An Addiction Detox Guide

man happy after using an addiction detox guide for help 39 people died of misuse of prescription painkillers in 2015 in Larimer County, home of Fort Collins, CO, a statistic that could have been different if these individuals had attended drug and alcohol detox. Law enforcement officials also report an increase in hospital admissions due to varying degrees of opiate overdose, seeing up to 8 to 10 different cases per day. This follows the rising trend of opiate addiction in the United States, spurred by the innocent enough prescribing of painkillers after medical procedures such as surgery or dental work. For help, use our addiction guide to learn how to proceed when it comes to finding treatment.

Quick Links to Detox Information

Ft. Collins Drug and Alcohol Addiction Statistics

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, conducts a survey each year of the drug and alcohol use in individuals aged 12 and older. In 2015, they pulled the results for the use of each:

  • Alcohol
  • Marijuana
  • Cocaine
  • Prescription painkillers with no prescription

Colorado was found to be in the top 10 states with the highest use in each category. It is the only state in the nation to make it in the top 10 for all four.

Clearly there is an increasing problem with addiction and alcohol abuse in the state of Colorado, including Fort Collins. With higher rates of substance abuse and dependence comes a greater need for addiction treatment centers, from drug and alcohol detox to counseling. There are a variety of treatment types available to individuals wrestling with an alcohol or drug addiction:

  • Alcohol and drug detox
  • Inpatient rehab
  • Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
  • Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
  • Drug and alcohol counseling

The different levels of addiction treatment can either be experienced all the way through or you can select the level which is suitable to you. There is no “right way” to do treatment. The only right way is the way that helps you or your loved one get and stay sober.

This guide will address the first level of care: detox. Your addiction detox guide will say detox is often considered the first step in the treatment process, especially for those who are severely addicted to drugs or alcohol. Find out more about drug and alcohol detox in Fort Collins, Colorado. You may find that something you learn in this guide will save the life of yourself or your loved one.

Drug and alcohol addiction doesn’t have to be the end of your life, a death sentence.

There is a way out of the horrible cycle of addiction if you seek the help that is available. Take the first step towards the process of healing by reading this guide to find out more about alcohol and drug detox in Fort Collins, CO.

What is drug and alcohol detox in Fort Collins?

When someone drinks or uses drugs for an extended period of time they develop a tolerance for these substances. They are able to ingest larger amounts in shorter periods of time. As the body becomes dependent upon drugs and alcohol to get through the day, a sudden absence of them will cause withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol and drug detox in Fort Collins, CO monitors the addict or alcoholic while helping them to separate these harmful substances from their body. When someone is heavily dependent upon drugs or alcohol, withdrawal symptoms are inevitably experienced when they suddenly quit. The intensity of the withdrawals depends upon how much and how often the individual was drinking or using.

When you or your loved one first arrive at drug and alcohol detox in Fort Collins, you will undergo an assessment or evaluation. During this process, you will meet with a therapist to discuss what brought you into detox and inform them more about your individual situation. The therapist will look for signs of dual diagnosis (mental illness or mental health problems in combination with substance dependence) as well as any pre-existing conditions.

More About the Process from the Addiction Detox Guide

You will also meet with a doctor or nurse who will determine your physical state and address any immediate needs you have. The purpose of medical detox is to stabilize you and allow you the opportunity to separate from drugs and alcohol as safely and comfortably as possible. This medical team will provide continued supervision throughout your stay at the drug and alcohol detox facility in order to help you through the detox and withdrawal process.

In addition to medication management and doctor supervision, you will continue to meet with your therapist to further discuss your drug addiction or alcoholism. The therapist will help you begin your process of recovery by explaining more to you about substance abuse and dependence.

You’ll learn early-stage coping skills to help you manage the cravings you will experience, especially during the first few days of medical detox. When you’re going through withdrawal symptoms, sometimes the only thing on your mind is getting drunk or high. Your therapist will be able to help you cope with these feelings.

Ultimately, the goal of alcohol and drug detox in Fort Collins, Colorado is to ensure the alcoholic or addict stays safe and as healthy as possible during the detox period. Not only are withdrawals managed, but doctors and nurses also monitor the overall health of the individual. Drugs and alcohol can take an extreme toll on the body and treatment facilities want to ensure the safety of their patients.

