How Does Drug and Alcohol Detox Work?

Having an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol can cause both physical and psychological damage. Trying to quit can be dangerous to your health, and in most cases requires specialized treatment called detox. The process for drug and alcohol detox can be successful, but it should be done under medical supervision to avoid complications, including life-threatening complications.

After detox, it is also important for an individual to consider attending a rehab program for better success in recovery. According to the SAMHSA, a successful detoxification process can be measured, in part, by whether an individual who is substance dependent enters, remains in, and is compliant with the treatment protocol of a substance abuse treatment/rehabilitation program after detoxification.

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How Does the Drug and Alcohol Detox Process Work?

Depending on the severity of the addiction and other factors such as a person’s current health status, detoxing from drugs or alcohol will vary from one individual to another. However, here’s a look at what you can probably expect before, during, and after detox.

Before detox:

An assessment will be necessary to help the medical professionals understand the severity of your drug or alcohol use so they can plan your treatment accordingly. They’ll ask you questions regarding your history of drug and alcohol use, and whether any co-occurring disorders may be present that may have led to substance abuse and were never treated. You’ll also need to undergo a physical examination to identify conditions such as malnutrition or dehydration, or other conditions that could affect your detox risks. This helps the licensed professionals create a treatment plan that meets your needs.

During detox:

Detox can be painful and even dangerous without medical help.

Depending on the level of drugs and alcohol in your system and the damage they have done, the detox process can take anywhere from a few days to a week or more, especially if your body has toxins from several substances. Depending on your treatment plan, medications can be started to help ease the withdrawal symptoms associated with drug and alcohol detox. These medications also help reduce the cravings often experienced from withdrawal, which often cause a person to start using drugs or alcohol again.

Medications for detox may vary, but the most commonly used ones during detox include:

For alcohol detox:

Naltrexone
Acamprosate
Disulfiram

For opioid detox:

Methadone
Buprenorphine
Suboxone

The medications above are designed for specific substances to reduce your physical cravings and withdrawal symptoms. However, for these substances and other drugs, you might also receive medications in detox that ease specific withdrawal symptoms. For instance, this might include non-opioid pain relievers, anti-nausea medications, medications for anxiety, and so on.

Not everyone who suffers from the same disease of addiction will receive the same medication or experience the same detox process. Some may need additional medical treatment if the severity of the addiction has caused health complications. While treatment can help, it cannot cure addiction, so it’s very important to have a follow-up plan after detox to prevent the temptation of using drugs and/or alcohol again.

After detox:

After detox, your body will be clear of drugs and alcohol and it will have mostly adjusted to functioning without these substances. But that doesn’t mean the work is over.

Therapies such as counseling, group counseling, behavior therapy, medications to help with psychological elements if necessary, and other important factors need to be addressed and followed up on. A recovery program can help you to avoid relapse and develop the skills and the personal growth that will empower you to maintain your recovery.

In some cases, a detox center may be part of a rehab program so you can seamlessly transition into the rehab program after detox. If you go to a standalone detox center, they can refer you to rehabs and programs in your area.

Getting Help for Detoxing from Drugs and Alcohol

If you or someone you love has a drug or alcohol problem and wants to quit, then the first step to consider is medically assisted detox. It is the safest way for a person to remove the harmful toxins from drugs or alcohol and be able to start the path to a successful recovery. It may not be easy, but it is certainly achievable. Call 800-996-6135 and speak to a specialist at a detox center to get any questions you have answered.

Sources

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2006). Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment: 1 Overview, Essential Concepts, and Definitions in Detoxification.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition)- Is drug addiction treatment worth its cost?