Drug Detox and Drug Treatment

Drug detox and drug treatment is necessary when an individual through their chronic use of drugs or alcohol has developed an addiction. The objective of detox is to help the individual achieve a drug and alcohol free state. Detox is intended to relieve the physical symptoms of withdrawal and helps prepare the individual for entry into drug rehabilitation. Therefore, the ultimate goal of drug detox and drug treatment is preparation for long term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

These days, there are few people who use one drug exclusively. It is very common to see individuals in drug detox and drug treatment that use alcohol and cocaine, or alcohol and prescription medications for example. Individuals who go through medically assisted withdrawal while in rehab to minimize discomfort but do not receive any further treatment, perform about the same in terms of their drug use as those who never attended a drug rehab. Over the last 25 years, studies have shown that attending a drug rehab works to reduce drug intake and crimes committed by drug-dependent people. Researchers also have found that drug abusers who have been through a drug rehab are more likely to have jobs.

Detoxification should cover all aspects of the individual's withdrawal and purification from drugs. The removal of drug residuals is the key goal in drug detox. Without this process, drug residues can remain in one's body and cause cravings for years after drug use has ceased. A vital step in a successful drug detox and drug treatment is flushing out these accumulated toxic residues so that the individual no longer experiences unwanted adverse effects from the drugs they have taken.

The principles of a top drug detox and drug treatment program include expert medical and clinical staff, a safe and supportive environment, and a solid introduction in to the principles of recovery. The very first step of drug detox is withdrawal. Drug withdrawal is "the act or process of ceasing to use an addictive drug." Once an individual has discontinued using drugs, physical and behavioral withdrawal symptoms may follow. The character and severity of the withdrawal symptoms vary greatly depending on the particular drug and amount administered daily. Drug detox is a process that helps diminish the uncomfortable symptoms of drug withdrawal.

Drug detox and drug treatment can be viewed in three separate stages:

1. Medical Detox: A medical doctor will need to supervise your medical withdrawal from drugs, ensuring you complete this phase safely and with minimal complications. Medical detox can take several days.

2. Physical Detox: Once your body is no longer dependent on drugs, you will need to work on building up your physical health. A nutritionist can be helpful during this phase, enabling you to develop a balanced diet to help you through the rest of the drug detox process.

3. Emotional Detox: Detox can be extremely difficult on your emotional health, which is why most treatment centers offer counseling during detox. Because drugs have become an integral part of your mental, emotional and social life, you will need emotional help as you detox.

Drug detox and drug treatment are performed in many different ways depending on where you decide to receive treatment. Most drug detox centers simply provide treatment to avoid physical withdrawal to alcohol & other drugs. Others provide the individual with counseling during detox to help with the physical withdrawal and the psychological root cause of the individual's addiction problem. This helps to decrease the chances of relapse. It is important that the detox staff works closely with the medical professionals to insure the highest standards of quality and treatment are met. While the individual is in detox as well as throughout the program it is important that every effort is made to see that the individual is as comfortable as possible.

Drug Detox and Drug Treatment Objectives:

To detox the individual safely and humanely from drugs or alcohol
To begin counseling during the detox phase of the program to help the individual address the psychological root of their addiction.

These Drug Detox and Drug Treatment Goals Are Met By:

Providing 24-hour supervision by qualified staff
Providing ongoing monitoring of client needs
Providing in-depth health screening and medical care
Rigorously protecting client rights
Providing a safe, supportive, comfortable atmosphere
Offering information and education about alcohol and other drugs
Introducing the client to recovery principles
Ensuring quality through the continuous evaluation and improvement of services.

It is important to be well informed in order to choose the right drug detox and drug treatment for you. Each program is unique in its approach to recovery as well as their philosophies, treatment methods, setting, length of care, and cost. Take note of what is important to you, and make decisions based on your personal necessities. The facility you choose should have a high success rate and competent staff. Keep in mind that there are a multitude of approaches to choose from: outpatient, inpatient, 12-step, group therapy, and the list goes on.

One promising type of drug detox and drug treatment program offers treatment that is not psychiatric or medical. This may be the answer for many people who are struggling with sobriety. Those who have tried other forms of treatment may find that a social education model of recovery is the key to their success in recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. This type of care is entirely drug-free. The program does not use drugs or medications to solve the problem of drug addiction. This method uses nutrition and nutritional supplements as an important component of its treatment. Also, treatment provides a specific course of addiction rehabilitation which includes training in communication, full body detoxification, counseling in problem identification and solving, as well as counseling in personal values and integrity. A drug rehab center of this kind will help the individual accomplish heightened moral standards and sobriety with an improved quality of life.