In the most severe cases of alcohol and drug withdrawal, the results can be life-threatening. Medical detox in a medically-supervised environment can potentially save a substance dependent person’s life. If you feel you or your loved one may experience drastic effects during the detox period, attending drug and alcohol detox in Fort Collins, CO may be the safest option for you.

The Addiction Detox Guide Explains Expectations

Regardless of how difficult the detox process is, it is necessary if you or your loved one want to get sober. You’ll have to go through it at some point in order to achieve sobriety. However, once you are through to the other side, the results are more than worth it. No longer living as a slave to the bottle, the pipe, the powder, is the most freeing feeling in the world. What exactly will you experience when going through alcohol detox and drug detox in Fort Collins, CO, though?

As mentioned previously, the extent of the withdrawal symptoms depend on the amount and frequency of use. The detox from drugs and alcohol differ slightly in the symptoms you or your loved one will experience. They also depend on the types of drugs used. The detox from methamphetamines and cocaine is different from the detox from heroin or painkillers. Both are a difficult process but the way the withdrawal is expressed in varying ways.

Alcohol Detox Explained by the Addiction Detox Guide

It begins with minor shakes in the morning but they’re nothing a drink won’t fix. As soon as you take in the first few drinks, the tremors subside and you are able to go about your day like normal. To work, to school, to drop your kids off at daycare in the morning. Quieting these symptoms becomes a regular part of life when you are an alcoholic or have an alcohol use disorder. When you’re still actively drinking, alcohol detox is the farthest thing from your mind.

Depending on how frequently you or your loved one consume alcohol, the alcohol detox symptoms from alcohol can begin as soon as two hours since the last drink. Common withdrawal symptoms during your stay in medical detox include:

  • Tremors or shakes
  • Increased heart rate
  • Sweating
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Irritability
  • Anger
  • Depression
  • Severe mood swings
  • Heart palpitations
  • Seizures

The most severe form of alcohol withdrawal are Delirium Tremens (DTs). They generally occur within the first two or three days after the last drink. DTs include all the above symptoms as well as:

  • Altered mental functions and abilities
  • Confusion
  • Disorientation
  • Delirious state
  • Hallucinations (visual, auditory, or both)
  • Rapid mood changes
  • Fatigue
  • Paranoia
  • Light and sound sensitivity

DTs are incredibly dangerous to manage alone. It is important to seek out medication-assisted detox in Fort Collins, Colorado if you are experiencing Delirium Tremens after quitting drinking.

Drug Detox Explained by the Addiction Detox Guide

The drug detox you or your loved one will experience depends on the type or types of drugs used. Though the withdrawal symptoms of different drugs share some commonalities, there are also stark differences.

For example, symptoms of drug detox from opiates such as heroin or painkillers include:

  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Muscle spasms
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Heightened blood pressure
  • Seizures

On the other hand, drug detox from meth is accompanied by:

  • Fatigue
  • Irritation
  • Loss of motivation
  • Incoherent speaking patterns
  • Hallucinations
  • Paranoia

Withdrawals from opiates during drug detox tend to be more of a physical experience while meth withdrawals tend to affect the mind. Both come along with heavy cravings for using more of the respective drug. Medication-assisted detox will help alleviate these symptoms and help you manage your first few days of sobriety. By attending medical detox, you can help set the stage for a lifelong path of recovery.

How long does alcohol and drug detox in Fort Collins, CO last?

The length of the withdrawal symptoms you experience depend on the substance or substances you used, amount you used, and how often you used it. If you or your loved one were a heavy daily user of a hard substance, the withdrawal symptoms will last longer than for those who were not so involved. In this case, medical detox will be necessary.

Alcohol and drug detox programs generally take place in 3-, 5-, 7-, and 10-day programs. When you are first admitted to the drug detox or alcohol detox facility you will receive an assessment. During this assessment, a team of doctors, nurses, and psychologists will determine both your physical and mental state. The length of your stay will depend on the results of this assessment. Attending a medication-assisted detox may lower the amount of time in the facility. Medical detox helps to alleviate and minimize symptoms which can help speed up the detox process.

You can voluntarily stay longer in drug and alcohol detox in Fort Collins, CO but it may prove more effective to transfer into a follow-up program. Inpatient rehab or an intensive outpatient program are two great options for after medical detox. There you will learn how to work with the addiction or alcoholism you have been experiencing. Staying longer in a medical detox facility will not provide you with as much education and information as an appropriate follow-up program and addiction detox guide.

