The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimates that 19.7 million Americans aged 12 and older have a substance use disorder. 1 Finding an emergency detox center is essential for people battling addiction who are at a high risk of overdosing and must begin treatment as soon as possible. Learn more about these types of treatment facilities and how to find the right one.
What Is an Emergency Detox Center?
The detox process is the initial stage of substance use disorder treatment. It involves getting rid of the substance from your body. Your body has grown dependent on the substance to function, so you might experience withdrawal symptoms when you remove it. These can range from mild to life-threatening, which is why attempting to go through the detox process on your own is never a good idea.
Although withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on the substance, some of the most common ones are: 2
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Muscle cramps
- Aches and pains
- Runny nose
- Diarrhea
- Increase or decrease in heart rate
- Increase or decrease in blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Breathing problems
- Extreme drowsiness
- Extreme agitation
- Irritability
- Hallucinations
- Delirium
- Unconsciousness
A detox center can use medications to help you manage these symptoms and the discomfort that occurs during withdrawal from drugs and alcohol.
An emergency detox center is an option that can help people who have life-threatening addictions and require fast help. People battling addiction can have unpredictable behaviors, so getting treatment can be necessary at any time of the day or night. Emergency detox centers can offer the support they need.
Emergency detox can be a life-saving measure for people in dangerous circumstances or those who live in unstable environments because it quickly removes them from that danger.
An emergency detox center can also be crucial for people who do not have much motivation to enter treatment. Sometimes, people who need treatment find it challenging to follow through on that need if they have to wait for space to open up in a facility or if they have to go through a typical intake process.
Emergency detox centers can also be vital options for people with addictions to sedative-hypnotics, alcohol, or other dangerous substances because unsupervised and abrupt withdrawal from these substances can put their lives at risk.
Treatment Process at Emergency Detox Centers
An emergency detox center allows you to enter detox on the same day. The process usually starts with a pre-screening, where medical professionals will ask about your:
- Medical history
- History of substance abuse
- Prior detox and treatment attempts
- Private and social life
- General health
- Co-occurring mental health conditions
The pre-screening process allows providers to determine which level of treatment they may need.
Once you are admitted into the emergency detox center, the stabilization part of the process starts. This is where you receive medications that can help you manage withdrawal symptoms. Some of the most effective medications that detox centers rely on include: 3
- Methadone
- Naltrexone
- Buprenorphine
- Lofexidine
- Naloxone
You will receive care around the clock to ensure that you are comfortable and stable. Once stable, you can begin considering how to continue treatment. Detox is just the start of the process and requires following it with inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient programs.
Detox programs can vary in length depending on the substance and the individual, but they typically last three to seven days.
What to Bring to an Emergency Detox Center
It is important to come to the detox center with a few essential items so that you are comfortable during your stay, including:
- Clean clothing for at least five days
- Personal hygiene products without alcohol
- Non-skid footwear
- Prescription medications (with the label, doctor’s information, and dosage schedule)
You do not want to bring anything that contains alcohol. Additionally, people can become more sensitive to smells as they go through detox, so do not bring perfumes, colognes, or body sprays. You also cannot bring personal snacks, lighters with Butane or any other flammable liquid, pornography, or anything else that people may find offensive.
You cannot bring weapons of any kind or electronic devices with cameras, including phones. Nothing you bring should connect to the internet, either.
Each facility has its requirements, so check what you can and cannot bring to emergency detox programs.
How to Choose an Emergency Detox Center in Costa Mesa
There are different treatment options available at different centers. Learn what to look for when choosing an emergency detox center in Costa Mesa.
Continuing Treatment Options
When choosing an emergency detox center in Costa Mesa, one crucial feature is the chance to continue treatment at the same facilities following detox. It is best not to have to leave the center and find another one for inpatient, partial hospitalization, or outpatient services because that complicates your care and could even put you at risk of relapsing as you transition from one location to the next.
Your Needs
Before making a decision on the emergency detox center you want to turn to, you should have an idea of your needs. For example, if you have an alcohol use disorder, ensure that the center has experience helping people through this type of detox.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
You also want to know the cost of emergency detox and if the center works with your insurance provider. Ensure you ask the center which treatments you’ll need and how much they’ll cost. Ask your insurance provider what kind of coverage you can expect for detox and other substance use disorder treatments.
Inpatient or Outpatient
There are inpatient and outpatient detox programs available. If you need emergency detox, the best option is inpatient because it can offer the 24/7 support you need to go through the process safely.
Length of Treatment
Depending on the kind of substance use disorder you have, your usual dosage, and how long you have had the addiction, the length of detox you need may vary. For alcohol and sedative hypnotics, for example, a seven-day detox program can be an excellent choice.
Single Sex or Co-Ed Programs
You must also decide whether you would feel more comfortable with single-sex facilities or co-ed detox programs. This can depend on many factors, including whether you have suffered trauma or feel that you would do better in gender-specific treatment.
Get the Help You Need Today
Getting help as soon as possible can save your life if you struggle with a substance use disorder. Addiction is a chronic condition that requires treatment, and that treatment begins with an excellent detox center.
At Clear Life Recovery, we offer emergency detox services to help you start your treatment correctly. We provide medical detox that can keep you comfortable and safe and offer 24/7 monitoring to guide you through the process. Once you complete the detox process, you can choose from inpatient, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient programs to stay on the path to recovery.
Contact Clear Life Recovery today to get the help you deserve.
Sources:
[1] https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2021-nsduh-annual-national-report
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/
[3] https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/medications-opioid-overdose-withdrawal-addiction
