What Is Involved in a Hospital Detox Program?

Drug and alcohol addiction is a complicated and chronic disease that requires extensive treatment. More than 80,000 people in the U.S. died from an overdose in 2024. If your existence is endangered by drug or alcohol abuse, a hospital detox program may be necessary to save your life.

Guidelines for Admittance

A hospital detox program, more commonly called medical detoxification, is a detox program administered in a hospital setting on an inpatient basis. As such, there are specific guidelines that must be followed to ensure that people who need help get it as soon as possible. This is known as triage.

There are a number of thresholds that must be met in order to be admitted for medical detox.

These include:

• Whether or not the individual’s life is at risk due to toxic levels of drugs or alcohol (if not, the client is typically referred to another treatment center)
• Whether or not the individual needs observation (if so, they are put under 48-hour observation. If not, they are moved to a managed care area)
• A positive urinalysis and blood tests for drugs or alcohol
• A doctor’s determination of the need for medical detoxification

If you do not meet these guidelines, your physician may recommend that you enter a different detox program.

Call now to find a hospital detox program near you!

800-996-6135

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Hospital Detox Procedures

Once you’re admitted to the hospital, the procedures performed will vary greatly depending on the nature of your substance abuse and exactly how it is threatening your life.

These procedures may include:

• Pumping your stomach if you have ingested the drugs or alcohol
• Administering medications to halt the effects of the drugs or alcohol
• Administering medications to ease the physical symptoms of withdrawal
• Performing physical examinations and tests
• Performing mental health examinations and preliminary counseling
• Providing referrals to treatment facilities and counseling upon release.

Any or all of these procedures may be performed depending on the needs of each client.

Why It Is Used

Medical detoxification safely manages the physical symptoms of withdrawal while removing toxins related to substance abuse from the body. However, detox is only the first step in drug or alcohol treatment. It is not effective as a means of recovery when used as a standalone treatment.

If you or someone you love is endangering their life with drugs or alcohol, medical detoxification may be required to help you reclaim their health and quality of life.

For more information on detox call 800-996-6135(Sponsored) and take the first step toward recovery today.