For someone facing a substance use disorder who must undergo a drug test, getting a drug detox kit to help them remove the substance from their body faster can seem like a good option—but is it? Exactly what are drug detox kits? Our drug addiction treatment center can help you understand your options. Call Promises at 844.875.5609 to learn more.
What Are Drug Detox Kits Exactly?
Drug detox kits consist of either detox drinks or pills that claim to speed up the process in which you eliminate a substance from your body. Although the kits are legal, the ingredients are questionable and unregulated.
There are two main ways that drug detox kits attempt to do what they claim to be able to do. They rely either on in vivo adulteration or in vitro adulteration.
In vivo adulteration means the person ingests a substance that changes the chemical makeup of their urine. During in vitro adulteration, the person adds chemicals to their urine to interact with the drug traces.
The most common drug detox kits are for:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Opioids
Some of these kits only require one day of treatment, while others take a few days. Most of them have a diuretic effect to try to flush out the substance.
Are Drug Detox Kits Safe?
There is no regulatory oversight on these kits, which means they are not safe to turn to if you want to get rid of the traces of a substance from your body.
One concern is that they can quickly dehydrate you because of their diuretic effect, potentially leading to serious health complications.
They also do not help with the withdrawal symptoms you’ll experience if you try to quit using an addictive substance. Withdrawal symptoms can be debilitating, putting your health at risk and increasing cravings to an almost unbearable degree.
These symptoms occur because your body has gotten used to functioning with the alcohol or drugs in your system, so removing them leads to an imbalance that causes symptoms like fever, shaking, nausea, and insomnia.
Some substances, like alcohol, are particularly tough to detox from on your own because of the risks of developing serious symptoms like seizures.
Drug Detox Kits or Medical Detox Services?
It is never a good idea to attempt to go through the detox process on your own, especially by relying on an unregulated detox kit to get you safely through the process. It can be tempting to do so because you may want privacy and quick results, but they are not effective options.
You need to turn to a professional medical detox service that will monitor you at all times and offer medications to stabilize you. Not only do the medications help you avoid feeling the powerful withdrawal symptoms that can put your health at risk, but they can also help you avoid the kinds of cravings that can cause you to relapse.
Medical detox services are available as inpatient and outpatient programs, so you can find the one that best suits your needs, schedule, and budget.
Detox Safely at Promises’ Drug Addiction Treatment Program
If you want to start your journey toward sobriety, it’s important to start correctly, and that means turning to professionals for help. At Promises, we offer a variety of treatment options that can accommodate your exact needs. From inpatient care to outpatient services, we guide you through every step of the recovery process.
You can get the care you need as well as the privacy you deserve when you turn to us at Promises. Don’t spend another day battling a substance use disorder on your own. Call Promises today at 844.875.5609.