What is the difference between medication-assisted and non-medication assisted detox?

While an individual is experiencing withdrawal symptoms, medication can be used to lessen or alleviate symptoms. Medication-assisted drug and alcohol detox in Fort Collins makes sure the person is as comfortable as possible while detoxing. The withdrawal process can be excruciating and the assistance of medication under the supervision of doctors and nurses can help ease the withdrawals.

However, there are some alcohol and drug detox facilities who do not provide a medication-assisted detox. Certain sober living houses or inpatient rehabs, even jails and other institutions, force addicts and alcoholics detox “cold turk”o; without any help. Cold turkey detox is a much more painful process and can often lead to complications in those who are severely substance dependent.

Especially in those who may experience seizures or heart problems, utilizing a medication-assisted medical detox is important. You want to ensure that you or your loved one remain as safe as possible during the detox period. Going through alcohol and drug detox in Fort Collins, Colorado under medical supervision with a medication-assisted process will provide the safest scenario for you or your loved one.

What is the difference between drug detox and alcohol detox?

The withdrawal symptoms experienced for drugs and alcohol are different. Some facilities separate their drug detox and alcohol detox, while others keep them in the same location. There is no real difference between separating the types of medical detox and keeping them together as you or your loved one will still receive the same high level of care from alcohol and drug detox in Fort Collins.

Generally speaking, drug detox and alcohol detox are the same thing. The difference is in the type of substance abuse treated. This affects the types of medications used and specific care provided for your individual case of substance dependence. Doctors and nurses will determine the best course of action in regards to treatment and proceed accordingly with your medication-assisted detox.

No matter what substance you are in for, be it drug detox or alcohol detox, you will receive a high, attentive, individualized level of care. Assuming you attend a medication-assisted detox, you will receive medication both for your withdrawal symptoms and any other medications or vitamins you may need.

What kind of medications are used in medical detox in Fort Collins, CO?

There are a variety of medications to manage withdrawal symptoms used during medication-assisted detox in Fort Collins. Different medications are used for different substances used and severity of substance dependence. There are some used to manage withdrawals and others to help reduce drug and alcohol cravings.

The most common medications used for severe alcohol detox are benzodiazepines such as Valium, Librium, or Ativan. In less intense cases of alcohol withdrawal, Tegretol can be used as an alternative to benzodiazepines due to the lesser amount of side effects (mainly the drowsiness and sedative properties of benzodiazepines). Medications to manage heart rate and reduce the potential for seizures are also used in many cases.

More Information from the Addiction Detox Guide

In the case of opiate drug detox, methadone is one of the most popular drugs to use. It acts on the same receptors as opiates, essentially and effectively eliminating withdrawal symptoms. Methadone also helps to reduce cravings for more drugs, making it extremely popular both for doctors and patients alike.

However, methadone can be highly addictive and there is some discretion necessary when using it. It should always be prescribed and administered by a medical professional. Suboxone is a newer alternative to methadone, also affecting the same receptors affected by opiates. Naloxone can be used to combat the addictive properties associated with methadone and Suboxone. Anti-seizure medications are also common for those withdrawing from heavy opiate use.

The medications used in medication-assisted detox can help to shorten the period of time spent experiencing withdrawals. This is one reason medical detox is highly suggested for individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. By speeding up the detox process, they have an easier time approaching recovery with a clear head.

Do I have to stay overnight at alcohol detox and drug detox?

Yes, when you attend drug and alcohol detox in Fort Collins, CO you will stay overnight. The goal of drug detox and alcohol detox is to stabilize you and provide care around the clock to ensure you are as safe and comfortable as possible. In order to provide this level of care, you or your loved one must stay overnight in the medical detox facility.

Again, the length of treatment and how many nights you must stay depends upon the severity of your addiction and the result of your assessment. Be as honest as possible during this assessment, though. Do not try to manipulate your way into a shorter stay in medical detox; you want to ensure that you are safe during the withdrawal period. It is not worth risking your sobriety or your life just to shave a couple days off of your stay in detox.

Are there outpatient detoxes in Fort Collins?

There are both outpatient and inpatient drug and alcohol detox in Fort Collins, Colorado. Outpatient facilities offer care during the day or evening and then allow the individual to return home at the end of the sessions. Depending on the facility selected, medication management may be a part of outpatient drug detox or alcohol detox. However, it does not provide as thorough care as an inpatient medical detox facility.

