Detoxification

Medical Detoxification

As a general definition, detoxification refers to removal of toxic substances from the body. In drug rehabilitation process, detoxification applies to people who have been consuming drugs and developed a chemical dependency. Representing often the beginning phase of the drug treatment, medical detoxification is a process where individuals are systematically withdrawn from addicting drug environment and use, in order to minimise the short-term symptoms and physiological effects of stopping drug use. The whole process takes place under the care of a physician and includes a period of psychological readjustment while the dosage of the drug used by the addicted individual diminishes.

Detoxification varies from individual to individual and it is structured upon individual needs, but for most patients, major withdrawal symptoms disappear within three to four days. There are different techniques of medical detoxification, from simple observation by professionals while an individual detoxes naturally to medical intervention, including tranquilizers, painkillers with narcotics, opiates, amphetamines and other stimulants or drugs. In some cases, particularly for the strong nervous system affecting drugs, detoxification may be a medical necessity, if untreated, withdrawal may lead to in submitting the patient into a locked psychiatric ward or even worse.

Detoxification is not designed to address the psychological, social, and behavioral problems associated with addiction and therefore does not typically produce lasting behavioral changes necessary for recovery. Concerning the drug-free treatments as different type of detoxification, the best documented are therapeutic community residential programs, lasting between 3 to 6 months and offering a supportive, safe environment. Here, the patients can discuss with a therapist and learn how to deal with the cause-factors of their drug addiction and also recover their self-love and self-esteem.

Alternative approaches to detoxification include acupuncture, an ancient Chinese medical practice leading to significant benefit in recovery from all forms of drug addiction. The acupuncture procedure involves thin needles inserted into certain nervous points in the body. The needles are left in for 25 - 60 minutes in order to produce a change in the energy flow, speeding the body's ability to get rid of the toxins by himself. The length of this type of drug treatment depends greatly on the setting in which it is administered and the status of the patient. Commonly, acupuncture is used for detoxification, creating a greater receptivity to the counselling process and decreasing instances of clients' "acting out and the physical craving for drugs.

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Detoxification

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