NEW SOBER LIVES BEGIN WITH HUMANE,
DRUG-FREE
WITHDRAWAL FROM ADDICTIVE DRUGS
Family
members of an addicted person commonly wish for the addicted person
to quit using drugs and get back to a productive, happy life. And
those who are addicted often wish the same thing with all their
hearts. Even when a workable rehabilitation program is located, a key
step in the process is getting the addicted person successfully
through the withdrawal process. The more humane the withdrawal
process, the higher the likelihood of success. Can a withdrawal be
made more humane?
Every drug has its own set of agonizing
symptoms experienced when an addict withdraws abruptly from drug use.
For example, heroin withdrawal ordinarily results in muscle and bone
pain, nausea and vomiting, cold flashes and diarrhea. Withdrawal from
marijuana often results in insomnia, loss of appetite, fatigue,
anxiety and depression. An addict may become so sick and experience
so much pain and distress that staying addicted looks like a much
better idea than kicking their habit. And so they revert to drug or
alcohol use.
Some programs prescribe a drug such as methadone
or one of several newer drugs to prevent the onset of withdrawal
symptoms. However, this approach also prevents the addict from being
able to eliminate drug use. He or she is still dependent on a
chemical substance and is not able to build a new, drug-free
life.
The ideal solution would be a withdrawal process that is
tolerable and drug-free, that would rebuild the health that was
damaged by drug use and poor lifestyle. This type of withdrawal is a
feature of the Narconon program available at Narconon Arrowhead, one
of the country's leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in
Canadian, Oklahoma.
Vitamin and mineral supplements such as a
calcium-magnesium drink and frequent doses of multivitamins help
sooth the body's reaction to the detoxification. Special relaxing and
re-orienting exercises referred to as assists further calm the
muscles and the mental stresses of the withdrawal. The end result for
most addicts is a tolerable withdrawal.
Statements by former
addicts at the end of the withdrawal portion of the Narconon program
support the workability of this approach:
"Before
coming to Narconon Arrowhead, I have always gone to a program where
they gave medicine and all sorts of sleeping medications and that is
where I wanted to go, too. Actually making it through withdrawal
without any medications is amazing to me." K.B.
"I
have battled with my methamphetamine addition for over twenty years,
with the last year being out of control. I have tried to get off of
the ice myself several times, always failing. The withdrawal I've
been through at Narconon was virtually pain-free." S.D.
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