Understanding Drug Detox

Drug detox and alcohol detox programs are where the addiction recovery process begins. Drug and alcohol abuse can create profound changes in your brain and body chemistry. That’s why one of the first steps in the drug and alcohol addiction treatment process is to detoxify from these toxic chemicals and their byproducts. There are several types of drug and alcohol detox programs available such as outpatient detox programs and ultra rapid detox programs, but the detox programs that have proven to be the safest and most effective are referred to as “medically based inpatient detox programs”.

Stopping alcohol or drug use “cold turkey” can be dangerous and, in some cases, life threatening. One of the goals of inpatient drug detox or alcohol detox programs is to minimize or manage the symptoms associated with withdrawal. Inpatient alcohol and drug detox centers are prepared to handle these problems as well as dispense safe detox medications at a moment’s notice. It is no longer necessary for a person to suffer while going through any kind of alcohol or drug withdrawal.

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.

It is important to understand that a drug detox or alcohol detox program is only the initial step in the recovery process. Alcohol and drug detox programs provide medical stabilization and should not be viewed as rehabilitation. Rehab programs look to maintain the gains made in detox, while working towards establishing a firm ground upon which future long-term recovery is to be built.

Statistics compiled after years of research have found that the vast majority of people that complete alcohol or drug detox, but fail to continue treatment in a residential addiction treatment center, end up in relapse. Detox is a vital component in the recovery process, but lasting recovery is generally achieved through multidisciplinary protocols that address the root of the addiction and not just its physical effects.

There is no one perfect drug detox or alcohol detox program for everyone. There are many things to consider when choosing a drug or alcohol detox and treatment program and without professional help, it can be a daunting task. Colorado Detox programs can help.