Detoxification cleanses the body of drugs and alcohol. Learn what to expect during drug or alcohol detox and where to find reliable detox resources.

Drug detox treatment is the first step in overcoming a drug or alcohol use disorder. Substance and alcohol use can change a personโ€™s brain, making it hard for them to function normally without using the substance or alcohol. Drug detoxification is the process where a person is weaned off of a drug so that it is no longer in their system.

Top Takeaways:

  • Drug detox is the first critical step in overcoming addiction, involving the process of allowing the body to eliminate toxins from drug use under medical supervision to manage withdrawal symptoms safely.
  • Detox programs vary and can include inpatient, outpatient, and medical detox options, each tailored to the individual’s specific needs and the severity of their addiction.
  • Medical supervision during detox is essential to monitor vital signs, manage withdrawal symptoms, and provide support to ensure a safe and effective detox process.
  • Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the substance and duration of use. Medical professionals can administer medications to alleviate symptoms and provide emotional support during this challenging phase.
  • Detox is just the beginning of the recovery journey. Comprehensive treatment plans, including therapy, counseling, and aftercare programs, are crucial for maintaining long-term sobriety and addressing the underlying causes of addiction.
  • Each individual requires a personalized detox plan based on their unique medical history, type of substance used, and overall health to ensure the most effective and safe detox experience.
  • Having a strong support system, including family, friends, and professional counselors, is vital in helping individuals stay motivated and committed to their recovery journey.

Drug and alcohol medical detox programs aid people who want to overcome their substance use disorder, safely and effectively. Detoxification, especially when guided by medical professionals through an alcohol medical detox program, is the first step toward recovery from any substance use disorder.

What Is Drug Detox?

The definition of detox is the process of abstaining from alcohol or drug use until the bloodstream is clear of the substance. In other words, drug detox involves ridding an individualโ€™s body of the substance it has come to depend on to feel normal. During this process, the person may experience withdrawal symptoms.

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Drugs That Cause Withdrawal

There are many substances that can alter the brain and the way a person feels. These substances can become addictive. When used in excess and a person relies on them to feel normal, stopping their use can cause withdrawal symptoms. Drugs that cause withdrawal include:

Types of Drug Detox

There are many different ways that a person can detox from a drug. Most detox methods are difficult to endure, as the person will most likely experience unpleasant, and sometimes serious, withdrawal symptoms. Itโ€™s always a good idea to have the supervision of a medical professional when detoxing.

Types of Detox

Medical Detox:ย an all-inclusive form of detox where a person stays at a facility and is monitored for withdrawal symptoms during the detox period. Their symptoms are managed by medical professionals, who may provide medications to lessen the effects of withdrawal. Mental health support is also provided.

Drug Tapering:ย when a person gradually uses less of the drug over time, until they no longer use it at all. Tapering off drugs is one way to make withdrawal symptoms less severe than stopping use all at once. It is advised to do drug tapering with the help of a medical professional.

Rapid Detox:ย an inpatient procedure where the person is put under anesthesia and the drug is flushed from their system. Rapid drug detox may be the best way to avoid having to go through severe withdrawal symptoms, although someย withdrawal symptoms can still occur. Rapid detox is an expensive procedure that must be done in a medical facility.

At-Home Detox:ย when a person undergoes detoxification in their home. This method has the advantage of the person being in the comfort of their own home, but it can be dangerous if done unsupervised. If home drug detox is done, it is best toย have a medical professional presentย to help the person through it and keep them safe.

Detox Kits:ย these claim to be the do-it-yourself detox version of medical detox. Drug detox kits are cleansing kits that are sold in common drug stores, which are meant to help with withdrawal symptoms. They usually come as a pill or a drink, are not medically proven and can have risks.

Natural Detox:ย when a person sets aside time to stop using the drug and go through withdrawal, usually at home, alone. Natural drug detox can involve using supplements, teas or other nutritional approaches to detoxify the body. Holistic detox involves a combination of nutritional and spiritual support, such as massage, yoga or acupuncture.

Cold Turkey:ย when a person suddenly stops using a drug completely. Quitting drugs cold turkey can be dangerous as the person will most likely experience severe withdrawal symptoms. Stopping drugs cold turkey is the least effective of the detox methods, as most people are likely to use the drug again to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms.


What to Expect During Detox

Itโ€™s important to understand what to expect during detox before going to rehab. The detoxification process can take anywhere from days to weeks, as a personโ€™s body adjusts to life without the substance. During this process, a person may undergo a series of side effects and withdrawal symptoms that can be mild or severe. The following factors are descriptions of what medical detox is like.

Side Effects of Detox
  • Most substances that are addictive cause changes in the brain that affect mood and behaviors. When a person relies on those substances to feel normal, removing them or detoxing can cause physical and psychologicalย detox side effects, including:
  • Symptoms of psychosis, like hallucinations or paranoia
  • Erratic and unpredictable behavior
  • Severe pain, especially if the substance was helping suppress pain
  • Suicidal thoughts or actions
Withdrawal and Detox Symptoms

 

Drug detox symptoms can range from mild to severe. When a person has a substance use disorder, the substance has become a normal part of how their body functions. When that substance is no longer there, a personโ€™s body will need to adjust to the withdrawal, which can lead to a variety of detox symptoms.

