When you or someone you love is struggling with drug use, it is important to know that help is available and that healing is possible. There are many facilities that offer drug detox programs in Chicago, and finding the drug detox center that is the right fit is a very important step. If you are battling an addiction, you can always start by asking your physician about recommended drug detox centers in Chicago. Then, when you have some recommendations, it is wise to do your own research and find a drug detox Chicago facility with the most suitable program for you.
Chicago’s newest facility that offers drug detox is Chicago Rehab Center, an integrated center for healing that is available to help with a variety of substance use disorders. CRC is home to the industry’s most innovative programming and is here to help you along every step of your drug and alcohol addiction recovery.
When is Detox Necessary?
If you or someone you care about has become dependent on a substance, then detoxification (detox) may be needed. You know when you are dependent when your body does not physically function normally without the substance. Finding a reputable, reliable detox center in Chicago is a critical part of detoxing in a healthy and safe way.
What is Drug Detox?
Detox is the process of your body ridding itself of substances such as drugs or alcohol. The detox process also includes managing withdrawal symptoms as your body has to adapt to no longer having the substance in it. Symptoms of withdrawal are likely to occur because the body has become dependent on the substance. Some of these symptoms can be life-threatening, which is why a reputable, safe drug detox Chicago center is so critical.
What are Symptoms of Withdrawal During Detox?
After the body has been consistently receiving a substance, it then becomes dependent on that substance over time. When you discontinue the use of that substance, withdrawal symptoms are likely. Symptoms vary based on the substance (for example, withdrawal from opioids looks different from withdrawal from alcohol), but the following list includes general symptoms of withdrawal during detox:
- Vomiting/nausea
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Nightmares
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Fever
- Depression
- Increased appetite
- Fatigue
- Excess sweating
- Rapid Pulse
- Confusion
How Long Does Drug Detox Take?
The withdrawal process varies based on many factors. It is different, for example, for someone who used heroin for eight years versus someone who used alcohol for one year. Some drugs will cause your body to feel immediate symptoms upon ceasing use of the drug while other drugs will not produce withdrawal symptoms right away.
The detoxification process clearly depends on a number of factors. These factors include:
- The type of drug that was consumed
- Drug consumption duration
- History of drug use
- Quantity of drugs consumed
- Patient’s medical history
- Patient’s age and gender
- Presence of underlying co-occurring mental health conditions
Program Duration: Drug Detox Center in Chicago
Although the amount of time it takes to detox from a drug varies from individual to individual, the actual detox period usually lasts anywhere from seven to 10 days; however, the entire process of detoxification (including alcohol or drug rehab) can take much longer. Comprehensive drug detox treatment programs are designed to keep patients safe and as comfortable as possible throughout the detox process. The duration at a drug detox center in Chicago varies as some will include just the actual physical detox process (of maybe a week or so) while other programs may include many months of psychological counseling and other treatments to help keep the patient on the path of sobriety.
Following drug detox with professionals in Chicago, you will most often then be participating in various forms of psychological therapy such as individual therapy and group therapy. This process of healing your body also includes healing your mind and spirit, and there is not really a timeframe one can put on optimizing his or her health as it is part of an ongoing process.
The Steps of Drug Detox
First: Comprehensive Medical Assessment
A quality drug detox center in Chicago realizes that each patient’s detox needs are different, and thus they come up with a personalized treatment plan to best answer those needs. For this purpose, the first step in any drug detoxification process in Illinois is the medical assessment. The drug detox team screens every incoming patient for mental and physical health issues. Blood tests are performed to deduce the number of drugs present in the body. This allows drug detox center experts to determine the level and type of treatment needed.
In addition to this, an extensive review of medical, drug, and psychiatric histories are also conducted. Information gathered from the assessment can help set up the individual’s long-term treatment plan. The detox team may try to find answers to the following questions:
- What drugs has the patient consumed?
- When was the last drug dose taken?
- What drug dose is the patient accustomed to?
- How long has the patient been consuming the drug?
- Has the patient tried to get sober in the past?
In addition to this, doctors may also screen for:
- Drug and alcohol use disorders
- Past medical conditions and history
- Contributing psychological factors
- Co-occurring disorders
- Withdrawal risks
Once Chicago drug detox experts get the answers they are looking for, they most often then develop a drug detox plan that best fulfills each person’s individual needs.
Second: Patient Stabilization
The next step in a drug detox program is to stabilize patients with psychological and medical therapy. To reduce withdrawal symptoms and prevent complications, detox experts may prescribe medication during this stage.
Third: Support
As the detox process often involves uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, it is important that medical support is available 24 hours a day during the detox process. Supportive and compassionate care is an important part of this step in the journey.
Fourth: Ongoing Care
Drug detoxification is the first step in the journey toward sobriety, but for real success to occur, a lifelong commitment is necessary. Choosing an Illinois alcohol or drug treatment facility that offers ongoing psychological treatment and a sense of community gives you a chance toward sustainable wellness.
What is Drug Detox Like at CRC in Chicago?
At CRC in Chicago, our detox program is an outpatient program, enabling patients to detox from the comfort of their own homes. Our team of experienced professionals offers compassionate care and ongoing support to each client throughout the withdrawal management process.
Our licensed medical staff will come to your home to ensure that you are safe and comfortable as you may be experiencing a variety of withdrawal symptoms, depending on the body’s addiction. Your vitals will be monitored and you will be given the necessary IV treatments to make sure your nutritional and overall health needs are met.
At Chicago Rehab Center, we believe that drug detox in Chicago should focus on treating the whole person, not just an addiction. So, we will be creating a long-term plan and working with your family, as well, as we work together toward a continuum of care. Our goal is whole-person healing, and we aim to provide you with the tools and confidence to travel along a path of sobriety. We hope that by coming to CRC, you will be getting the necessary foundation for long-term health and recovery.
Dr. Beth Dunlap, a board-certified addiction medicine and family medicine physician, is the medical director at CRC Institute, where she is responsible for overseeing all the integrated medical services at the Institute. Beth completed medical school, residency, and fellowship at Northwestern University, where she continues to serve on the faculty as a member of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She has extensive experience in addiction medicine at all levels of care, and her clinical interests include integrated primary care and addiction medicine, harm reduction, and medication-assisted treatment.