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Detox

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that detox occurs when the patient stops abusing their drug of choice. A drug detox program allows for the body to rid itself of the drug and residual toxins while medical staff monitor progress and assist in helping the patient to be more comfortable and/or get through the process as quickly as possible through medication and psychotherapeutic report. Detox is not a treatment for addiction unto itself but rather the first step in a comprehensive program designed to help patients safely stop using their drug of choice while also minimizing the risk of relapse through supervision.

Drug and alcohol detoxification is an integral part of the treatment process at The Canyon. Many who enter the program begin by focusing strictly on their physical symptoms as they get through the difficult detox that accompanies the cessation of use of opiates, alcohol, marijuana and other drugs. The withdrawal symptoms that define a drug and alcohol detox can be so overwhelming that few who attempt the process alone will be able to withstand the temptation to "cure" their symptoms with a dose of their drug of choice. That's why a medically supervised detox at The Canyon is the best first step to take toward a life without drug and alcohol addiction.

If you would like more information about the detox options that await you here at The Canyon, contact us today at the phone number listed above.

The Basics

Detoxification is one of those things that is defined differently in each of the different fields that make use of it. However, in the field of substance abuse treatment, the Treatment Improvement Protocol 45 published by the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health has the final word. They define detox as "a set of interventions aimed at managing acute intoxication and withdrawal. It denotes a clearing of toxins from the body of the patient who is acutely intoxicated and/or dependent on substances of abuse. Detoxification seeks to minimize the physical harm caused by the abuse of substances."

In layman's terms, detox begins within hours after the last drink or dose of the drug of choice. Physical symptoms begin small and build over the next 36 to 72 hours, depending upon the drug of addiction. These symptoms heighten and finally plateau, lingering for weeks or even months. In some cases, depending upon the length of drug addiction, the presence of other medical problems and the amount of the addictive dose, these symptoms can be deadly. It is not advisable to attempt to detox off of any drug or alcohol without medical assistance and supervision.

Statistics

According to the Drug and Alcohol Services Information System (DASIS), hundreds of thousands of Americans enter treatment seeking help for detox each year. Some important numbers include:

• Approximately 25 percent of all patients who enrolled in drug rehab in 2001 did so in order to seek medical detox assistance. That amounts to about 436,000 people.
• The primary drug of choice among patients seeking detox was alcohol. About half of all detox admissions were alcoholic patients.
• About 33 percent of patients admitted to detox sought help fighting opiate addiction.
• Cocaine was the third most popular drug of choice among those seeking drug detox; 10 percent of detox patients were addicted to cocaine.
• About 26 percent of those who sought detox primarily (rather than drug addiction treatment) had been admitted to treatment more than five times in the past.

History of Detoxification Services

It wasn't until the 1970s that the mere act of being under the influence of any substance ceased to be treated purely as a crime. Though the American Medical Association (AMA) determined that alcoholism is a disease in 1958, it wasn't until 1971 when the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws adopted the Uniform Alcoholism and Intoxication Treatment Act that the approach to addiction detox and treatment began to change on a meaningful level.

With the realization that alcohol and drug addiction is a medical disease that can be treated, research studies began to appear that helped the medical community determine the most appropriate forms of drug treatment. These studies continue today and with each passing year we learn more and more about what will best serve those that make a purposeful attempt to rid themselves of drug and alcohol addiction. At The Canyon, we make use of both the medical and social models of detox, providing those who need it with the medication they need to comfortably get through the worst of the physical symptoms and slowly begin the transition into support groups and one-on-one therapy that will help them recover.

How the Process Works

The various types of detox available are defined in part by how withdrawal symptoms are treated, and the specifics of the patient’s experience will depend upon a number of factors. These include:

• Drug of choice. Different drugs of addiction have different protocols in terms of detox and treatment.
• Types of available treatments and medications. Alcohol, cocaine, and opiates like heroin and prescription painkillers, to name a few, have specific medications that have been proven to be effective during detox.
• Medical and health issues. Some detox protocols will not be recommended in the event that there are co-occurring mental health disorders or underlying medical conditions that would be complicated.
• Patient preference. Some patients feel very strongly that no medications should be introduced during the detox process, while others want all the help they can get.

