Alcohol and Drug Withdrawal in Richmond, VA

Alcohol and drug withdrawal describes the physical-somatic and emotional-motivational symptoms that occur when people who are dependent on drugs stop or reduce their intake. Alcohol and drug withdrawal can be a challenging time for drug addicts, with professional treatment always advised during this stage of the recovery process. Alcohol and drug withdrawal is best managed through medical or natural detox programs, with medications often administered to help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. If you or anyone you know needs to go through alcohol and drug withdrawal, Richmond Drug Treatment Centers can help.

What is Withdrawal?

Alcohol and drug withdrawal describes the set of symptoms that occur when people stop drug intake after a prolonged period of abuse. Tolerance and withdrawal symptoms are often recognized as the immediate signs of drug dependence, with different drugs associated with different symptoms. For example, some drugs are known to produce physical-somatic withdrawal symptoms when intake is stopped or reduced, with others known to produce emotional and motivational symptoms. Addiction is a learned behavior that changes the structure of the brain over time, with these symptoms occurring as the brain and body try to adjust to the lack of specific neuronal connections.

Drug Abuse vs. Dependence

Drug abuse is defined by the uncontrolled use of psychoactive substances, with drug dependence defined by the compulsive use of substances to the point where tolerance and withdrawal symptoms are present. Drug abuse can easily lead to dependence without treatment, with drug addiction also possible over time. While dependence and addiction are closely related, they are not exactly the same thing. For example, a psychiatric patient may become dependent on their medications without being addicted to them, a state that also requires severe drug cravings and prolonged psychological attachment. Drug addiction is a complex condition that is not easily treated, with most people benefiting from a prolonged period of behavioral therapy in order to tackle the underlying precursors of addictive behavior.

Medical Detox

Medical detox is the process and experience of drug or alcohol withdrawal in a medical context. While it is possible to stop using problematic drugs without the use of medications, this can be dangerous and is not advised in most cases. Medical detox allows patients to stop drug intake in a safe and secure medical environment, with doctors and other medical staff on hand at all times to evaluate physical and psychological responses. Various medications are administered depending on the substance and extent of dependence, including benzodiazepine drugs such as Valium and Serax and opiates such as methadone and buprenorphine.

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, medical detox should always include three separate yet integrated stages. During the initial stage, a set of tests are performed for existing physical and psychological conditions. During the second stage, medications are applied to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. During the final stage, patients are directed towards existing rehabilitation programs in an effort to tackle the psychological precursors of addictive behavior.

Let Richmond Drug Treatment Centers be your primary recovery resource. Just give our recovery advocates a call today at (804) 510-0877 to begin your journey.