Detoxification is a process of abolishing a substance of dependence from the body in a way which does not hinder the body’s physiology. Detoxification often takes a couple of days and half a month to finish, which is contingent upon the substance being abused, the seriousness of reliance and the help accessible to the client. Metabolism plays an important role in an effective detoxification process; some of the eminent enzymes are discussed in this review, which helps in excretion of xenobiotics. Psychosocial treatments nearby pharmacological medicines are fundamental to improve result. The over reliance conditions considered in this review are detoxification from opioids with clonidine-naltrexone, buprenorphine and other procedures, detoxification of benzodiazepines through adjunctive therapies and medications. Detoxification of psychostimulants with propranolol and amantadine is also discussed in detail.
Withdrawal is the medical term used to describe the body’s physical reaction to the removal of any substance upon which it has become dependent. Withdrawal is caused by stopping or dramatically reducing alcohol or drug use after a significant and extended timeframe.
The typical reaction (depending upon which substance the person is dependent upon) may include:
One aspect of addiction is the person’s inability to go through this withdrawal process alone, since their mental obsession for comfort and emotional relief is over overwhelming that they are extremely unlikely to maintain their desire to quit for any length of time.
This internal mental obsession struggle with persuade them that a return to their addictive substance or behaviour, even if just for one dose or drink or activity will be sufficient to help them feel better and that they’ll be able to control it afterwards. However, these attempts are always futile because once they have permitted even just one dose, drink, or activity they will find themselves unable to stop from acting out further. This is the very nature of addiction.
Many narcotics require a medically supervised withdrawal period, for instance fentanyl, heroin, and other painkillers / opiates. Others may not. However, alcohol dependency certainly does require prescribed medical support in a safe and controlled manner. Prescription medications, of all classifications, require medically supervised detox, especially if the person has been using them for an extended period.
Marijuana / weed, crystal meth and cocaine (crack) do not necessarily require a full medically managed detox; however, medical assessment is recommended, particularly as there may be other, unknown, or undiscussed substances involved. Furthermore, there is also a significant, self-induced, mental obsession with these drugs and therefore, a period of stabilization is absolutely advised.
Detox, short for detoxification, must be the primary action in any alcohol and / or drug treatment process. It is the process of the body removing toxic material from itself.
Detox must be the initial phrase of treatment because until there is no alcohol and /or drugs in a person’s body, the simple process of daily withdrawal will continue to cause huge mental obsessions and always trigger the physical cravings. Additionally, whilst intoxicated or under the influence of someone’s addictive substances or behaviours, the client is unable to prepare themselves mentally, emotionally, spiritually, or physically for the therapeutic experience of treatment within residential rehab.
Until the detox process is completed, someone is simply not ready for recovery and the process will fail to launch.
Detoxification takes anywhere from 5 – 21 days, although there are various factors including (but not limited to) a person’s overall health, age and length of use, and actually considerably longer with benzodiazepines and other prescribed medications dependencies).
Detoxification is also relevant for many other addictions too.
For instance, for people with food addictions, we need to first cut out and begin to abstain from “trigger” foods – typically, refined sugars and processed carbohydrates.
Or for people with a technology addiction, e.g. smart phones, or the internet, a period of abstinence from their devices or the ability to browse online must be enforced for people to withdraw and see their life from a more realistic viewpoint.
For sex addictions, it’s equally important to begin from a place of abstinence, before going on to discover their personal acceptable boundaries.
Prescription drugs such as Hydrocodeine, Oxycontin, Xanax, Vicodin and Valium, all require medically supervised detox. Treatment of withdrawal (detox) includes closely monitoring the person’s vital signs, supportive care and medications.
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