Detox Vs. Rehab (Which One Is Right for You?)

When you or a loved one finally decides to seek help for addiction, you might wonder what is the first step to take: detox or rehab. Knowing the differences between detox vs. rehab will help you make an informed choice about which type of treatment program is right for you.

Call Lake Avenue Recovery today at (508)794-4400 to learn more about addiction treatment in Massachusetts.

What’s the Difference Between Detox Vs. Rehab?

Detox and rehab are quite different, however, they are both integral parts of long-term addiction treatment. Detox is the first step in addiction recovery, and usually lasts only one to two weeks. Rehab, on the other hand, describes continuing support after detox, where you dive into the underlying causes of your addiction.

What Is Detox?

Detoxification (detox) is a medical intervention. It is the process of safely removing addictive substances such as alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines from the body. Thus, detox can include illicit substances or prescription medications.

When you use substances for a long time, the body literally forgets how to function without it. If you stop abruptly, withdrawal symptoms will kick in. They include flu-like aches, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, and irritability. In some cases, withdrawal can lead to dangerous symptoms, such as seizures, psychosis, and cardiovascular issues.

But a professional detox program provides 24/7 medical supervision to manage these symptoms. It also keeps you safe while your body finds its balance again. 

What Is Rehab?

Rehab is term that collectively refers to several steps after detox. Usually, rehab refers to inpatient or residential treatment programs. Still, rehab could also include outpatient programming, such as high-intensity outpatient programs or intensive outpatient programs (IOPs).

During rehab, you focus on the causes of your addiction as well as relapse prevention strategies. Oftentimes, underlying mental health disorders cause drug or alcohol addiction. Because of this, rehab programs include dual diagnosis treatment with therapeutic services to build the skills you need for long-term recovery from addiction.

The Danger of the Gap Between Treatment

After acute withdrawal symptoms go away during detox, many people start to feel much better. As a result, they might feel so good that they believe they are “cured” of their addiction. Therefore, they might not go to a rehab program after detox.

But this can be dangerous, as you won’t have the coping skills or insight necessary to sustain long-term recovery. That is why many detox programs help you develop a long-term treatment plan that includes the next steps in your recovery before you leave detox. Otherwise, you are in danger of relapsing soon after you complete detox.

How to Choose Between Detox and Rehab

Making the right choice depends on where you are in your journey. The following can help you better understand your current treatment needs:

Signs You Need Detox First

If you experience any of the following, you need to detox first:

• Physical shaking, nausea or sweating within hours of withdrawal 
• History of seizures when trying g to quit
• If you currently consume high amounts of alcohol or benzodiazepines 

Remember, some prescription drugs, even if taken as prescribed, can be dangerous to stop taking suddenly. For example, if you take benzodiazepines like Xanax or Ativan for an anxiety disorder, you might need to enter a detox program if you want to stop taking psychiatric medications. Always take to your doctor before making any changes to your medications.

Signs You’re Ready for Rehab

When you observe any of the following, it’s time to move to rehab:

• Medically stable but still struggling to stay sober without professional support
• Struggling with relapse prevention after detox
• Needing structure and therapy to rebuild career and establish healthy relationships

Generally speaking, if you’ve completed a detox program, you are ready for rehab. These programs help you identify the causes of your addiction so that you can sustain recovery for the long term.

Start Addiction Treatment in Massachusetts Today

If you are ready to build a future free from addiction, reach out to Lake Avenue Recovery today.