Withdrawal symptomsย can vary depending on the substance used, but generally include:

  • Anxiety
  • Mood changes
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Feeling depressed
  • Muscle aches
  • Sweating
  • Feeling restless
  • Changes in blood pressure or heart rate
  • Tremors
  • Hallucinations
Detox and Withdrawl Medications

 

Detox medications can make withdrawal symptoms more bearable. The withdrawal medication usedย depends onย the substance the person was using. Some examples of detox medications and the substance use disorder they are used for include:

For alcohol detox:ย medications may includeย acamprosate,ย benzodiazepinesย orย Baclofen

For opioid detox:ย medications may includeย methadone,ย buprenorphine, lofexidine orย clonidine

Addiction medicationsย come in two forms. They can either help a person who is currently experiencing a substance use disorder to stabilize or decrease use, or they help a person who has undergone detox to deal with cravings andย prevent relapse of use.

Some examples of addiction medications used in treatment to continue to prevent cravings include:

For alcohol treatment: diazepam,ย disulfiram,ย naltrexone,ย acamprosate, nalmefene,ย baclofen

For opioid treatment:ย methadone,ย buprenorphine,ย naltrexone

The Dangers of Improper Detox

A person with a substance use disorder may have serious withdrawal effects if they try to quit too abruptly or on their own. The dangers of detox can range from physical symptoms to psychological symptoms. If a person experiences severe psychological symptoms, it could lead them to want to harm themselves. It is usually better to work with a medical professional to develop a drug detox plan and have supervision during the process.

There are dangers of detoxing at home without the supervision of medical professionals. One serious withdrawal effect of alcohol use is delirium tremens, where a person may experience agitation, tremors, a fast heart rate and high blood pressure. This effect usually occurs within 24โ€“48 hours after stopping alcohol use. It can be deadly, with a mortality rate of 37% when it is not treated.

How Long Does Detox Last?

How long drug detox takes depends on the substance used, the amount of the substance used and the length of time the person has been using the substance. It can also depend on the personโ€™s physical and mental state when they start detox. People who are highly motivated to begin the medical detox process may be able to handle the symptoms better than people who are reluctant to quit.

If a person is using more than one substance or has a co-occurring mental health issue, the detox process could take longer. In general, the process takes anywhere from seven to 14 days but can take as long as a month.

Next Steps After Detox

Detox is the first step in overcoming a substance use disorder and living a healthier life. After completing detox, it can be difficult to maintain this lifestyle and not return to the old habits of substance use. To continue to recover after detox, a person will usually undergo additional therapy to address underlying conditions or reasons that may have caused them to use in the first place, like inpatient treatment.

Inpatient treatment programs allow the person to receive rehab in a setting that is free from temptations and distractions. The medical team will develop an individualized treatment plan that will help the person overcome the physical and psychological effects of their substance use disorder. The plan will generally involve therapy and medication when appropriate.

Inpatient treatment can be followed by residential treatment where the person lives in a community where they can receive more long-term care for their substance use disorder. These programs usually last for six months or more.

Detox Programs Near Me

The Recovery Village has comprehensive detox programs that are tailored to each clientโ€™s unique physical and psychological needs. Each of our medical detox programs are medically supervised, offer 24-hour clinical support and mental health counseling, and provide a transition to further rehab programming.

To find drug detoxification clinics, you can:

Insurance May Cover The Cost of Detox

Your insurance plan may cover some or all of the cost of medical detox. Our online health insurance verification system will estimate your in-network and out-of-network deductibles, coinsurance percentages and out-of-pocket maximums. Within 5 minutes, youโ€™ll receive an email with these details – free of charge. Fill out the form below to get started:


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Editor – Camille Renzoni
Cami Renzoni is a creative writer and editor for The Recovery Village. As an advocate for behavioral health, Cami is certified in mental health first aid and encourages people who face substance use disorders to ask for the help they deserve. Read more
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Medically Reviewed By – Dr. Trisha Sippel, PhD
Dr. Sippel is a diversely trained scientist with expertise in cancer biology and immunology. Read more
Sources

Praveen, Thyarappa, K.; Law, Fergus; Oโ€™Shea, Jacinta; Melichar, Jan. โ€œOpioid dependence.โ€ BMJ Clinical Evidence, September 20, 20011. Accessed July 4, 2019.

Rahman, Abdul; Paul, Manju. โ€œDelirium Tremens (DT).โ€ StatPearls Publishing, November 18, 2018. Accessed July 4, 2019.

Davis, Chris. โ€œHome detox โ€“ supporting patients to ov[…]me alcohol addiction.โ€ Australian Prescriber, December 3, 2018. Accessed July 4, 2019.

Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. โ€œRapid and Ultra-Rapid Detoxification in […]fety, and Guidelines.โ€ Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health Rapid Response Reports, January 15, 2016. Accessed July 4, 2019.

Diaper, Alison M.; Law, Fergus D.; Melichar, Jan K. โ€œPharmacological strategies for detoxification.โ€ British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, February 2014. Accessed July 4, 2019.

 

Medical Disclaimer

The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.