Drug
Detox
The goal of drug detox is to rid the body of toxins accumulated by drug use.
The first step of drug detox is drug withdrawal. The definition of withdrawal
is "Discontinuation of the use of an addictive substance, and the physiological
and mental readjustment that accompanies such discontinuation." Once an
individual has discontinued using drugs, physical and behavioral withdrawal
symptoms may follow.
The nature and severity of the withdrawal symptoms vary greatly depending on
the particular drug or drugs that were being used as well as the frequency of
use. These days there are few people who use one drug exclusively. It is very
common to see individuals in drug detox that use alcohol and cocaine, or alcohol
and prescription medications for example. Drug detox is a process that applies
to any individual who is addicted to drugs. Detoxification helps diminish the
uncomfortable symptoms of drug withdrawal.
Drug detox is performed in many different ways depending on where you decide
to receive treatment. Most drug detox centers simply provide treatment to avoid
physical withdrawal to alcohol & other drugs. Ideally, a trained detox facility
will incorporate counseling and therapy during detox to help with the psychological
distress that the individual may experience as well.
Detoxification should cover all aspects of the individual's withdrawal and
purification from drugs. The removal of drug residuals is a key goal in drug
detox. Without this process, drug residues can remain in ones body and cause
cravings for years after drug use has ceased. A vital step in a successful drug
detox as well as drug rehabilitation is flushing out these accumulated toxic
residues so that the individual no longer experiences unwanted adverse effects
from the drugs they have taken.