Intake and Evaluation: Initial Stabilization

According to the US National Library of Medicine, psychosocial and biomedical screening during intake is an essential part of an effective treatment program. The publication states that one is largely ineffective without the other but, when applied together, the two can identify the medical and mental health disorders that are afflicting the patient. This identification can help the medical team to move forward with a comprehensive treatment plan with the immediate goal of stabilization. For example, underlying health conditions can mean that certain medications often prescribed for the management of withdrawal symptoms will be inappropriate or that other medications may be necessary when mental health disorders or psychosis are overwhelming.

This process can also help to identify other issues that may get in the way of an effective treatment plan. For example, outpatient detox may not be an option if the patient has a hard time following through on medical directives and showing up for daily medications or case management. In other cases, problems at home like domestic violence or ongoing struggles with debt, legal issues and relationship problems can be overwhelming obstacles to staying focused on recovery and ultimately trigger relapse. In these cases, inpatient detox is recommended.

"Cold Turkey" Detox

A “cold turkey” detox describes a detox in which the patient stops using all drugs and alcohol abruptly and uses no drugs or medications of any kind to mitigate the withdrawal symptoms. This can be extremely difficult both emotionally and physically and can mean intense cravings. Patients are not recommended to attempt this kind of detox without the supervision of medical professionals at an inpatient facility in order to avoid medical complications and/or the risk of relapse – an issue that can mean overdose in this context.

Maintenance Detox

A maintenance detox is another way for patients to rid themselves of the toxin buildup brought on by extended use of drugs and alcohol but with the assistance of prescription medication to ease the withdrawal symptoms. The medications vary depending upon the withdrawal symptoms that each patient experiences and may also change according to the substance of addiction. For example, a heroin addict may choose to detox medically by using buprenorphine or methadone maintenance and slowly decrease the medication until he or she is free from addiction. Withdrawal symptoms will still be an issue but they will not be as significant as they would be without medication.

Both buprenorphine and methadone are heavily regulated by the government when used in the treatment opioid addiction, according to the Division of Pharmacologic Therapies, so there will be other restrictions and limitations as well as expectations put on patients who utilize these forms of treatment.

Medical Assistance

The term “medical detox” refers to any detox that is monitored by medical professionals and includes the use of medications in order to mitigate withdrawal symptoms. For each patient, these symptoms will vary significantly, so there is no set medication regimen that is implemented in this process. Rather, patients receive medications that meet their needs according to their experience. For example, non-addictive medications that specifically address migraines, bone pain, headache, nausea, insomnia and other withdrawal symptoms may be prescribed on an as-needed basis.

Physical Discomfort Caused by Withdrawal Symptoms

Many patients fear the withdrawal symptoms associated with detox and, for that reason, avoid entering treatment even after they recognize that addiction is a serious and debilitating issue. It is true that detox is uncomfortable and that cravings to relapse are high. However, drug and alcohol rehab programs that offer inpatient detox and medical supervisions do more than just stand by and watch. Instead, they offer support through peer groups, personal therapy, gentle exercise and nutritional meals all chosen to work together to facilitate the detox process and aid patients in getting through the withdrawal symptoms as quickly and efficiently as possible.

No one can tell a patient exactly what their experience of withdrawal symptoms will be or how long they will last. This will be different for everyone based on:

• Method of detox
• Drug of choice
• Length of addiction
• Tolerance level for the drug of choice
• Other drugs of addiction used regularly, including alcohol
• Underlying medical conditions
• Co-occurring mental health disorders

In general, the most intense withdrawal symptoms begin within 24 hours of taking the last dose of the drug of choice and will last anywhere from 72 hours to a week or more depending upon the circumstances.

The Best Way to Detox

Detoxing alone is not recommended. In most cases, it won’t work and it endangers patients when they eventually use their drug of choice at the same dose that they were using prior to detox, causing an overdose that can be deadly due to the shift in tolerance during the “dry” period.

The best way to detox is under the supervision of a medical professional, preferably in an inpatient treatment center like The Canyon with therapeutic support and round-the-clock medical supervision and care. The Canyon is a drug rehab and detox center in California that provides well-rounded drug addiction treatment whether your drug of addiction is cocaine, alcohol, heroin, prescription painkillers, crystal meth or a combination of drugs. If you have questions about what we can do for you or your loved one in terms of drug addiction treatment, contact us today at The Canyon.