Watching your loved one struggle with drug addiction has probably felt like traveling through a dark emotional tunnel—one with no end in sight.
Until now.
The moment they chose rehab was the moment you finally saw a light at the end of your tunnel. You’re not alone, either.
Research shows that 35 million individuals worldwide currently struggle with substance addiction or abuse, and millions of Americans have sought assistance for their drug addiction. Drug detoxification doesn’t always have to happen in a center-based setting, though. It can happen right at home.
Let’s explore the top benefits of in-home detox and how your loved one can make the most of the experience.
1. Cost Savings
An intensive inpatient drug detox program providing around-the-clock medical supervision can help a person recovering from addiction minimize the discomfort associated with drug withdrawal, but it can be expensive. The home drug detoxification process is a more budget-friendly option compared with rehab facility costs since it might save your loved one money on accommodation and travel expenses, as well as allow them to keep working while recovering from drug addiction (more on this later).
Not so fast, though.
Detoxing without supervision might be easier on your loved one’s wallet, but it can also have serious medical repercussions if not done properly. This is why working with a reputable provider of home-based detox services is so critical. Their healthcare staff can guide your loved one through the process so they don’t have to navigate it alone at home.
2. Effectiveness
Another major benefit of home detox is the fact that it’s highly effective due to involving multiple treatment solutions, including cleansing the patient’s body of dangerous substances and providing therapy to support them through recovery. For instance, home detoxification targeting alcohol addiction can help minimize withdrawal symptoms such as delirium tremens, which may generate fever, hallucinations, and severe mental confusion. Other severe withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol and drugs like opioids (including synthetic drugs and hypnotics), cocaine, and heroin include the following:
- Depression
- Hypertension
- Impaired respiration
The Thomas Recipe, a special treatment regimen, is designed specifically to help people battling opiate withdrawal. That’s because detoxification from opiates, which nine million individuals abused in 2020, is dangerous and painful, potentially leading to death. The recipe includes combining over-the-counter medication with benzodiazepine supplements to facilitate a rapid and safe drug detox. Clinical assessments may also be conducted to manage withdrawal symptoms and make the patient more comfortable while undergoing detoxification.
Another detox option is to use the Food and Drug Administration–approved percutaneous nerve field stimulator, or PNFS, to decrease the emotional and physical strain of withdrawal. Incorporating the PNFS into your family member’s treatment plan might help reduce the amount of medication required to provide them with relief from drug withdrawal. Using less medication decreases the extra strain placed on your loved one’s organs, including the kidneys and liver, when they have to break down drugs.
An appropriate treatment regimen can ultimately help your loved one successfully combat drug addiction and avoid problems such as relapsing, diverging to a newer addiction, and insomnia during the process.
3. Personalized Care
Yet another reason to choose home detox for your loved one is that a dependable and flexible at-home detoxification service provider can customize treatment for them. The best programs have highly trained nurses who prioritize cultivating strong relationships with their clients by taking time to learn about their needs and goals, as well as building mutual trust. They can then develop mental health and medical support treatment approaches that reflect their client’s needs, taking on both care coordination and administrative roles to facilitate recovery at home.
The treatment plan should also adapt to your family member’s challenges and progress, as well as provide them with support and feedback each step of the way. Look for a program that also values client respect, discretion, and privacy (more on this later).
4. Comfort
Home detox may benefit your loved one if they value comfort and convenience. Some recovering addicts feel more relaxed and comfortable in their homes versus clinical settings since their homes are private and familiar environments, which might reduce anxiety and stress. Being at home also gives them greater control and flexibility when it comes to their activities and schedules, which might help them more easily cope with drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Recovering addicts can additionally involve their family or friends in the recovery process, and this may provide them with the practical and emotional support they need to thrive post-drug addiction.
Emotional and physical comfort may help a person more easily withstand long-term drug withdrawal symptoms and dig deeper emotionally to kickstart their mental and physical healing processes.
Why Healing Is So Critical
Healing is an important part of addiction recovery because after detoxification, substances might have left your loved one’s system, but their brain and body are still undergoing recovery. If they have a serious addiction, it will take time for them to adjust to living without drugs and physically bounce back from their addiction. People in recovery may experience withdrawal symptoms such as soreness, fatigue, irritability, and mood swings for several months or even one year after detoxification. Being at home may make this experience easier for your loved one, especially if they can engage in self-care activities during detox. These activities range from natural exposure to physical activities and nutritional cooking. Mindfulness practices such as meditation and mindful breathing may also help your loved one.
5. Privacy
Keeping the drug recovery and addiction process private is another reason to choose home recovery over center-based treatment, particularly if your loved one faces discrimination or stigma. That’s because recovery from drug addiction is a highly personal journey requiring a truly safe space for healing and recovery. Being concerned about privacy is an external factor that shouldn’t hinder your loved one’s recovery. Instead, your recovering addict should feel confident their anonymity will be respected during their treatment process.
At-home detox might be more private than detoxification in a center since your loved one won’t have to worry about traveling to or staying at a center that other people might recognize as a substance abuse treatment program. Detoxing at home won’t expose your loved one to other staff or patients who might leak or share their pata. They can furthermore control who can access their records.
6. Convenience
Your loved one might find it simpler to fit detoxification into their responsibilities and schedule at home, instead of having to take a break from school or work. This makes it a more practical option for recovering addicts with work and academic commitments they can’t delay for extended periods.
Another reason why in-home drug detox is convenient is that your loved one won’t feel as disconnected from the close people in their life as they could in a center-based treatment setting. They’ll be able to stay in touch with business associates, friends, and family while receiving the medical and mental therapeutic help they need to eliminate their addiction to drugs and alcohol effectively and safely.
7. Speed
At-home detox may also be a speedier detoxification solution than center treatment. Center-based treatment might be more of an intensive process than detox at home since your loved one would be removed from their usual triggers and environment in the center setting. Although center treatment might help them focus on their recovery to prevent relapse, the process may last longer and be less flexible. Detoxing at home may save your loved one time while also helping them master how to deal with triggers in their daily life.
Important Considerations
Your loved one may be tempted to try a drug test detoxification kit or drink to facilitate their at-home drug detoxification, but this isn’t enough to achieve the necessary results. Most of these kits are used to illegally cheat drug tests or offer full-body detoxification to enhance a person’s overall health — not for drug detoxification.
Physical drug withdrawal symptoms can be highly distressful, requiring a level of medical support that generally can’t be achieved with self-treatment. A recovering addict also has to learn how to address their psychological demons while going through recovery, particularly early on in their addiction treatment process, which also requires the help of an expert.
Support a Loved One Through Addiction Recovery With Confidence
Undergoing drug addiction recovery can be a trying process physically, mentally, and emotionally. However, in-home detoxification may make the process easier by offering your loved one comfort, convenience, confidentiality, and cost savings.
Consider all of the above-listed benefits of at-home addiction recovery as you seek to help your loved one finally combat their drug addiction and start living life to the fullest in the weeks, months, and years ahead.
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