Entering into drug treatment is an enormous step in the process of recovering your life and health. The first part of the process is to make the decision and to contact one of the treatment centers. From there, the process can be explained simply. The more you understand how the treatment process works, the easier it is to pick a program and make a commitment to it.
Withdrawal & Detoxification
When you make that call you will be asked about what type of drug or drugs you have been abusing, for how long and in what amount. The center will also want to know how long it has been since you last used the drug. They will want to have you medically cleared before you enter into the actual first phase of treatment, detoxification. To be medically cleared means that a physician must sign off on your physical ability to withstand withdrawal.
That sounds serious but what they are really checking is that your heart rate and health are in good condition and that withdrawal of the drug from your system won’t put you into crises. Very often this is done in an emergency room, but a clinic or primary care doctor can do it as well. Once you are medically cleared you enter into your drug treatment program and the first 8 to 14 days (depending on the drug) are all about managing the physical symptoms of withdrawal and detoxing your body of the substance.
Learning to live in recovery
Once enough of the drug has left your system you will find that your ability to think and your physical health will improve. Now you will be into entering into drug treatment step called “recovery,” where you will learn the skills to live without substance abuse.
