Ultimate Guide: Why You Need Medical Supervision for Addiction Treatment?

Most people who are struggling with addiction often wonder about Medically supervised detoxification.

Addiction is a disorder that can cause psychological and physical damage and requires ongoing care. The most common addiction that most people experience is alcohol. The step 1 of recovery from alcoholism is detoxification. It is a process by which the body eliminates addictive substances. But why does it require medical assistance, or is it safe to detox from alcohol at home? This blog takes an in-depth look into answering some of these questions about addiction treatment to help people make informed decisions.

What does Medical Supervision mean?

Medical supervision is the process of monitoring your health and progress over a restricted period of time. There are certain Medical supervisors recruited and trained for this role. Medical Supervision generally means taking care of a patient’s mental and physical health. Medically Supervised Alcohol Detox is a common program for people with alcohol addiction. It is carried out by medical professionals who monitor the patients regularly and help in preventing relapse.

The Importance Of Medically Supervised Detoxification

Medical detox is very effective in helping eliminate the effects of the addictive compound or alcohol in a controlled environment. Medically supervised detoxification helps in the following ways.

• It provides prescription medication to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.

• They provide behavioral and Psychological support for underlying causes such as stress.

• Constant medical team monitoring and supervision to manage emergencies and complications.

• Choosing a Medical supervision addiction treatment helps in getting the right medical care at any time of the day.

• It provides a controlled environment that helps in managing triggers and cravings.

• It allows the patient to focus on the treatment and recovery.

Benefits of Medical Supervision for addiction treatment

Some of the benefits of the medical supervision and treatment process are:

1. Being in a drug-free environment.

2. Following a proper customized addiction treatment plan

3. Following different therapy sessions

4. Receiving support from other people who are also in their recovery process

5. Getting a discharge plan that identifies sources of aftercare (1)

Medically Supervised Alcohol Detox

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), 29.5 million people between the age of 12 and older have Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) (2). Thus, becoming one of the most prevalent addiction disorders at the present time.

Medically supervised alcohol detoxification is a set of medically inclined interventions used in treating acute intoxication. These are used for managing the complications that may occur during the detox duration. This is done with the help of physicians, nurses, experts, and dieticians.

Alcohol Detoxification is done in a safe, drug-free environment where all the necessary equipment is available. Detoxification is considered one of the most dangerous ones. It includes different withdrawal symptoms such as pain and discomfort to life-threatening conditions, one of them being Delirium Tremens (3). It can also be an effective treatment option for Modafinil and alcohol addiction or abuse symptoms for people who take them together for a higher euphoric effect.

Benefits Of A Medically Supervised Alcohol Detox

Medically supervised alcohol detox is one of the safest ways to treat alcohol addiction. It provides a structured, individualized service that helps in minimizing health risks.

They help in providing help from experienced therapists that also assists with psychiatric support.

Medical supervision further helps in resisting the craving and urges, along with encouraging the strength to continue with the treatment.

What is the process of a Medically Supervised Detox?

In order to permanently recover from Alcoholism or any other substance abuse, there are certain steps to be followed. When these steps are medically supervised by a physician, the recovery journey is faster, with higher chances of improvement.

1. Patients must participate in a long-term counseling program.

2. Sharing the experiences of people who have recovered.

3. Once you decide to get out of addiction rehab, your physician will offer a wide variety of options to avoid relapse at home.

There are different treatment programs that the centers offer. Some of them are:

• Residential treatment programs.

• Sober living houses.

• Recovery after-care services.

Once you decide to take part, you can contact the counselor for the admission process (4).

Why does detoxification require close Medical Supervision?

The detoxification process involves a lot of complications causing discomfort to life-threatening issues. Medical Supervised Detox is important to prevent the dangerous complications associated with Addiction (5). Some of the physical difficulties that occur in the detoxification process are:

• Nausea

• Tremors

• Diarrhea

• Dizziness

• Headache

• Stomach pain

• Rapid heartbeat

So once you decide to get sober, it is of utmost necessity to start with medical supervision. Medical Supervised detoxification requires daily or weekly supervision. This also helps in restricting the development of a secondary addiction (6).

Night Terrors After Quitting Drinking

A night terror causes extreme fear, sleep paralysis, kicking, and screaming. When compared to nightmares, they are more intense. Night terrors are often experienced within 24 to 48 hours after quitting alcohol consumption.

Symptoms Of Night Terrors Resulting From Withdrawal

The best way to help manage night terrors is by being aware of their symptoms. Some of these are listed below.

• Interrupted sleep

• Sleep walking

• nightmares

• Restlessness

• Uncontrollable thoughts

• Sleep paralysis

• Shivering or sweating

• Excessive snoring

Another common symptom of Night Terror associated with withdrawal is waking up still tired after a full night’s rest. Such people may also experience excessive daytime sleepiness. Such tiredness and sleep issues can be effectively treated with Modafinil 200mg. It is a Nootropic with eugeroic effects that helps uplift people's energy and is available under the brand names Modalert, Modvigil, and Provigil. The use of Modalert 200 mg in the USA for managing excessive daytime sleepiness was approved by the FDA in 1998. It is however a prescription medication and should be taken after consulting a sleep specialist, general practitioner, and psychiatrist.

Treating Alcohol Withdrawal Night Terrors

People recovering from such addictions who experience night terrors state that the condition worsens when present in un unfamiliar settings like a residential facility.

Ways that can help in treating and managing Night terrors are-

• Being in a comfortable setting, like your home.

• Though medications prescribed by your physician. These medication blocks the receptors in the brain, thus cutting down on the cravings.

Such conditions require constant medical supervision. And people who are at home should have someone to be able to contact a physician for immediate assistance. Thus, people on home-based programs should have access to round-the-clock medical treatment.

Is It Safe To Detox From Alcohol At Home?

At-home detox and withdrawal are not recommended due to medical complications due to their medical Complications. However, if you or your loved one is still planning to dex from alcohol at home, here are a few steps to safely do so.

• Consult a healthcare professional: Before beginning your detox program, it is important to consult a doctor who can determine if home detox is safe and appropriate for you.

• Gradually decrease your alcohol intake- The best way to start with your detox program at home is by gradually lowering your alcohol intake before completely stopping it. This will also help in lowering the severity of the withdrawal.

• Staying hydrated- Suffering from dehydration can be a major issue during detox; therefore, it is important to stay hydrated.

• Exercise regularly- Regular exercising can help in reducing stress and improve the mood of the person during the detox program. So, it is best to get some form of physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day.

• Get enough rest- To recover during the detox journey, it is important to get enough rest. So, such people should get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

Medical Supervision For Addiction Treatment: The Key Takeaway

Medical Supervision is the process of monitoring and witnessing the patient’s health progress. Addiction can be to alcohol or drugs, which can even be fatal. Detoxification is the process of removing addiction as well as restricting the person from consuming more.

Medical Supervision is necessary for a safe and complication-free treatment. It helps in avoiding withdrawal and also assists in better treatment.