There are countless different forms of support for addiction – each which will differ depending on the type of substance that an individual is addicted to, as well as the severity and history of this addiction.
Alcohol addictions can be especially dangerous as alcohol is known to be a physically addictive substance, meaning that it becomes directly involved in vital bodily processes and makes the withdrawal process far riskier if not treated in the correct way with full supervision.
However, in some cases where an alcohol addiction may not be as severe and the withdrawal symptoms are less life-threatening, an individual may be suitable for a home detox programme in Bristol.
This is where an individual undergoes the detoxification programme at home using specific prescribed substances. This must always be supervised by a medical or addiction specialist and there are only certain circumstances in which this may be a suitable treatment.
As mentioned above, a home detox is only suitable for a select number of individuals – those who have a less severe addiction and therefore have less severe withdrawal symptoms in the overall detox process.
For example, those with a long history of alcohol addiction are not suitable for a home detox in Bristol as they are far more likely to experience serious withdrawal symptoms which require special attention and medical support.
In addition, individuals who have tried to detox in Bristol before should not attempt a home detox as they often require further support than just what is offered in a home detox programme.
Studies have shown that, when the right programme is chosen for the individual’s specific needs (i.e., either an alcohol home detox or attendance at an alcohol rehab centre in Bristol), individuals are far more likely to show significant improvements in ‘a range of alcohol-related difficulties’ (1).
After an individual has gained appropriate approval to proceed with a home detox in Bristol, there are several different factors and stages that they must proceed with in order to get the most out of their home recovery process.
First, the primary feature of an alcohol home detox is the medication that an individual is prescribed. This is likely to be different from individual to individual due to the unique needs and requirements of each case.
However, in all of these cases it is important that individuals follow their regime of prescribed substances and do not attempt to take more or less of the substances that they have been prescribed.
As individuals are also going through withdrawal during this process, most home detoxes will include visitation in person or checkup via video call by an addiction specialist in order to ensure that the individual is staying on track and not experiencing any additional issues as a result of their home detox programme in Bristol.
Not every individual will be suitable for a home detox, and this is vital in their long-term health and well-being; if an individual participates in a home detox in Bristol but it is not suitable for them, then this may cause additional issues and struggles in terms of their long-term rehabilitation journey.
This is why it is essential that individuals gain approval for their proposed home detoxification from a medical professional or addiction specialist.
In many cases, this can often just be a case of contacting the individual’s local doctors’ office or general practitioner (GP) to gain approval, and individuals will be asked about the following areas:
Home detoxes are most often provided and supported by a specialised rehabilitation centre, as these are often the most equipped and specialised for helping individuals to progress through a home detox in Bristol.
Though the individual is not directly attending the rehab centre itself, they may be asked to attend one or two sessions to ensure that they are progressing in the right direction and that they do not have any additional needs during the detoxification process.
After completing a home detox programme in Bristol, the individual may then choose to continue with further therapies and treatments within the inpatient rehab centre, as these are often highly specialised and facilitated.
In addition, the individual would also be recognised by the centre as having completed a home detox programme in Bristol while being supported by their services and therefore the admission process would be easier, in some cases.
As an alternative, some individuals may choose to complete a home detox programme in Bristol through outpatient treatment sources.
This type of home detox is not linked to a dedicated rehab centre and is therefore likely to be run by the National Health Service (NHS) or other independent health service providers.
These types of home detox have some limitations, however, as they can often have lengthy waiting lists to begin treatments, a shortage in specialist staff available for checkups, and less available medical interventions.
When it comes to addiction, any waiting time can worsen the individual’s condition, especially if they have waited a long time before beginning any treatment and are therefore more affected by the effects of their addiction.
As mentioned throughout this web page, the key feature of a home detox in Bristol is the inclusion of medical interventions, or substances prescribed to the individual to combat the effects of their withdrawal process.
Depending on the severity of the individual’s addiction, as well as the types of withdrawal symptoms that they are experiencing, a number of different substances may be prescribed to support these different effects.
For example, Librium is commonly prescribed due to the ways in which it can reduce the negative impacts of alcohol withdrawal.
However, benzodiazepines are also prescribed in some more serious cases of alcohol withdrawal, and therefore further rehabilitation must be considered due to the addictive nature of these substances and the long-term consequences of this.
Addiction is considered to be a mental health issue and is also known to commonly co-occur with other mental health issues.
Commonly co-occurring mental health issues include the following:
This list is not extensive, however, and individuals should always ensure that their home detox programme is supplemented with additional therapies and treatments to focus on other areas of their mental health alongside their addiction.
Most rehabilitation providers and addiction specialists will always recommend inpatient rehab treatment for any individual struggling with addiction.
However, it is recognised that this may not always be the most suitable option for some people, and some individuals may fare far better in their rehabilitation journey if they participate in a home detox programme in Bristol.
To learn more about home detoxes and an individual’s suitability for these programmes, individuals should contact their local health services to find out what is available in their area, as well as what is most suitable for them and their specific needs.
In addition, individuals can also contact specialist addiction referral services to find out more and gain direct contact with a huge variety of different rehab services that are recommended for their individual needs and requirements.
Call Rehab 4 Addiction’s support line on 0800 140 4690 today to find out more about how we can help you or someone you know.
[1] Allan, C., Smith, I. and Mellin, M., 2000. Detoxification from alcohol: a comparison of home detoxification and hospital-based day patient care. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 35(1), pp.66-69.
