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Detox
Detoxification is the first of several stages in the effective treatment of drug addiction. In its simplest definition, it is a period of time during which the toxic elements of the abused drug are released from the body. Detox itself doesn’t address any of the psychological, social or behavioral problems that accompany addiction. This stage simply enables the addict’s mind and body to be prepared to participate in the later stages of treatment.
There is a logic to this: it’s difficult to engage physically, mentally or emotionally in learning new behaviors (or unlearning old ones) while the body is still under the effects of mind-altering drugs.
The chemical components of many frequently abused drugs can remain in the body’s tissues and organs for significant periods of time. Depending on the patient’s length and degree of addiction, detox can take place in as little as 24 hours, or may last several days.
When an addict has a severe drug addiction, any prolonged period of time without access to drugs can cause severe withdrawal symptoms. A “cold turkey” end to drug use may trigger medical complications, including death. For severely addicted patients, detox can be safely accomplished only under medical supervision. Medical detox also has the advantage of alleviating the unpleasant physical side effects of withdrawal (shaking, sweating, irritability and agitation) with medication, if necessary.
Without being consciously aware of the root causes, many addicts “self medicate” with illicit drugs, trying to avoid symptoms of depression or other psychological problems. During detox, it is not surprising for many addicts to become aware of such feelings for the first time. This is one reason why most treatment centers put prospective patients through a thorough physical and psychological evaluation. Without dealing with these underlying emotional or psychological issues, treatment would be ineffective. In these cases (which are usually initially identified during detox), patients may receive concurrent treatment for addiction as well as depression.
Detox can be an element of recovery, regardless of whether the addict would proceed to an inpatient or outpatient program.
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