Detoxification, also called detox, is an important first step on the road to recovery from drug abuse or alcoholism. Through this stage of medical care, mental health and clinical staff will work closely with the addict to rid the individual of substance-based substances. While Detox is often associated with detox centers and hospitals, some are available for home usage as well. During a Detox program, the intake of medications and other drugs are stopped and other harmful substances from the drug user’s system are eliminated. A number of symptoms and signs of withdrawal can occur, and patients may exhibit these during their stay at a rehabilitation facility or a residential treatment center.
Many factors play a role in whether or not an individual needs to enter into a Detox program for drug abuse. The most common of these factors is addiction. In order to be deemed a candidate for admission, the patient must demonstrate an addiction to a controlled substance. In addition, the individual must also have had a history of heavy drinking or use of other substances, and these conditions need to be present for a minimum of six months before admission into a Detox program. Additionally, the patient must also demonstrate a continuing pattern of use despite the onset of detoxification. Some other factors that may lead a patient to require detoxification include the presence of hepatitis B or C, multiple drug abuse, significant changes in the physical health of the patient, and a history of abuse of stimulant medications.
Rapid detox is a term that describes the medical process of removing drug abusers or alcoholics from specific residential facilities or long-term treatment programs. This process, which typically lasts up to thirty days, is designed to remove the most dangerous, life-threatening drug or alcohol substances from the system while supplying the body with a much needed level of nutrition. While rapid detoxification has shown great success in the reduction of drug use and the overall health and wellness of individuals, it can be quite disruptive to the life of someone who is not a strong willed individual. However, for those individuals who are able to withstand the process of rapid detox and are strong willed, they may find that this process is one of the most important decisions they may ever make.