Importance of Detox for Substance Abuse and Alcohol

If you are looking for substance or alcohol abuse treatment it’s important to understand the importance of detox in terms of recovery. There isn’t a recovery option that is suitable for every substance or situation — and that’s why finding the right program is important.

Proper substance abuse treatment that is catered specifically for the needs of the patient is crucial. We are going to help you understand why detox is so important and how to find the best treatment for alcohol and substance abuse.

Why Detox is Important for Substance and Alcohol Abuse

The environment of the treatment facility plays a key role in the entire recovery process. While some facilities offer what some consider to be comfortable amenities, it’s for reasons far beyond marketing and attracting patients.

A very comfortable and relaxed environment creates a setting that makes the patient more comfortable about opening up and discussing his or her situation with staff members. It’s also distraction free — and away from temptation and bad influence.

It’s much easier for a patient to look forward and keep a positive attitude in a comfortable environment. The more relaxed they are and the more activities available to them, the better chance they stand of staying clean and completing the detox program and entering back into their normal lives sober.

The detoxification process at Detox of South Florida involves much more than simply refraining from drinking alcohol or taking drugs — it involves a complete disconnect, evaluation and plan to move forward and past the problem.

Activities Aid in Detox and Recovery

Keeping recovery patients distracted and occupied while in treatment is very important. Whether it’s physical activities like bike rides or ping pong, or mental exercises like puzzles or board games, organized distractions are part of the detox process.

This is done to keep the patient occupied at all times. The last thing you want to do is create an environment that causes them to become bored — that greatly increases the chance of them thinking about alcohol or drugs — and focusing their energy on that, rather than the recovery process.

Some of the more common activities at Rehab South Florida, the substance abuse and Alcohol facility center include:

• Board games and puzzles
• Video games
• Reading
• Bike rides
• Ping pong
• Swimming
• Fishing
• Cooking
• Running
• Gym training

Have you ever wondered why many of the top rehab facilities are located in Florida and California? It’s no coincidence — the weather and the available activities play a large role. Being able to participate in outdoor activities year-round is very important.

Being outside is very healthy, and many of the most effective detox activities are done outside. Part of the treatment process is showing the patient that there are many different activities and hobbies that they can participate in that allow one to enjoy life without drugs and alcohol.

Finding the Best Detox Options Available

So, where can you turn when it’s time to find the best detox program to kick a substance or alcohol abuse problem? The internet has quickly become the number one source of information on the available treatment options.

Think about it — how did you land on our website? The internet. There are many different factors to consider when choosing a facility, though. What is the staff to patient ratio? Is it an inpatient or outpatient treatment program? How long is the program? What happens if the patient shows signs of relapsing? What is the overall success rate of long-term sobriety?

These, along with other questions, must be asked. Remember, your goal is to find the very best substance abuse or alcohol abuse treatment program. The answers to these questions will help you find the best detox program.

Mental Health Concerns to Consider

When it comes to substance abuse — drugs and alcohol — there are often issues related to mental health that will also need to be addressed. These are often what directly creates the initial problem and continues to fuel it.

Taking care of the underlying issues in addition to the actual addiction itself, help to ensure long-term recovery and sobriety. Identifying and addressing the issues allows solutions to be created and executed.

It also enables the patient to move past them. Eliminating these issues from the equation removes the possibility of the patient falling back on them and using them as an excuse or reason to relapse. Mental health conditions are highly common in those that suffer from substance abuse.

Identifying and acknowledging them plays a big role in the recovery process. Look for a detox program that focuses on this aspect of recovery — if not, the likelihood of relapse is greatly increased.

Difference Between Inpatient and Outpatient Detox Treatment

When selecting a detox program to aid in substance abuse treatment you have two choices when it comes to programs available — inpatient and outpatient. One isn’t necessarily better than the other — they both have their pros and cons and it really depends on the patient and his or her specific needs.

Remember, it’s important to find a treatment and detox option that works for the patient’s needs. Otherwise, the odds of a successful treatment and discharge are going to be low. A detox program isn’t a copy and paste solution — they must be tailored specifically for the individual.

When it comes to drug abuse and alcohol abuse, inpatient treatment programs are typically preferred. But, with that being said, it’s not always an option. Some patients might not have access to an inpatient program and an outpatient detox recovery program might be their only option.

For these reasons we will explain both, inpatient and outpatient options. Both offer detox treatment options to those that are serious about making a positive change.

Inpatient Detox Treatment

The major component of an inpatient detox program is the fact that it’s a 24-hour program. The patient stays at the facility, where he or she receives around the clock supervision and help. This creates a secure and safe environment for them to detox under the guidance of addiction professionals.

Most detox programs will assign one main detox and treatment counselor who will be their main point of contact. This is done to establish trust and build a relationship that strengthens over time, allowing the patient to comfortably open up.

The majority of inpatient detox for substance abuse programs are 30 days long. Once completed there is generally another 30, 60 or 90 days of residential treatment, where the program will follow up with the patient to make sure he or she is continuing the program and refraining from relapsing.

For severe detox, there are inpatient programs that are long-term. These programs are typically for the most extreme cases and situations, or for past patients that have already entered and failed programs in the past.

Outpatient Detox Treatment

Some patients cannot commit to a 30 day stay at an inpatient treatment facility, and in those situations a highly monitored outpatient program can still be effective. They are generally more flexible and work around the patient’s schedule and availability.

There are scheduled meetings and treatment sessions that they must attend at the facility, but they are not required to stay overnight. Work and family obligations are the two main reasons patients will opt for an outpatient detox program.

If work or family is a concern and/or priority it’s often a good sign that the patient understands his or her responsibilities and they are serious about getting help before the situation spirals into a larger more serious problem.

Addiction severity for an outpatient program is oftentimes lower than the more interese cases that require inpatient treatment. Alcohol abuse and substance addiction can be effectively treated with outpatient detox programs — as well as lowering the possibility of relapsing.