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Indicators of Drug Withdrawal

Experience clinician-run addiction treatment at Red Oak Recovery® in the pristine Blue Ridge Mountains

Indicators of Drug Withdrawal

Drug withdrawal happens when a person has an addiction and dependence on a drug. That drug has altered the way the brain functions. Drug withdrawal symptoms can be so significant that they often lead to relapse. That doesn’t mean you can’t stop using. It may mean you need a drug detox, or you may need drug withdrawal treatment as an outpatient treatment. At Red Oak Recovery®, our goal is to get you through this challenging process. Call our team today at 866.457.7590 to learn more about our men’s addiction treatment programs.

Why Does Drug Withdrawal Occur?

Drug withdrawal symptoms occur when a person who is dependent on drugs stops using them. This condition may begin within just 12 hours of not using drugs or alcohol. Withdrawal can last several days and up to several weeks, depending on the type of drug, its severity, and the length of time you used it. These symptoms occur because of the changes the drug made to the brain’s chemistry. The brain believes these drugs will create a happy, positive feeling, so it continues to crave and seek them out. Your body becomes so reliant on them that it may struggle to function without them.

A person may experience drug withdrawal until the drugs are fully removed from the body, and the body relearns how to operate without those substances present. In the meantime, a person has to overcome the drug withdrawal symptoms they have.

Common Drug Withdrawal Symptoms

The type of drug used often determines the symptoms experienced. Most of the time, a person will have intense cravings or a desire to seek out the drug at nearly any expense. Additional drug withdrawal symptoms may include:

  • Physical pain in the muscles and bones
  • Headaches and intense migraines
  • Agitation and anxiety
  • Vomiting, nausea, and general feelings of being ill
  • Severe anxiety that’s uncontrolled
  • Changes to sleep patterns

Some people may experience more intense symptoms. These symptoms may include seizures, hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. Symptoms may also involve irregular heartbeats, changes to breathing patterns, trouble with focusing, and irrational fear.

How Is Drug Withdrawal Treatment Helpful?

These symptoms are difficult to manage. Drug withdrawal treatment is often available to support you. Drug detox is when the body has to process and remove the substances and then break through the dependence experienced. This can be done through the use of medications. Mediations ease the cravings by tricking the brain into believing the drugs are present. Over a few days or weeks, the brain is no longer dependent.

It’s essential to recognize that some addictions and drugs are highly risky to detox from on your own. In this case, working with a doctor or in a treatment program may be necessary.

How Our Team Can Help

If you’re experiencing drug withdrawal, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. That’s a sign that your body is detoxing. However, it’s best to do this with help. Our professionals at Red Rock Recovery can offer the support you need.

We offer a range of treatment programs designed to provide you with the best tools for overcoming these symptoms and starting addiction recovery therapy. Some of the services we offer include:

  • Dual diagnosis treatment
  • Holistic healing programs
  • Clinical rehabilitation services
  • Family counseling services
  • Addiction therapy services
  • Individual counseling programs

Red Oak Recovery® Is Available to Help You

Drug withdrawal is an intense time that you do not want to go through on your own. Some people with addiction need drug detox, a process to slowly work through the drug withdrawal symptoms. Drug withdrawal treatment, including through the use of medications, is available to help many others. At Red Oak Recovery®, we offer treatment options to support you as you stop using drugs. Call us at 866.457.7590 or connect with our team now.