Drug detoxification (detox) refers to the process of safely discontinuing and removing drugs from the body such as heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, amphetamines, club drugs etc).. It usually takes between a few days and a few weeks to complete. While some may do this alone at home, it’s strongly recommended that the safest way is to do a medically-assisted detox in a healthcare or residential addictions treatment setting. Learn more below about the detox process and safe recovery.
What Is Detox?
Detoxification is the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances (drugs) from the body. This is mainly carried out by the liver, but also through carbon dioxide in the air we exhale, the kidneys and colon.
How Long Does Detox Take?
Detox usually takes between a few days and a few weeks, depending on [1]:
- Substance being misused
- Severity of the dependence
- Support available to the user.
Psychosocial therapies, complementing medical detox are essential to improve longer-term outcomes.
Understanding the Detox Process
Detox is the first step in withdrawal. There are two phases to withdrawal [2]:
- Acute withdrawal: Medical withdrawal symptoms that require immediate medical attention to help keep you comfortable during this initial detox phase. Many substance users believe this phase is the main effort in getting clean but this is a fantasy.
- Post-acute withdrawal: Dealing with the psychological symptoms requiring continuous therapeutic treatment to safely manage. This much longer phase of maintaining abstinence, including relapses which are common, is where most of the work lies. Patients, their families and staff frequently have a belief that detoxification is the key issue, whereas in fact this is a small part of the much longer road to abstinence
What Does Successful Detox Look Like?
There are typically three steps in the detox process:
Evaluation: A comprehensive assessment to understand your current and past physical and psychological history. This step also includes testing for the presence of addictive substances.
Stabilization: This is the core of acute withdrawal detox. The focus is to manage acute intoxication of alcohol or drug withdrawal in a safe, supervised in-patient detox setting. Medication-Assisted Treatment may be used during this phase to manage physical withdrawal symptoms.
Preparation for Long-Term Recovery: In the post-acute phase, your treatment team will help you develop a personalized care plan. The goal is to support and encourage continued treatment for successful long term recovery outcomes.
Cold Turkey and Tapering
Cold Turkey: Some people who misuse drugs try to stop abruptly, known as going “cold turkey”. This allows the body to adapt to not having the substance at all. By going cold turkey, a person may have more extreme withdrawal symptoms but get through the withdrawal period more quickly.
While this may work for some, with highly variable results, it may be uncomfortable and dangerous for others risking withdrawal, cravings and relapse. Some consequences of this approach are:
- Seizures
- Dehydration
- Hear issues
Drugs that should never be quit cold turkey include:
- Prescription sedatives and tranquilizers (benzodiazepines, sleep aids)
- Prescription painkillers (oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl)
- Heroin
Tapering: This is the process of gradually weaning oneself from drugs during medically-assisted detox. This allows the brain and body time to stabilize and balance before treatment is continued.
Medical professionals can guide this process and provide other medications to help with withdrawal symptoms, monitor vital signs, help with cravings, and ensure comfort and safety. Although this is generally safer than cold turkey, there is a risk if the person resumes taking drugs at the previous level as their tolerance will have diminished. This can greatly run the risk of overdose or even death.
Different Forms of Detox
Medical Detox: Described earlier, this involves the participation of a medical professional supervising the detox process and administering medication as needed.
Social or Natural Detox: This means detoxing without the aid of medications where the person goes cold turkey but under the care of addictions treatment professionals providing emotional and psychological support.. They may also have family or friends supporting them, hence the name “social”.
There is a potential for an unpleasant withdrawal experience as they need to encounter the symptoms without medication. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe depending on the drug involved. This may be very unpleasant and in some cases put them in medical danger. Thus there is a risk of relapse in social detox if they become overwhelmed in withdrawal.
Often this is done less for medical reasons but for financial reasons, particularly with vulnerable socioeconomic groups, including the homeless. It is recognized as the least effective way to detox.
Safe Recovery in Los Angeles
At the Encino Recovery and Detox Center in Los Angeles we don’t just treat addiction. We nurture the spirit, heal the mind and help you to regain your life.
We provide medically supervised detox. After detoxing, you may enter our residential treatment center. Trained staff are equipped to offer clinical care. They will provide the support, guidance and interventions necessary for you to reach your treatment goals. Participating in residential care greatly enhances your success rate at avoiding relapses.
Typical therapy approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- 12-Step Program
- Somatic Experiencing and Body Work
- Mindfulness Meditation
- Exposure therapy
If you or a loved one is seeking a way out of substance abuse, private, confidential help is just a call away. Reach out to our Admissions team now.
Sources
[1] Diaper AM, Law FD, Melichar JK. 2014. Pharmacological strategies for detoxification. Br J Clin Pharmacol. Feb;77(2):302-14. doi: 10.1111/bcp.12245. PMID: 24118014; PMCID: PMC4014033.
[2] Physical Detoxification Services for Withdrawal From Specific Substances. 2006. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 45. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US).
