treat borderline personality disorder. It can be useful in treating mood disorders, suicidal ideation, and behavioral patterns such as self-harm and substance abuse.
• Dual Diagnosis
  If you have a dual diagnosis, it means you struggle with an addiction as well as a mental disorder. And you are not alone. Approximately 50% of people who struggle with addiction also have a mental disorder.
• Nature/Experiential Therapy
  Nature therapy employs a number of techniques or treatments that use an individual’s presence within nature to help improve mental and/or physical health. Experiential therapyis a type of therapy technique where patients use expressive tools, or activities to re-enact and recreate situations from past and present relationships.
• Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment
  Trauma and PTSD treatment include different types of trauma-focused psychotherapy as well as medications to manage symptoms.
• The 12 Steps
  Recovery is a lifelong process, so there is no wrong way to approach the 12-step program, which provides support, encouragement and accountability for people who genuinely want to overcome their addiction.
• Emotional Processing
• The purpose of emotional processing therapy is to help people process distressing events. This helps restore a sense of calm, which allows you to become more emotionally honest. It also helps you discard patterns of thinking and unproductive behavior that may have inhibited the healing of the mind and emotions.

Our recovery program also emphasizes things like yoga, mindfulness and other holistic treatments so you can find your inner peace and the strength to take back your life.

If you or a loved one is ready to take back your life and would like assistance with the detox process, please contact Alpine Recovery Lodge at 801-874-3387. We offer in-house detox and withdrawal that can support you in your recovery journey. We are determined to give you everything you need to succeed.