An individual who is addicted to drug or alcohol can find it hard to quit. Kicking this habit requires careful and strategic intervention. In most recovery treatment plans; detoxing is the first and probably the most important step of the process.

Drug and Alcohol Detox help get rid of all the toxic elements of substances from the human body. It also involves controlling the triggers that are orchestrated by the brain that wants you to not stop and continue consumption.

If you are looking to quit drugs or alcohol, you need to be prepared for ‘Withdrawal Symptoms’. These are painful occurrences that include everything from excessive sweating, body ache, diarrhoea, vomiting, and violent shaking of the body!

In this resource article on detoxification, we try to address a major question- how long does the detoxification process take? If you or someone you know is looking at recovery plans and treatments, and are exploring detoxification, you should stick around till the end of the article.

Drug and Alcohol Detox Programs: What are they all about?

Detox centers and programs help individuals who are looking to recover from their addiction programs. The best detox centers, specializing in aiding individuals who are suffering from all types of substance abuse. Some of the common drug addiction problems concern alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, opioids, LSD, ecstasy, cigarettes, etc.

According to medical experts that help individuals recover at detox centers, there are two major areas that these programs target-

1. Physical

This includes using medications, intravenous fluids, and invasive procedures to remove traces of the drug from the body. Eliminating the remnants removes the dangers they possess to our bloodstream and organs. You can think of this process as taking out the trash from your body.

2. Mental

Even when all traces of drugs are removed from the body, the brain can continue to act as a problem. Drugs alter the brain chemistry and force it to keep sending powerful triggers that force us to start consuming again. Mental therapy and counseling are required to counter this.

If you want to know more about one of the country’s highest-rated detox facilities, check out Gallus detox here!

Factors that affect the Duration and Time Length of the Detox Recovery Programs

If you use Google search and type in ‘how long does a detox process last at a center, you will typically find an answer in the range of seven to ten days.

However, this is trivializing the importance of the issue at hand. The reason is, detoxification, especially for someone who has an addiction problem, is more than just about counting the days.

In this section, we are going to list down some major factors that affect the duration of the detox recovery program at a specialized center.

1. The type of drug you have been consuming and are addicted to

The first thing you should know is that not all detox programs have the same duration. One critical factor that affects the duration is the type of drug you have been consuming. Some drugs and substances have a lesser impact on both the body and the brain. Others have a stronger effect and might take longer to get completely rid of our physical and mental systems.

2. The period you have been consuming the drug for

When it comes to addiction or its recovery, time plays a critical role. The longer you have been addicted to and consuming something, the longer will the detox process take. Our body and brain are conditioned on habit-forming. Breaking a habit like drug use might take longer if you have been living with the problem for a longer period. You need to keep this in mind.

3. The mental health condition of the individual affected with the problem

Just like there are physical differences between individuals, the same applies to their mental health as well. People who are stronger in terms of their willpower and conditioning can fight the withdrawal symptoms better. This enables them to complete the detoxification process that others might not have the same level of mental strength.

4. The past medical history and any associated illnesses and ailments

If an individual that is checking into a facility for detoxification has any prior medical condition, the same needs to be taken into account when preparing the treatment plan. Possible side effects from the detox medications are something that healthcare professionals would look to avoid. This plays a major role in defining the drug and alcohol detox period.

5. The individual’s age and gender also play a role in influencing the duration

If you are younger, your body will be able to overcome the ill effects of drug use and recovery will be faster. On the other hand, if you are older, or have weaker immunity, you will find yourself in a detox program that will take a long while to complete. Several studies have also pointed out that gender also plays a role in addiction recovery programs and treatments.

6. The severity of the withdrawal symptoms in individuals

To be honest, not everyone that undergoes has the same reaction and response to withdrawal symptoms. In some instances, these might get serious. It can lead to issues like uncontrollable vomiting, nausea, shivering, sleeplessness, and more. However, there are many cases, where the severity has been quite less and this has helped in quicker detoxification regimens.

7. The capability and expertise of the strategies employed by experts at detox facilities-

Not all detox centers follow the same set of treatment plans and strategies. There is a reason some have been highly rated, while others have not. At the end of the day, the duration of the detox programs depends on the efficacy of the plans that have been put in order by the experts. Proven techniques and strategies deliver results in certified institutions.

8. What Foods to Eat During a Drug

An important part of the detoxification process is to feed your body to replace lost nutrients. This is how a healthy diet supports detoxification from drugs or alcohol.

Before they learn how to detoxify alcohol, most people only think about removing the toxic substance from the body. However, an important part of the detoxification process is to feed your body to replace lost nutrients. A healthy body makes it easier to avoid relapse and will make a big difference during your recovery. To find out specific foods for drug detox which are known for their nutritious benefits. These foods can give you the energy you need during detox.

The Final Takeaway

Detox is the first step that you will take to aid your addiction recovery. Whether you are fighting alcohol addiction or drug use, you will need to check into a specialized facility that has personalized plans for detoxification. You must do your research, check the ratings, schedule a consultation, and judge the credibility of a detox facility for yourself. If you would like us to assist you on your treatment journey, we would love to do that. You can write down all your queries in the comments section below and we promise to get in touch with you at the earliest.