Does Rapid Detox Work?

When it comes to recovery and detox, many people want it to be fast and painless. This is particularly true for the detox phase of recovery. There are some rapid detox programs available, however, a fast detox doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best route to take. 

Rapid detox or one-day detox is mostly used for those individuals who have an opioid use disorder or other serious substance or alcohol use disorder. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), about 10.1 million Americans 12 years of age or older misused opioids in the past year. NSDUH goes on to further break down this number into 9.7 million misusing prescription opioids and around 745,000 using heroin. 

While only a small percentage of these individuals get the help they need to overcome their substance abuse issue, many seeking treatment are looking for a fast, safe, and easy way to detox. And it’s no wonder. Detoxing from opioids, other substances, and even alcohol can not only be uncomfortable, it can potentially be life-threatening. 

What Is Detox? 

Detoxing is ridding the body of harmful or toxic substances. In this case, ridding the body of drugs or alcohol. When someone is going through detox, they often experience withdrawal symptoms that can be difficult to manage alone. And, as mentioned, detox can pose life-threatening issues. 

Detox and the associated withdrawal symptoms generally vary from one person to the next. There are several factors that contribute to these potential differences. Here are a few of the main items that contribute to how a person will navigate detox: 

• How long the drug or alcohol has been used
• How much of the drug or alcohol has been consumed during the time of misuse
• When the last dose of the drug or drink was taken
• How much the last dose or drink was
• Mental health factors
• Health factors
• Genetics

Once a person decides they want to stop using alcohol or drugs they will have to face detox. As you can see, once a person reaches this point, there is little they can do to control or influence how difficult the withdrawal will be. One important factor to keep in mind is that withdrawal symptoms are a major factor in relapse. When an individual is going through these difficult and uncomfortable symptoms on their own it can be too much to handle. This leads them to pick up the drug or another drink in order to ward off these hard-to-manage withdrawal symptoms. 

When it comes to opioid withdrawal, here are some of the most commonly experienced withdrawal symptoms: 

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Chills
• Sweats
• Stomach cramps
• Elevated pulse 
• Aching bones and joints
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Flu-like symptoms
• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Tremors

As you can see, withdrawing from opioids can present symptoms that make an individual feel very sick. This is why it is recommended that anyone who wants to detox from opioids or any other substance should do so under medical supervision at an addiction treatment center. 

When someone is withdrawing from opioids, it can be referred to as being ‘dope sick’. These symptoms listed are what is meant by ‘dope sick’. This is also the reason why many people who are addicted to opioids look for a faster detox program. They want to safely get through this difficult stage so they can go on to work on their recovery and regain their lives. 

What is Ultra-Rapid Opiate Detox (UROD)? 

Some years ago the term ‘ultra-rapid detox’ started being used and the process of quickly detoxing from opioids gained much attention in the addiction treatment community. This method of detox is often sought-after by those considering stopping using opioids whether prescription or illicit. As mentioned, the goal is for the individual to get through the most difficult parts of detox without any discomfort. So just how is this accomplished? 

When it comes to ultra-rapid detox, the individual is put under general anesthesia for about four to six hours at the beginning of the detox process. During this time they are also given an opioid antagonist drug such as naltrexone. The goal is for the patient to basically be asleep or heavily sedated as their body begins to flush out the opioids. The idea here is that once the individual wakes up, the hardest part will be over. 

And while anyone facing the difficult withdrawal process may be attracted to this method, research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), shows that this method does not help in sustaining recovery for the long term. 

It’s also important to note that not only does this research show that ultra-rapid detox doesn’t help for long-lasting recovery, individuals who have achieved long-term sobriety often say the memory of the difficult withdrawal process helps them to stay sober. When a person does navigate the difficult withdrawal symptoms, it is often something they never want to experience again. This can help to support long-term sobriety (along with other factors). 

What is Waismann Detox? 

Andre Waismann is an Israeli doctor who founded the ANR treatment for opioid addiction and started the movement of a more rapid detox method. Beginning in 1993, Waismann began to use the ultra-rapid opiate detox method. He continued to use this method until around 1997 at which time he began using the Accelerated Neuro-Regulation or ANR method to help individuals manage opioid withdrawal and the associated symptoms. 

This method often referred to as Waismann Detox, places the individual in a sedated state in an intensive care unit. During this time, other specific drugs are administered that block opioid receptors. Additionally, the medical staff accelerates the level of endorphins and opioid receptors to achieve balance. These receptors are often the most out of balance from long-term opioid use. 

The combined method of having the patient heavily sedated during withdrawal and also encouraging the return to a more normal balance of opioid receptors can result in the person experiencing less severe and shorter-lasting withdrawal symptoms. And while this can be very appealing to someone facing withdrawal it’s important to understand that this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best road to sobriety. 

Getting Clean and Sober Isn’t ‘Easy’

Just about everyone who has an alcohol or substance use disorder wants an easier way to get sober. In the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, as it’s often referred to, it is stated that many want to find “an easier, softer way” to recover and get sober. It goes on to say that this cannot be found and that those who attempt to do recovery in an easier way are often more prone to relapse. 

Getting clean and sober isn’t always easy but the rewards are well worth it. Not only does navigating detox and early sobriety take work but so does long-term sobriety. It’s important to understand that being sober and staying sober isn’t easy work. The people who maintain long-lasting sobriety make it a priority in their lives. That means that even though they may not want to get up and go to that AA meeting, they do it. It means that even though they may want to skip their morning prayers or meditation so they can sleep in longer, they get up and pray. 

However, the many individuals who have traversed this route to sobriety and stayed sober long-term can testify to how much better their lives have become. Getting sober isn’t easy and it isn’t always a straight line, however, anyone can get sober and remain sober with the right foundation and ongoing support in place. 

While ultra-rapid or one-day detox may sound appealing, you can’t really avoid the hard work, determination, and perseverance through tough times that staying sober requires.

If you or someone you love is ready to get sober and reclaim your life, Futures Recovery Healthcare is here for you. Offering three different addiction treatment programs for adults; Core, Orenda, and Rise, Futures is ready to help you or your loved one build a solid foundation for long-lasting recovery. Talk to an admissions counselor today online or call us at 866-804-2098.