thoughts on rapid detox

[bcfly7x7]

thoughts on rapid detox vs traditional methods DEBATE

So while searching for a way to detox I came across the rather new practice of rapid detox. For myself it seemed like a great option because I was physically dependent on the meds and just wanted off. Known I never did illegal drugs before and was only taking these for chronic pain management, I thought it might be a good thing to check into. I found that no insurance covers it and can range from about 7k to 20k, but in three days your all done and your in a medical sedation the entire time so you experience no withdrawal symptoms. However, death is on the table, your body, even though asleep goes through all the withdrawal. Meaning you could seize or die if not under proper supervision. Here's an article written recently about it:

http://www.abttc.net/the-pros-and-cons-of-ultra-rapid-alcohol-detox/

Here's one more:

http://m.wisegeekhealth.com/what-is-rapid-detox.htm

Thoughts?

Ps I went the traditional detox route.

 

[njirem]

is detox/withdrawl painfull? yes.
Misery for days or weeks (or worse, months?) yup.
Traumatic? To some, sure.

I think its a wrong way to get of drugs/alcohol, the withdrawl is just the first step, containing a life of sobriety and succes is the real deal.
Thats what getting off drugs is all about.
I think undergoing withdrawl is a very important part of the process, to feel how youve poisoned yourself, how much harm you did, a clear statement to yourself what you are willing to undergo for a better life.

And what about the mental illness that many addicts have as an underlying desease, in many cases its the cause of the addiction.
Its a wrong message to say 'just go to sleep for a couple of days and your off the drugs'.
Thats not the case.

Id say, no, hell no.

Perhaps there are a few people who are so far gone they are close to dying and just dont have the strenght to quit, then it could be an option perhaps, but then again, it doesnt solve anything.

 

[straightrazor]

but in three days your all done and your in a medical sedation the entire time so you experience no withdrawal symptoms.

That is a huge oversimplification. It depends on how much you are taking of course but I had a friend who did rapid detox from a long term morphine habit and they had a terrible time. Sure, you are knocked out for the first 3 days which are arguably the worst but assuming you have any kind of decent habit at all you are still going to wake up feeling pretty bad if not terrible (your body did just go through a cold turkey). Assuming you have an addiction as well as a dependency the very first thoughts you are likely to have after waking up are cravings.

If you have that much money to spend you are better off buying some comfort drugs and doing the cold turkey yourself, at least for me it would be a lot more productive to go on vacation and kick on the beach where you are unable to get any opiates (god I feel like a junky for dedicating a vacation to kicking drugs) than trying to deal with a rapid detox in a medical setting. Given I've only personally known one person who did the rapid detox but I've read multiple accounts of it on bluelight as well and I haven't seen a single person who got off and stayed off drugs using this method and it is hard to find anyone who did it that recommends it to anyone else.

Bad idea in my opinion.

 

[bcfly7x7]

Just to be clear, im not advocating for rapid detox, the reason I did the traditional route was exactly for the reasons njirem expressed. I too believe that you need that pain, to not want to go back.

My thoughts were for people with legit medical issues that didnt abuse their meds, but want off and cant afford to miss time at work. Agreed, you probably will have underlying symptoms. But is every person that seeks help to get off any drug a full blown addict? Thats like saying 100% of people eat eggs. It's just not the case.

So for those 10%, that are unlike most addicts, self included, would this then be a viable option? That the real question for those 10%.

Bob

 

[phactor]

I am not the biggest fan of it, not sure if I have actually heard it work for anyone to be honest. Maybe if you did it and then had treatment set up? But if that is the case why not do the traditional detox stay?

As for people having legit issues and not abusing there meds, it shouldn't be an issue for them to stop. Lots of people have no problem getting off of pain meds and following a taper. They go through withdrawal, but it doesn't impact them the same way it does with addicts. I can only understand this so much because I am an addict, but I have seen plenty of people do it this way. In fact, the large majority of people do not end up addicted to their pain meds. Crazily enough, lots of people do not like the way pain meds make them feel! (Crazy... I know).

