The Basics of Drug Detox
Beth on 15 Nov 2009
Drug detoxification refers to several possible intervention strategies related to controlling drug addiction and/or drug withdrawal. Flushing the body of traces of the drug is paramount to recovery. Detoxification will mitigate the physical effects caused by the drug or drugs and can be an important step on the road to becoming drug-free.
It must be noted that detoxification programs do not necessarily treat other aspects of drug addiction. The psychological aspects of addiction, the behavioral and the social must be treated in tandem or after the detoxification process has occurred.
There are typically three steps to clinical drug detoxification
First, evaluation. The patient is tested to see what substances are presently in their bloodstream. The amount of the drug or drugs is also noted. Staff will also review the patient’s history and current behavior for potential disorders, mental or behavioral issues.
Second, stabilization. At this point, the patient goes through the process of detoxification. Medications may or may not used during this phase. Generally, medications are used. As a secondary part of stabilization, information is extremely important. The patient should be informed about what to expect during treatment and recovery. If it seems prudent, family members and friends can be introduced into the environment to aid in stabilization.
Third, treatment. The last step in the detox process is to ready the patient to enter a recovery program. Remember, drug detoxification only deals with the physical dependency. It cannot meaningfully address the psychological aspects of drug addiction. The treatment stage concludes with agreement that the patient will complete the recovery by going to rehab.
Drug detoxification can happen in many settings. The level of intensity and patient commitment can vary within these settings. Deciding which sort of clinic, hospital or other setting should be determined by the patient’s needs. It’s important, as the process starts, to begin thinking about post detox help. Often this can happen in the same facility as the detoxification. Insurance, or the lack of insurance, plays a huge part in where and for how long the process can happen. People needing to detox come from all walks of life and income situations. Clinics realize this and most offer plans equipped to tailor treatment to their client populations. Knowing that detox was successful can be measured, in part, by whether someone enters or remains in rehab after detoxification.
Where the patient goes for detox (and possibly post-detox treatment) depends in part on the drug or drugs used. Experts suggest that for alcohol, sedative, and opiate withdrawal, hospitalization (or some form of 24-hour medical care) is often the preferred setting for detoxification. If hospitalization cannot be provided, then a setting that provides a high level of care – 24/7 – is recommended.
A big challenge for detoxification programs is ensuring that exiting patients have information and access to substance abuse treatment services. Spending time in treatment is almost always needed if the patient is going to be clean in the long term. The stats are astounding. Over 250,000 people detox in hospitals every year. Only 20% of them go on to receive substance abuse treatment.
Stats come from this document:
Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment
by Norman S. Miller, M.D. & Steven S. Kipnis, M.D.