What is Drug & Alcohol Detox?

What is Drug & Alcohol Detox?
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Detoxification rids the body of toxins. It’s a crucial stage in substance abuse therapy and recovery. It might be challenging to understand what to expect during the detox process because it varies so much from person to person based on factors, including the type and quantity of drugs being metabolized in the body and the degree to which the individual is dependent on those drugs.

Pick the Right Addiction treatment for You, as detoxing from some substances is more challenging than others. Supervised addiction detox is suggested for both physical and mental wellness. Let’s have a look at some kinds of detoxification, shall we?

Medical Detoxification

Medical detox is recommended for anyone facing drug or alcohol addiction, as the body may release poisons and require urgent medical stabilization at any time. Medical staff must supervise withdrawal since users may accidentally experience seizures or hallucinations and hurt themselves or others. Depending on the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms and the chemicals in their systems, sedatives or regulated painkillers may be given. Pregnant women should seek medical attention before detoxifying to guarantee mother and child’s safety.

Methadone or buprenorphine, called opioid agonist therapy, can treat opioid addiction. These drugs reduce withdrawal symptoms. Methadone and buprenorphine are still opioids, but they act slowly without the high, so someone undergoing methadone therapy for opioid addiction can steadily reduce their dosage and frequency. Methadone is a powder poured into a drink, and buprenorphine is a tablet with naloxone.

Methadone clinics are becoming more widespread in cities, despite public disapproval. Lack of knowledge of the treatment is evident — patients still consume an opioid but in controlled dosages to offset withdrawal symptoms from a more potent opioid. These facilities are safer for detoxifying addicts since they can access treatment and resources.

Supervised vs. self-detox

In the past, “cold turkey” was the best technique to treat an addiction. It was a “tough guy” solution to a problem. Now that we understand the mental health difficulties accompanying drug usage, our image of addiction has evolved. We treat addiction as a mental condition now. While others opt to detox at home out of shame or fear of criminal repercussions, supervised drug detox is safer.

Like treating an infection or broken bone, medical intervention will speed up the body’s healing process in a more stable environment. Due to the user’s proximity to drug-related triggers and temptations, at-home drug detoxification might be challenging. Effective detox can take many days, and if the user is at home, relapse is more likely.

Rapid detox

Rapid detox sedates the patient with general anesthesia and injects pharmaceuticals to replace harmful substances. The user can wean off the drug without the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms of a traditional detox. While rapid detox works faster than the body’s normal detoxification process, it has hazards, such as vomiting, asphyxiation, stoking, and bodily heat.

Drug addiction treatment entails more than just physical detoxification; it also requires addressing underlying mental health concerns. There is apprehension that the quick detox would be seen as a panacea for addiction, while in reality, there is no simple solution to drug abuse. Just like quitting cold turkey is unhealthy, so is abruptly stopping a chemical your body is dependent on without changing your behavior or environment.


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I am a pop culture and social media expert. Aside from writing about the latest news health, I also enjoy pop culture and Yoga. I have BA in American Cultural Studies and currently enrolled in a Mass-Media MA program. I like to spend my spring breaks volunteering overseas.

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