What is Detox?
Detox, short for detoxification, is the first step in drug rehabilitation and addiction treatment of drug and/or alcohol abuse. The term detox refers to the detoxifying of the residual toxins left in the human body as a result of taking drug(s) and/or alcohol. Alcohol and drug detox, from a medical prospective, is the process of medically managing the body’s physical withdrawal from alcohol or drug(s) to minimize the possible side effects and help prevent potentially harmful consequences. There are a variety of methods for the actual medical process of alcohol and drug detox.
Over time, drinking alcohol or using a drug eventually causes a physical dependence. The actual stopping of drinking alcohol or using drugs, results in what is known as withdrawal. Detox (withdrawal) without medical supervision and assistance is potentially very dangerous and should not be attempted. Alcohol and or drug detox can result is severe consequences, such as a seizure, nausea, hallucinations, high blood pressure and anxiety.
The length of time required for detox from alcohol or drug depends on the process being utilized. In general, alcohol detox, when done in a medical environment, can take anywhere from 3 to 5 days. For a drug detox such as heroin, opiates, methadone or benzodiazepines the time can range from 5 to 7 days of medically supervised detox. The medical process of detox from alcohol or drug usually includes administering a variety of substances to relieve the withdrawal symptoms and minimize the potentially harmful consequences. For alcohol, these potentially harmful consequences can include the delirium tremors (aka the DTs), convulsions, nausea, headaches, shakes and insomnia.
Detox is the first step of drug rehab and addiction treatment. As long as there is alcohol or drugs in a person’s body and as the body goes into withdrawal the result is a craving for more alcohol or the substance. Also, until a person is mentally and physically stabilized, they are not prepared to participate in a addiction treatment program. Most addiction treatment centers have there own detox facilities. Others have affiliations with detox programs for their patients to use. There are licensed detox facilities in most areas of the United States. Some are hospitals or clinics. Detox can sometimes be done on an outpatient basis under a doctor’s care. For most people, detox is best accomplished on an inpatient basis.
For additional information call 1-800-99-DETOX.
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