Withdrawal from some drugs can be severe. In fact, the symptoms can be so bad that even the idea of going through withdrawal is sometimes enough to keep people from going to drug rehab. When withdrawal symptoms are severe, or pose any danger to your health, it’s best to go through a medically supervised drug detox program as your first step to getting drug-free.



How do you know whether you need drug detox before drug rehab?

If you’ve ever gone too long without the drug, you will have experienced physical, mental and emotional symptoms that are a good indication of how bad it can get. If even going without a drug for a short period of time causes anything more than mild discomfort, you could need drug detox.

Let’s have a look at what you could experience:

Opiates and opioids (synthetic opiates). The symptoms associated with opiates and opioids such as Vicodin, OxyContin, methadone, heroin or morphine, to name a few, can include anxiety, increased respiratory rate, sweating, restlessness, decreased appetite or an inability to stomach food, and irritability.

However, these symptoms are just the beginning - without help they will get worse, and other more severe symptoms can be expected. So, yes, if you’re withdrawing from opiates or opioids, a drug detox may be your best choice.

Benzodiazepines. Withdrawing from benzos like Xanax and Valium can also be tough: anxiety, tremors, nightmares, insomnia, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, blood pressure problems, high fever, delirium and even seizures are common. Because of the potential life threatening withdrawal symptoms, a medical drug detox is the only way to go. This is not something you want to go through without help.

Withdrawal from stimulants such a cocaine, crack, amphetamines and methamphetamines can be a little easier. However, a lot depends on how much you’ve been taking and over what period of time. Generally, you can expect depression, irritability, difficulty sleeping and intense dreaming. Although these symptoms are a little easier to get through without drug detox, they can nevertheless be severely uncomfortable and frightening. It’s a good idea to consult with a drug detox counselor, let them know about the dosages and frequency, and they can advise you on what to expect.

Marijuana has relatively few withdrawal symptoms. If you’ve been using it often and for a long time, you can expect to be irritable and have difficulty sleeping. However, unless the marijuana you’ve been using has been cut with heroin or other drugs, it’s something you can get through without life-threatening symptoms. Nevertheless, it’s good to have someone there who can help you through it.

Generally, withdrawing from any drug depends on your unique DNA and metabolism. Some people can have severe and even life-threatening symptoms during withdrawal even when they’ve only taken the drug for a short time. Others can take a drug for a longer period and their withdrawal can be far less severe.

However, when it comes to opiates, opioids and benzos, you’re always safer with a medical drug detox. Even if the symptoms aren’t life threatening, they can be severe enough to make you turn back. In fact, that’s exactly what happens to many people trying to get off drugs. A good drug detox program can help you get through withdrawal safely and more comfortably - which will get you started on your way to a life without drugs.