May 24, 2021
- Quick homemade drug detox
- Is quick homemade drug detox possible?
- Possible options for drug detox at home
- Why can home drug detox be so dangerous?
- What are the alternatives to home drug detox?
- Questions and answers
- Do drug detox pills provide an effective solution to detox at home?
- What are the possible consequences of a homemade drug detox?
- Do all psychoactive substances generate the same negative symptoms during withdrawal?
Quick homemade drug detox
Quick homemade drug detox is a method of drug detoxification that refers to the process of cleansing the body of toxins accumulated from drug use. Detox aims to restore the normal functioning of the body, overcoming the withdrawal symptoms and helping the addict to get rid of their addiction.
If heavy drugs such as heroin, methadone or morphine are involved and used for a long time, the user would have to prepare themselves for a rough period during the drug detoxification process if performed without medical assistance.
In this article, you will learn more details on what makes quick homemade drug detoxification such a complex procedure. What are the potential risks? Find out about the most efficient methods of detoxification.
Is quick homemade drug detox possible?
When people develop an addiction to psychoactive drugs, their body becomes accustomed to the existence of these substances. Without the drug, the body may experience a series of painful and uncomfortable symptoms. These symptoms are known as withdrawal symptoms, and many of them are often unbearable which may lead to relapse. The main task of detoxification is to eliminate all traces of psychoactive substances from the body and reduce the uncomfortable consequences of drug withdrawal.
Theoretically, the detoxed state can be achieved even by homemade methods, through the use of special medications. But from a professional medical position, it can be very dangerous and have detrimental consequences for your health, especially if you are addicted to opioids, such as heroin or methadone. However, if there is no other way and you are really determined to get rid of drugs and implement a drug detox at home, you should do the following preparations.
The first thing that you have to do is to see your doctor. Explain that you intend to pass the drug detox at home. Your physician will make an assessment on what kind of drug detox would be suitable for home drug detox based on your age, physical state, mental condition and depending on your previous drug treatment experience. This assessment is necessary as homemade detox is only recommended for those drug users who don’t present any danger to themselves and the people around them.
It is important to create a comfortable environment for the period of the drug detox. Prepare everything that you will need during the detox, including: enough water/food supply, warm clothing, over-the-counter painkillers, sedatives and other medications to counteract the problems that you will have to face as a result of homemade drug detoxification.
Be very cautious! Homemade drug detox cannot be performed alone. You must ask someone to assist you and take care of you during detoxification. You should ask someone who is able to evaluate your condition within the process and call for medical help in case something goes wrong.
Possible options for drug detox at home
While it is difficult to truly recommend any of the homemade drug detox remedies, it is possible to find at least some treatment methods that might make this process a lot easier. When individuals who struggle with drug dependence know that someone will always be there for support, it becomes possible to imagine life without addiction. Mental resilience is an important factor to help drug users overcome addiction.
One of the most used methods for drug detox at home involves a natural cessation of drug intake. This method is known as quitting the drug ‘cold turkey’. Because this can cause withdrawal symptoms, it is best to avoid using it, as it can lead to health complications and relapse.
Outpatient treatment programs present another possibility for drug detox at home. In this case, doctors prescribe medication to individuals going through rehab, but no additional medical supervision is provided. Because this program is solely based on the addict’s self-discipline and adherence to the rules that the doctor prescribed, it is not recommended in the more severe cases, where the drug cravings are the strongest.
Nutrition is also an important area that many individuals fail to think about. Individuals who drink lots of fluids and take vitamins and other nutrients on a daily basis make the process of detoxification easier for themselves, as their body regenerates at a faster pace.
Why can home drug detox be so dangerous?
For alcohol addiction, the most effective treatment includes the intake of benzodiazepines, antipsychotics and anticonvulsants. However, when not careful, this treatment can even lead to addiction to these medications, which only makes the situation much worse. On the other hand, when detox is performed according to the doctor’s recommendations, these risks become significantly lower.
When it comes to opioids, there are different forms of treatment, including the substitutional therapy that uses methadone and buprenorphine. However, when patients use these substances without medical supervision, the risks of developing dependence and eventually addiction only increase. Both methadone and buprenorphine can lead to addiction on their own. Even though this therapy is still in use in many medical facilities around the world, by today’s standards, it is considered obsolete and outdated.
The reason for that can be found in the substantial risks that follow this treatment. For example, methadone is a highly addictive substance that comes with its own set of problems. Additionally, methadone therapy can result in increased blood pressure and irregular heartbeat, which can even lead to a life-threatening state.
Even more difficult than the physical discomfort are the mental issues that come to surface during this transitional period. As the toxic substances leave the body, people may experience different psychological symptoms, including:
- Anger
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Suicidal thoughts
Due to this reason, it is advised to always perform detox under the guidance of medical experts. During the detoxification stage, individuals also experience an increase in cravings which can be the point where they revert back to their old habits and relapse. If that happens, they have to go through the entire gruelling process of detoxification again.
What are the alternatives to home drug detox?
The goal of every drug detox is to find the most efficient method of quickly removing all traces of harmful substances from the body, while reducing the negative withdrawal symptoms as much as possible. This can be done through different procedures, including quick detox treatment and ultra-rapid opioid detox (UROD).
While both of these procedures are effective in removing toxic substances from the body, UROD is quicker at eliminating all signs of withdrawal symptoms. It is important to note that both of these procedures can only be safely performed in a medical facility that specializes in addiction treatment, such as a rehab center.
During the ultra-rapid detox procedure, patients spend 6-8 hours under sedation, while the psychoactive substances are being removed from their system. The patient is under medical control and supervision throughout the whole procedure. This entire process can be repeated several times before all traces of toxins are eliminated from the body.
Detoxification only presents one part of the addiction treatment. In order to remove the desire for psychoactive substances, patients also need to undergo several different therapies, including pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and ambulant treatment.
Questions and answers
Do drug detox pills provide an effective solution to detox at home?
While the use of medication can significantly reduce the negative symptoms of drug detox, it is necessary to be very careful during their application. That is why non-home medical detox is considered to be the only safe option.
What are the possible consequences of a homemade drug detox?
If not done correctly, drug detox at home can lead to serious health complications, many of which can be life-threatening. That is why it is always recommended to rely on the help of experts when the first signs of potential problems occur.
Do all psychoactive substances generate the same negative symptoms during withdrawal?
Depending on the substance in question, the length of addiction and the amount of drugs that were used, every detox is specific and relative to the individual. Additionally, some substances only cause psychological problems, while others, such as opioids can result in muscle cramps, pain, nausea and many others types of physical discomfort.
Published on May 24, 2021