When someone you care about has decided to seek help for their drug addiction, the first step to recovery is drug detox. Taking this first step is equally challenging for your loved one and yourself. There will be major changes required. Therefore, it is essential to understand how to support someone in drug detox.
What is Drug Detox?
Drug detox is a process where all traces of the substances your loved one was abusing is removed from their body. The process can be mentally and physically difficult because they have to learn how to function without the drugs in their body.
When your loved one was abusing drugs, chemical changes occurred in the brain. These changes also affect them emotionally and physically. As the drugs are removed from the body, their body gradually adjusts to the reduction. However, this can result in undesirable withdrawal symptoms.
To help limit the withdrawal symptoms, clinically supervised detox is highly recommended. With supervision, your loved one can carefully be weaned from drugs in a safe environment while being made as comfortable as possible. Encouraging your loved one to enter a rehab facility is a contributing factor in how to support someone in drug detox.
Why is Detox Necessary?
Drug detox is necessary because it allows the body to heal itself from the damage caused by drug abuse. Chemical levels in the brain will slowly return to normal. The brain also starts to heal damaged neurotransmitters and neural networks.
Physically, the body must flush all traces of the drug from the body. Afterward, any damage caused to various bodily systems can begin to heal.
Understanding How to Support Someone in Drug Detox
When you want to support someone in drug detox, there are several things you can do. For starters, you should take the time to learn more about your loved one’s drug addiction and how their addiction affected them mentally and physically. You could also join a support group for loved ones of addicts.
Next, you need to be patient while they go through drug detox. Contact with your loved one will be very limited at the beginning. This is not meant to punish you or your loved one. Rather, it is necessary to keep contact with the outside world to a minimum. Doing so allows them to focus on getting through detox and recovery without distractions.
Once you can have contact with your loved one, you need to remember they are still in a fragile place. Therefore, you should avoid overburdening them with stressful situations occurring at home. Instead, being supportive means talking about things that interest your loved one, like hobbies, activities, sports, and your kids.
In addition, you should take advantage of open visitation days at the facility where they are detoxing. Attending these open visits not only shows support but also allows you the opportunity to learn more about their treatment and other ways you can help.
Importance of Being Involved in Drug Detox
You need to remember your loved one’s addiction is a disease that has impacted everyone around them. Depending on the extent of their addiction, they could have put you in financial difficulties, broken your trust, and caused other damages to your relationship.
Being involved with their drug detox demonstrates you still love and care about them. It also shows them you are willing to save your relationship by doing what is necessary. Part of this process is supporting their recovery progress and not rushing the time they need to recover.
It can take several months or longer for someone to become confident in their abilities to maintain their sobriety. During this time, work on repairing your relationship with family therapy and counseling. Additionally, continue to participate in family days and other events where families can attend.
After Detox and Rehab
You need to be prepared for significant changes after your loved one completes drug detox and rehab. When they return home, you need to ensure the environment they return to will allow them to continue to work on their recovery and maintain their sobriety. Some supportive ways you can help include:
- Remove all drugs and drug paraphernalia from the home.
- Lock up any prescription medications you or your kids need.
- Remove all alcohol from the house to eliminate the temptation to substitute addictive substances.
- Help create structure with regular meal times, family game nights, activities, and other such things to keep your loved one busy.
- Continue to have patience and be optimistic about your loved one’s recovery.
- Be open to ongoing family therapy and counseling.
- Do not attempt to manage your loved one’s recovery in such a manner that you tell them what they will and will not do.
Drug Detox and Addiction Treatment in Nashville,TN
When your loved one is ready to take the first steps to recovery, drug detox and addiction treatment are available at Detox Nashville. We offer clinically supervised detox to minimize the withdrawal effects for your loved one.
We also offer access to resources, education, and counseling to help you learn more about addiction and how to support someone in drug detox and rehab. For further information about our personalized drug detox and addiction treatment programs in Nashville, please feel free to contact us or call to speak with an intake specialist today!
