Drug Detox

Drug detox is the first step in becoming a recovered addict. While there are many programs available to those who need help, detox is usually the first step in all of them. Without drug detox, the body would still physically crave a drug. This would make it much harder for any program to work properly.

Understanding Drug Detox

Drug detox is something that every addict will need to go through. Detox is required for enrollment in most inpatient/residential drug treatment facilities. The goal of detox is fairly clear; detox is a way of cleansing the body of the drug so that physical cravings no longer exist. It is a safe withdrawal from drugs.

Usually monitored or supervised by medical professionals or licensed counselors, detox is a compassionate way for the addict to rid his/her body of drugs. Drug detox also prepares an addict for further treatment. Detox is not intended to be a treatment for addiction in and of itself. It is a precursor for further treatment methods.

Several types of drug detox are available. They are the social model, medical model, and rapid detox. Before beginning any program, a person should evaluate his/her personal needs to make sure a model is the correct one. A licensed counselor or doctor can help make this evaluation. Some treatment centers offer more than one model of detox and will help determine the right treatment with an admission interview.

Social Model Detox

Social model detoxification is one that rarely uses medication, although medical personnel are usually available if needed. This type of detox usually takes five to 10 days. It can be done in either an inpatient/residential treatment facility or on an outpatient basis.

For those doing the social model detox on an outpatient basis, interviews and medical history should be taken to insure the person will not have any severe withdrawal symptoms. Outpatients check in everyday.

In the social model detox, proper nutrition and rest are important. Drug education and counseling help the patient. An emphasis is placed in living in a sober environment. Through community-based organizations like 12-step programs, positive role modeling and peer counseling are stressed.

Medical Model Detox

Medical model detox is fairly common for people who have physical problems, are in poor health, or have mental disorders that can complicate treatment. Some people have a dual-diagnosis, which means they are addicted to more than one drug or have both a drug problem and a physical or mental problem. Addicts who expect to have severe withdrawal symptoms, such as delirium tremens or seizures, should also be in a medical model of drug detoxification.

This model of drug detox takes place in a hospital or hospital-like institution. It is always done on an inpatient/residential basis. Qualified medical personnel are available around the clock and patients are closely monitored. Some patients may require prescription medications, which must be administered by doctors and nurses, during the detox phase. The medical model of detox takes between five and 14 days to complete, depending on the program and patient.

Rapid Detox

Rapid detox is a new and somewhat controversial way of detoxifying from drug use. Instead of an extended stay in an inpatient facility, patients usually complete the detox within hours. While an addict is under anesthesia, medications are administered to help cleanse drugs from the person’s system. The medications interfere with the receptors for drugs (usually opiates) in the patient’s brain.

Rapid detox claims to do away with virtually all withdrawal symptoms. At some treatment centers, patients are kept for observation for 24-48 hours, though it varies from center to center. An addict undergoing rapid detox may need up to a year’s worth of prescriptions for medications to help eliminate physical cravings.

Finding a Treatment Facility

Drug detoxification is key to beginning a successful recovery. To find a treatment facility near you, call your local health professionals or search the United States Department of Health and Human Services for treatment facilities.

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