According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, approximately 24 million Americans over the age of 12 were in need of treatment from drug and/or alcohol dependencies in 2015.

Inpatient drug Rehab in Philadelphia and alcohol treatment is often the first step in a comprehensive rehabilitation program. While the length of stay varies, depending on the individual’s circumstances, most people with long-standing substance dependencies, including alcohol, benzodiazepine, cocaine and opioid addictions, require a 4-10 day stay.

When an addicted person stops using drugs and/or alcohol, the body often begins to experience withdrawal symptoms. Our treatment professionals can help ease these symptoms and get patients through treatment as safely and comfortably as possible to minimize the risk of relapse, and facilitate the transition into ongoing addiction treatment.

Different drugs can bring about substance-specific withdrawal symptoms in addition to the symptoms listed. Following are symptoms specific to withdrawal from the types of drugs listed:

Alcohol and benzodiazepines

These drugs have very similar withdrawal symptoms due to their similar mechanisms of action. Withdrawal symptoms can include:

  • Anxiety
  • Agitation
  • Hallucinations
  • Tremors
  • Seizures

Opioids, such as heroin and painkillers

Withdrawal symptoms from opioids can include:

  • Muscle aches
  • Bone and joint pain
  • Increased sensitivity to pain
  • Gastrointestinal distress

Stimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamines

Withdrawal from stimulants can cause mental health complications such as:

  • Depression
  • Suicidal thoughts and behaviors

No matter what the drug, treatment at a rehab medical facility in Philadelphia, is always the safest choice, especially when co-occurring mental health disorders are an issue. On rare occasions, withdrawal symptoms can lead to complications and serious health issues that require immediate medical attention.

For this reason, it’s rarely recommended that patients attempt treatment at home when significant substance abuse issues are present. Instead, enrollment at an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment program in Philly that provides 24-hour medical assistance if necessary, ongoing medical monitoring, and a therapeutic follow-up program is recommended.