Our Drug & Alcohol Detox Program

Drug and Alcohol Detox Center in St. Augustine, Florida

Nearly 22 million people in the United States have struggled with some form of substance abuse. Addiction is a chronic illness, and it is best treated at a rehab facility with medical professionals. The first step in treating addiction is to rid the body of the chemicals that keeps the addict physically dependent on the substance. This process is known as detoxification, and it can be a difficult or dangerous process if done alone.

Quitting ‘cold turkey’ might seem like a good option for those who don’t want to enter into a treatment program. However, doing this can have severe consequences if something goes wrong, and a doctor isn’t there to help. Our St. Augustine addiction center provides 24/7 care to our patients and offers substance abuse and mental health services once detox is complete.

At Dr. Paul’s By The Sea, we offer a program that provides our patients with a place to detox from the drugs or alcohol in their system safely. While under the care and supervision of our medical staff, our patients will be able to ease the symptoms of withdrawal. Our St. Augustine treatment facility is fully equipped to help our patients through the detox phase of treatment.

What is Detoxification?

Detoxification is the first step in treating those who are dependent on drugs or alcohol. It is used to excise the chemicals in the body and manage the symptoms of withdrawal. Detox is done as a set of interventions that, over time, will help to manage acute withdrawal. By being under medical supervision during this period, patients can prevent the possibility of dangerous complications that could occur.

Before the 1970s, alcohol and drug detox was practically non-existent. Intoxication was considered a criminal offense, and those who were arrested were put in ‘drunk tanks.’ These were normal jail cells where the guilty party would go through withdrawal with no medical assistance. Often this placed them in a life-threatening situation. Since then, the perception of substance abuse has changed, and now medical detox is provided for those who have an alcohol or drug addiction.

Over the years and through different studies, researchers have determined three components that define detox. These include:

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Evaluation: This is the first step of entering a treatment program; it identifies if any substances are in the body and how much has been used. It evaluates for co-occurring physical or mental health disorders and assesses the patient’s social, medical, and psychological condition. Doing this helps to determine the best form of long term substance abuse treatment.

Stabilization: This second step of the process involves assisting the patient through treatment and maintaining medical stability. This step also includes explaining to patients what they will experience while going through withdrawal and later in residential treatment. Clinicians also look to the patient’s family, close friends, or loved ones for help during this process.

Fostering a Patient’s Entry into Treatment: This step prepares the patient for entering treatment after detox is complete. Studies show that those who complete detox but don’t participate in continuing treatment are more likely to relapse. Encouraging patients to enter an inpatient program after detox can help them to understand that detox is only one step in the road towards recovery.

Addiction is an illness and must be treated as any other type of disease. Over the years, treatment for substance abuse has grown and become more extensive. Those who participate in a detoxification program and follow up with a regular treatment plan will be able to better overcome their addiction.


The Benefits of Inpatient Detox

Drug and alcohol use is known to cause more than just a psychological need to continue to abuse them. When a person drinks alcohol or uses drugs, they gradually develop a tolerance as their body grows accustomed to the chemicals.

Someone with a higher tolerance begins to need more of the drug to get the same effects, creating a cycle of addiction. Eventually, when a person who is addicted to a drug suddenly stops using it, they will experience withdrawal symptoms because their body now relies on the drug to function.

Withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on the severity of addiction, but in some cases, they can lead to severe illness and even death. Because withdrawal symptoms can be so dangerous, medical assistance is critical to the health and well-being of a person who is trying to quit their addiction.

Someone trying to quit drug use on their own might not know how to monitor their health and medicate themselves for specific symptoms appropriately. If they attempt to use drugs again after several days of detox, they have a much higher risk of overdose because they have significantly decreased their tolerance.

Our St. Augustine detox facility not only treats symptoms of withdrawal, but it also keeps patients free from the dangers of relapsing.

Recovery without Physical Addiction

Detoxing is the first of many steps in the process of recovering from an addiction. Freeing the body from its physical dependency is the foundation for a successful path to becoming sober. At Dr. Paul’s By The Sea, we can provide each patient with medical care throughout their withdrawal in our detox program.

Patients receive individualized care from experienced staff members that provide them with the right treatment and medication for specific symptoms associated with their withdrawal. Every person experiences different things as they go through detox and our staff can customize treatment so that each patient can feel as comfortable and safe as possible as they withdrawal from their dependency.

After completing a detox program, each client will be more prepared to start the process of rehabilitation and address their psychological dependence without worrying about the physical symptoms of addiction.

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