Detoxification: Drug Detox, Alcohol Detox, Drug and Alcohol Detoxification

Detoxification - Alcohol Detox and Drug Detox

Detox (detoxification) from drugs or alcohol can be potentially harmful. Detox from alcohol and/or a drug needs to be done under medical supervision only. Never try to detox from alcohol or a drug without professional medical assistance.

What is Detox

Detox, short for detoxification, is the first step in rehabilitation and treatment of drug addiction and/or alcohol abuse. The term detox refers to the detoxification of the residual toxins left in the human body as a result of taking drug(s) and/or alcohol. Alcohol detox 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.

Alcohol and Drug Detoxification

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 drugs 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.

Detoxification & Treatment, Rehabilitation

Detox or detoxification is the first step of rehab and 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 drug substance. Also, until a person is mentally and physically stabilized, they are not prepared to participate in a treatment program. Most 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.