When you are on an outpatient basis, there is no way for the facility to ensure you are not getting high between sessions. For this reason, outpatient detox works better for individuals who have less severe struggles with drug and alcohol dependence. Only when there is less risk for relapse should outpatient detox be used. If you or your loved one are heavily involved with substance dependence, inpatient drug and alcohol detox in Fort Collins should be used.

If you are getting high in between outpatient sessions, there is no point in using a detox program. When you are in an inpatient facility, the staff has the ability to monitor you and make sure you stay sober throughout the process. However, the best time to attend detox is when you are ready to get sober. Only then will you be able to fully commit to your recovery efforts. If someone else is forcing you into medical detox, or if you are forcing your loved one to go, there is less chance that sobriety will stick.

Another option is, once you have attended detox in Fort Collins, CO, to attend an outpatient program for maintenance. You can often receive medication as well as attend individual and group therapy aimed to provide you with support to stay sober for the long-term. Outpatient programs work best once you have gone through medication-assisted detox and/or inpatient rehab and have received prior support during your early recovery.

Is drug and alcohol detox the same thing as a 12 Step recovery program?

Some medical detox facilities incorporate 12 step recovery into their treatment programming. Certain locations may offer meetings within the facility while others simply use a 12 step approach in counseling sessions and when providing suggestions. If avoiding 12 step recovery is important to you when attending alcohol and drug detox in Fort Collins, Colorado, it is a good idea to check with the facilities you are considering before making a decision.

What happens after alcohol and drug detox in Fort Collins?

You or your loved one have multiple treatment-related and other options after completing drug and alcohol detox in Fort Collins, CO. There is no pre-determined path you must follow in order to get sober. You have a variety of options to choose from once you have attended medical detox.

Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehab provides a residential space where individuals trying to get sober will live. This option in Fort Collins, Colorado provides programs during the day aimed at helping addicts and alcoholics learn more about substance dependence. Individual and group therapy help you or your loved one process their experiences both before and after getting sober. There are also educational sessions which teach individuals more about the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain and body.

One of the reasons inpatient rehab is a great option is that it provides addicts and alcoholics with a sober environment. Temptation is highest during the first few months of sobriety, so by using a 30-, 60-, or 90-day detox program, you can separate yourself or your loved one from that urge. When they are surrounded by individuals with the same goals they are more likely to stay sober.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

A Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) provides the same type of programs as an inpatient rehab facility. Treatment generally takes place for 6 hours per day, 5 days a week. The main difference between a PHP and inpatient rehab is that individuals are not required to stay overnight at a PHP. However, some choose to reside in a sober living in order to remain in a sober environment.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are a good option for those who have full-time commitments to work or school. IOP often takes place in the evenings to allow individuals with day commitments to attend treatment. IOP and PHP are often confused as they both take place on an outpatient basis. The difference between them is the amount of treatment time offered. IOP takes place for 2-3 hours a day, 3-5 days a week. There is a total of around 9 hours spent in treatment per week. IOP is better for those who feel more solid in their recovery and unlikely to relapse during the long days with very little sober support.

Drug and Alcohol Counseling

Drug and alcohol counseling is offered usually on an individual basis. You or your loved one will meet one-on-one with a certified drug and alcohol counselor or a therapist who specializes in substance dependence. There is usually more freedom of discussion in drug and alcohol counseling and participants are able to process events that occur during their life which both directly and indirectly impact their sobriety. Drug and alcohol counseling is usually offered in one-hour sessions, one or two times per week.

Your Addiction Detox Guide by AspenRidge Recovery Fort Collins

Now that you have your addiction detox guide, it is time to make your decision. Are you ready to get sober? Only you or your loved one can answer this question. No one can decide when it is time to get sober except the addict and alcoholic. If it is the right time, make a call to your insurance company to find out the treatment options covered.

Though it may seem scary, attending drug and alcohol detox may be one of the best decisions you make in your life. You can begin your journey of recovery making a call. Don’t allow yourself or your loved one to struggle for longer than necessary; use our addiction detox guide today to make your decision. Contact AspenRidge Recovery Fort Collins today by calling (866) 957-6941. We’re ready to help in all aspects of the process, including admissions and insurance verification.