Why are you not like other addicts? What makes an individual a "full blown addict"? How are they different from you? Most people do not have concerns over this type of stuff if they are not addicts.

Also, I am assuming that people in your family are wanting you to get help? It seems like work is somewhat aware of your issues as well? Oftentimes, our loved ones and employers notice things before we do. Addiction and Denial run hand in hand.

 

[BlueSaffron]

I read a few articles about it, and apparently you don't come out feeling fine. If you really did, then yeah, I would probably say it might be worth looking into... but from what I've read you still come out feeling sick, it's just that you're through the worst of it. But it's not like a simple "avoid withdrawal completely" type deal. So to me, it wouldn't be worth it.

Also, what phactor said. Tons of people go into the hospital for various surgeries or issues and are prescribed narcotics, including morphine. Some are on it for months. Then they're better and it's time to discontinue the meds. The doctor puts them on a taper plan, they taper, maybe feel a little icky for a couple days - and that's it. People do this :::::all the time:::::.

congrats on being one of the 10% btw. Do you get a membership card?

 

[bcfly7x7]

Again this is not about me. I did traditional detox, I just was interested in the theory. And I can't disagree more that a taper off oxy and morphine after 7 years is not that hard. Its a fucking bitch. Please stop thinking I posted this because im thinking of doing this. I don't need to. This is a debate thread about rapid detox vs traditional methods. I am/was an addict, I admit that. I was physically addicted to medication prescribed to me. I became mentally addicted also. There are people that are addicts vs people addicted via maintenance program. When I asked my dr about getting off all the meds they told me, not possible, you've been on them too long and you'll have to take them for the rest of your life, maybe not as much but something. I fucking reject that on principal. Fuck you doc, if I want out, im getting out. Thats exactly what I did. All im saying is everyone is different, and to be shortsighted and think that there is only one way to treat addiction is insane. Again not advocating for rapid detox, but science continues to expand, so I think we need to embrace that sure one way might be working for most, but is that because there is only one option? Of the people that complete IOP, what % stay clean? Seemed to me in detox, almost every person had been many times, also stating they had done groups and OP, but yet they are back where they started. I cant imagine the % being all that high, of the 86 patiens I was with about 55 had been back to rehab more then 10 times. So is that good enough? Should we settle for that? Or should we think about revising an antiquated system.

Bob

Ps I dont drink, and I dont smoke anything.

 

[phactor]

Relapse is extremely high among addicts, IOP or not. So yes, lots of people relapse. That isn't the fault of the facility though. They say "Do not use no matter what" for a reason. There is never an excuse to use. And I can assure you that I do not think there is only way way to get clean.

If you think that you are no longer an addict then that is your opinion. More power to you. Only you really know if you have an issue or not. The last thing I will mention is to stay vigilant, at 26 days you are not out of the woods yet. Me? I will never totally be out of the woods, but that is because I am an addict and will be for the rest of my life. I am okay with that though. I didn't choose to be one.

 

[bcfly7x7]

Relapse is extremely high among addicts, IOP or not. So yes, lots of people relapse. That isn't the fault of the facility though. They say "Do not use no matter what" for a reason. There is never an excuse to use. And I can assure you that I do not think there is only way way to get clean.

So, again, not about me. This is about helping others so I won't address my situation.

So, do you think that telling an addict that it's their fault they relapsed vs maybe an antiquated system that doesn't provide more modern methods is good? Thats basically what you're saying, that its not the facilities fault, its the addict. But what if it IS a broken system?

Again not saying you're wrong, but we only have one primary way of trying to help once the initial rehab stint is over. Every program is based off of the AA big book in most ways.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/06/AR2010080602660.html

I'd like to pm you if thats ok. Just to get your thoughts on a few things, as you stated you work in the system and your imput would be awesome. Pm me or let me know.

Thx,

Bob