If you've fallen into prescription drug addiction, the first thing you need to is rid your body of the toxins that have built up from your abuse through prescription drug detox. Lingering toxins and substances that are allowed to stay in your system can cause severe physical and mental damage. The faster you're able to start with a clean system, the better you'll feel and the better your chances of recovery will be. You could've acquired a prescription drug problem through a variety of means – perhaps you thought you were getting help with your aches, pains, mental and sleeping disorders, and viruses, but wound up using your medication outside their intended guidelines, and were thrust into a world where prescription drug detox became a necessary reality. If you're walking the tightrope of a prescription drug problem, you need a detox program that will equip you with the fresh start needed for lasting recovery.

The Importance of Quality Prescription Drug Detox and Follow-Up Drug Treatment

Prescription drug detox is the first step toward you or your loved one’s complete and definitive victory over any prescription drug addiction. It’s the process by which the patient works to overcome their physical dependency on drugs by expelling all of the existing toxins from their body. Detoxification cleanses the system and further prepares the patient for comprehensive drug addiction treatment, but it can be accompanied by severe, sometimes debilitating withdrawal periods. This is why it’s important that anyone who needs prescription drug detoxification considers a leading prescription drug detox facility first before attempting to detox on their own. A credentialed and reputable detox center can help offset the worst parts of your withdrawal, so you can focus on beating your prescription drug addiction. Do not attempt any rapid detox or ultra rapid detox from prescription drugs. Some symptoms of withdrawal from prescription drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin are: anxiety and depression, mood swings, restlessness and irritability, chills, etc. There is also a high relapse rate due to the pain and discomfort of the withdrawal process.

Types of Prescription Drug Detox

Depending upon the patient’s individual situation, there are a number of prescription drug detox methods available. Natural and medical detox are the two most commonly used methods.

Natural Detox - When a patient chooses to try and quit the drugs by themselves without the benefit of any medication. They cease their drug use, and are then monitored closely by medical and psychological professionals. The withdrawal process of natural detox can be a difficult one.

Medical Detox - When a person is assisted by medication during their detox period. Medical professionals administer medications to help ease the withdrawal process so patients are made as comfortable as possible during their detox period. The most common form of medical detox is methadone. While the withdrawal process can still be difficult, symptoms are eased considerably with the help of medical drugs.

The National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information Center (NASAIC) maintains a continuously updated national database of prescription drug detox centers in your local area, as well as the recommended leading prescription drug detox centers in the United States and around the world.