Santa Barbara Resources

Detox Centers in Santa Barbara handle the safe detoxification of addicts in a comfortable environment. Once the body has become used to a particular substance and that substance is stopped, the body will go through withdrawal. Withdrawal causes craving for more of the substance being removed. The period of time when the body is trying to overcome its addiction is called detox. Detox is the first step in overcoming a substance addiction such as drugs or alcohol. Detox is a pertinent step for the patient is to be successfully rehabilitated.

Opiate drugs such as heroin and methadone, and prescription medications including Hydrocodone, Oxycontins, Xanax, Vicodin and Lortab, require medical detox supervision. There are however, other illegal drugs such as marijuana, crystal methamphetamine, and cocaine that do not require medical detox. Detox Centers in Santa Barbara requires the patient to be closely monitored by keeping vital signs, giving support and administering medications if needed. There are numerous withdrawal symptoms or side effects when a patient stops or dramatically reduces drugs after heavy or prolonged use. Those side effects include: sweating, shaking, headaches, drug cravings, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, sleeplessness, confusion, agitation, depression, anxiety, and other behavioral changes.

There are two commonly used drugs to enable the patient to feel relief from these symptoms. Klonepin reduces physical symptoms, and Buprenophex, which is an anticonvulsant. These drugs must also be monitored as cessation produces withdrawal symptoms. Generally, the time period for drug detox is three to seven days under medically monitored supervision. Alcohol detox, like drug detox, is usually accomplished in an inpatient medical facility. Detox Centers in Santa Barbara identifies the key to a successful, planned detoxification as preparation. Second, patients need to be given accurate information about what to expect during detoxification. The severity of withdrawal depends greatly on the duration of alcohol used. Detox is intended to relieve physical symptoms such as: shaking or tremors, headaches, vomiting, sweating, restlessness, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, Delirium Tremens (DT’s), hyperactivity, and convulsions. Alcohol detox medications are similar to drug detox medications: Buprenophex, certain benzodiazepines and anticonvulsant medications. Detox Centers in Santa Barbara believe that full detox can take from three to fourteen days.

Detox Centers in Santa Barbara understand that further addiction treatments are needed to prevent relapse to alcohol and drug use following treatment of withdrawal. Drug and alcohol detoxification can effectively prepare the addicted abuser for rehabilitation and treatment. Some physicians believe the withdrawal phase is related closely to the drug addiction – the worse the withdrawal, the more likely the continued use of the chemical to prevent withdrawal. Behavioral treatments are a very important part of effective therapeutic treatment. Stopping substance abuse habits is only effective if behaviors change, therefore, attitudes have to be changed so that a healthy lifestyle is maintained. Life skills need to be altered; unhealthy patterns need to be changed. In addition, medication effectiveness is usually better, and this can help people stay in treatment longer which will hopefully improve the likelihood of the individual staying clean.   