Medical detoxification is a process designed to provide patients a safe, medically supervised withdrawal from addictive drugs or alcohol. Physicians experienced with or trained in addiction treatment provide 24-hour monitoring and can administer medication if needed to manage uncomfortable or serious withdrawal symptoms.
Many people begin taking drugs as an escape mechanism to avoid emotional distress, family dysfunction, or financial problems, and one important aspect of rehabilitation programs is to teach the individual how to function in these day-to-day situations without needing drugs as a crutch. For this reason, it is important that the detoxification process be followed by enrollment in a rehabilitation center in order to ensure complete and lasting recovery.
Each treatment facility has their own approach and protocols for treatment, but these programs can be tailored to address the specific needs of each individual based on the substance being abuse, duration of the addiction and other factors such as psychosocial issues, co-existing medical conditions, psychiatric problems and age. Detoxification can be done in an outpatient or inpatient basis; however, studies show that inpatient facilities provide higher success rates. Inpatient detoxification also provides the patient a sense of security that can be beneficial in the recovery process.
