How Long is The Detox Process?
When individuals use the term “detox,” they may be referring to either the process of removing substances from the body or to a specific detox program. Detoxification entails the elimination of drug traces in the human system. Most people have to deal with withdrawal symptoms when going through a detoxification process. There are two basic types of withdrawal: acute withdrawal, which involves physical symptoms that need rapid medical care, and post-acute withdrawal, which is more closely associated with psychological disorders and needs efficient continual therapy to manage properly.
So how long is a detox process? It all depends on how long the drug has been taken, how often, how intensely, and how physically dependent one has become, but the whole process may take anything from a few days to many years. The other factors determining the length of the detox process include:
- The kind of drug that was misused.
- The frequency with which drug misuse occurred.
- The mode of administration (smoked, inhaled, etc.).
- The dosage that the abuser took.
- Whether they used other drugs.
- Existence of co-occurring mental health illnesses.
- The patient’s medical background.
- The patient’s age.
- The patient’s gender.
How Long Does Alcohol Detox Last?
Quitting drinking suddenly may be dangerous. Alcohol detoxification might last anywhere from three days to two weeks depending on the degree of alcoholism. For example, if someone who has frequently been drinking for five years suddenly stops, they may experience severe withdrawal symptoms such as seizures, delirium, and even cardiac arrest. There is a risk of mortality from all of them.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms often begin six to twelve hours post-abstinence. However, the most severe and potentially fatal symptoms may not appear until after several days. Protecting oneself by going through this process under medical supervision at a detox clinic is essential. A person may be offered medications to help with withdrawal symptoms during detox. Some of the most regularly prescribed drugs for alcohol withdrawal are benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), or lorazepam (Ativan).
How Long Does Benzo Detox Last?
Benzodiazepine detox is potentially lethal. A stay at a detox clinic for benzo withdrawal might run anywhere from two weeks up to eight weeks or more. Benzo addiction causes withdrawal symptoms that might persist for weeks or even months. How long it takes to withdraw from benzodiazepines depends on the kind of benzo and the period of addiction. The first round of withdrawal lasts an average of three to four days. Symptoms often start occurring between six and twenty-four hours following the last dosage of a particular benzo.
Skyward Treatment Center Offers the Safest Medical Detox Programs in Houston
Detox is the first and most crucial phase of drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Detox is potentially lifesaving for those with substance use disorders (SUD). Medication-assisted treatment lessens the severity of withdrawal and improves the patient’s prognosis for continuing on to inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation and therapy. Get in touch with Skyward Treatment Center ASAP to learn about detox programs.
