The coronavirus outbreak has shifted many aspects of everyday life. You have been told to stay home, maintain social distance from others, wash your hands frequently, and use caution in basically everything you do. When you have an addiction to drugs and alcohol and are ready to get the help you need, you may be asking “should I go to detox during COVID-19?” Detox can be a critical first step in your recovery and should not be delayed.

CDC Guidelines

As with all of your other activities, seeking treatment for your drug or alcohol addiction must be done with caution to keep yourself and others safe and healthy. Check with the addiction treatment program to be sure they are open and are adhering to CDC guidelines as well. Makana Path continues to be open for treatment because we know how important it is for you to be able to seek out detox and intensive healing during COVID-19. Our staff has devoted our time and effort to ensure you have a safe, clean environment and you will continue to receive the highest quality of care. In fact, our emphasis is on exceeding – not just meeting – CDC and WHO recommendations for sanitization and cleanliness in our facilities.

Effects of COVID-19

Detox is essential to your road to recovery during “normal” times and is even more important to protect your health and well-being during the coronavirus outbreak. Cleansing your body of the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol is a critical reason to go to detox during COVID-19. The harmful effects of COVID-19 have been more pronounced in people with underlying health issues, including those with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Research has shown that COVID-19 could hit people with substance use disorders particularly hard. Those with opioid use disorder and methamphetamine use disorder may be especially vulnerable to adverse effects on respiratory and pulmonary health.

The Risk of Waiting

If you decide to put off the decision to seek detox, the results could be devastating. In 2018 alone, there were over 67,000 overdose deaths directly related to drug abuse in the US. There are now over twenty-three million Americans addicted to alcohol and/or drugs. Beyond the health implications, your addiction carries a heavy cost financially. In the US, the overall costs of substance abuse, including lost productivity and health- and crime-related costs, exceed $600 billion annually. On a practical level, your addiction to drugs or alcohol can result in a range of destructive conditions, including disruptions in your relationships with family and friends, financial problems, lost productivity at work or difficulty holding a job, failure in school, domestic violence, child abuse, and resorting to crime to support your habit.

Managing Withdrawal

You may consider detoxing on your own, given the restrictions and concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic. Detox is a complicated process, though, and should be done under the supervision of a professional. You will experience withdrawal symptoms, which can be severe in some cases. Withdrawal from alcohol addiction can cause:

• Anxiety
• Shaky hands
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Insomnia
• Sweating
• More serious problems such as hallucinations or seizures.

When you are addicted to drugs such as opioids, when you detox your withdrawal symptoms could include:

• Muscle aches
• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Lacrimation (eyes tearing up)
• Runny nose
• Excessive sweating
• Inability to sleep
• Yawning very often

You may experience more intense symptoms after the first day or so of beginning to detox your body from drugs, including:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal cramping
• Goosebumps on the skin
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dilated pupils and possibly blurry vision
• Rapid heartbeat
• High blood pressure

For your own health and safety through the process, you should go to detox during COVID-19. Detox is, in fact, a process. Quitting “cold turkey” can lead to even more devastating consequences and can actually be dangerous for you. With the proper combination of medication and counseling, though, you can overcome the symptoms of withdrawal so true recovery from your addiction can begin.

Contact Makana Path for Detox During COVID-19

At Makana Path, our Medical Detox program works to cleanse your body with a specialized, substance-specific approach. We know you are anxious about staying at home and social distancing during COVID-19. We are open to help you, to support you through a positive, successful recovery. We are taking every possible precaution to make sure the coronavirus outbreak does not affect your ability to get treatment for your addiction. To learn more about our intensive healing program, contact Makana Path today by calling 1-866-922-0776.