If your son is over 18 and is in withdrawal and lives in New Jersey, there is help for him nearby. Professional detox and medical care can help your son and any person going through this difficult period of leaving addiction to drugs or alcohol. Please know that there are abundant options to serve you and your family. Going “cold turkey” can be dangerous and is not a recommended choice for recovery from addiction and substance abuse. Learn more about our treatment options in New Jersey.
Depending on the substance abused, how long the addiction has been occurring, overall health and a variety of other factors, there are different timelines for withdrawal. For prescription painkillers and heroin, flu-like symptoms are involved and may last 5 days on average. Benzos can produce anxiety and seizures, which may last for weeks or even months. Cocaine takes the form of restlessness and depression, and withdrawal can last between 7 and 10 days.
Withdrawing from alcohol can produce seizure and tremors, which can last from 3 days to a few weeks. Some general symptoms of withdrawal can include the following:
- Tremors
- Nausea and vomiting
- Anxiety
- Seizures
- Depression
- Hallucinations
- Fatigue
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are a bit different than those encountered with drugs. He might have mood swings, irritability, insomnia, anxiety and clammy skin as well as seizures and dilated pupils. Eight hours after the last drink may see the start of symptoms, and they can last several days. This is the time when a variety of issues can be helped by a trained medical treatment center. As mentioned above, going cold turkey or doing this at home, without medical supervision, can be fatal or lead to serious complications. If the life and health of your child is important, read further to learn more about how he can be helped in a caring and personal environment.
There Are Choices of Detox to Help
Detox and the release of substances from the body is the first phase of recovery. Because of this release, the person goes through a phase of withdrawal. There are both physical and psychological aspects of withdrawal. Each person is unique and so are different programs for those who are in detox. This initial phase can be managed with residential care and, in some cases, outpatient care. The levels of care include:
- Inpatient
- Partial hospitalization
- Intensive outpatient
- Outpatient
In the detox stage, your son might benefit from Inpatient care, where he can be monitored 24/7 and receive help to make withdrawal symptoms more manageable. Medical professionals are on staff to monitor and check his vital signs, ensuring he is comfortable while providing medication, if it required.
After detox, a treatment begins through therapy and meetings to help him discover and learn from the reasons that he became addicted. The goal of recovery is long-term management and coping skills for a happier, sober life. He could also do detox as an outpatient, if his symptoms are mild or moderate. This option works for people who are working or cannot spend time away from family. It is also less costly, but can be less effective in the long run. If outpatient detox is chosen, your son will need to check in daily with the treatment center and be monitored by a medical professional to assure that withdrawal is going well. He will receive medication to help with withdrawal symptoms, if that is necessary.
At night, he can return home to his family. As with inpatient detox, after the withdrawal has lessened, he will begin a course of treatment that includes individual therapy, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, family therapy or other options. You may be ready to get your son into an NJ treatment program now to monitor his detox from drugs or alcohol. Want to get started? Call us today at 833-610-1174. Counselors are waiting 24/7 to help with withdrawal and get your loved one on the path to sobriety and a brighter future without alcohol or drugs. He does not have to struggle with leaving addiction behind and moving on to a life of happiness, without the abuse of harmful substances.