Alcohol and Drug Detox
Detox is difficult, so why do it? Because living a life controlled by alcohol or drugs is no way to live. Many people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol are in a love and hate relationship with the substance that has taken over their lives - they don't want to be dependent but they haven't been able to stop. It's not a healthy lifestyle, either physically or mentally. Detox may only be the first step in recovery, but it's the beginning of taking back your life.
Detoxification Process
Detoxification is not a complicated process, it is a routine activity that the body performs naturally and automatically. Whatever enters the body, whether food or drugs, is processed by the body. When food enters the body, the nutrients that the body needs are diffused into the body, the waste is eliminated, and the excess is stored as fat. Drugs, just like they were intended to do, are almost entirely diffused into the body. Over time, drugs accumulate and build-up in the body's fat cells. The body becomes dependent on the drug and craves it. The stored drugs are just as hard for the addict to get rid of as it is for an overweight person to get rid of stored fat.
Withdrawal, one of the first steps of detox, is very hard physically and mentally. During detox, the body cleanses itself from the drugs in the system. Both the body and the mind have to learn to live without the drugs it is addicted to. The nature and difficulty of a person's withdrawal will vary based on the drug used and the amount of dependency on it.
The goal of detox is to completely purify the body and get rid of all drug residues that are stored in the body. The drug toxins that are stored in the body have to be completely removed or they may grow in the body and cause cravings years later. An effective detox program is one that covers all aspects of a person's withdrawal and also provides counseling and therapy to help with recovery. Many treatment programs offer simple medications to help someone go thru the withdrawal period.
Types of Drug Detox Treatments
Detox treatment is available for many types of drugs, including alcohol detox, cocaine detox, crack detox, marijuana detox, ecstasy detox, heroin detox, and methamphetamine detox.
There are several options available for drug detox - some are inpatient treatments and some are outpatient treatments. With inpatient treatments, the patients live away from their usual surroundings which helps them live and learn a drug-free lifestyle. The patient is supported 24 hours a day by trained counselors and medical workers. Treatment and recovery consists of abstinence from drugs, medical stabilization, and lifestyle changes.
Inpatient treatments are offered in hospitals and residences. While some people prefer a hospital setting, others prefer a residential surrounding that still provides supervision and structure. Short-term inpatient programs offer treatment for a maximum of thirty days. Long-term inpatient programs provide patients with continual treatment and support in a drug free environment for several months or up to a year.
Rapid Detox Treatment
Rapid detox treatment is another choice that someone should consider if they are addicted to opiates, such as heroin, codeine, vicodin, and oxycontin. Rapid detox has been shown to have a much better chance for success than conventional detox methods for these types of addictions. Not only has rapid detox shown to be very successful in getting people off the drugs, but it is also considerably less painful. If someone wants the best chance of recovery, it is worth considering rapid detox treatment.
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism affects nearly 14 million people in the United States, or 1 in every 13 adults. It is a disease that does not discriminate based on gender, race, or socioeconomic status.
