Understanding Medical Detox

Medical detox is common for those who are going through drug rehabilitation. At a medical detox facility, the staff is trained to help patients deal with their Not everyone going through drug rehab needs medical detoxification. Usually, people will need it if they meet one or more of the following conditions:withdrawal symptoms of quitting drugs or alcohol.

Detox care ensures the safety of the patients, and administering certain medications can reduce the severity of the symptoms. Without proper medical attention, withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous, unpleasant, and even life-threatening. In addition, relapses are more likely to occur if the initial detox phase is not properly completed.

 

Who is Medical Detox for?

Not everyone going through drug rehab needs medical detoxification. Usually, people will need it if they meet one or more of the following conditions:

• Have a physical drug addiction to certain drugs
• Withdrawing without assistance would be extremely discomforting
• The patient’s health would be at risk if he or she doesn’t have medical supervision during withdrawal

An addiction to certain drugs may also require a supervised detox. These drugs include:

• Heroin – The detoxification from heroin must be supervised by medical professionals to ensure the comfort of the patient.
• Prescription pain medication – The withdrawal from prescription pain pills is very similar to that of heroin and requires medical management.
• Alcohol – The withdrawal symptoms from alcohol are among the most dangerous and life-threatening. A medical detoxification is necessary, safe, and comfortable for the patient.
• Cocaine – The extreme mood swings associated with cocaine abstinence makes medical detoxification appropriate for this drug addiction.
• Benzodiazepines – Suddenly going cold-turkey on Benzodiazepines such as valium or Xanax can be life-threatening and should not be attempted without medical supervision.

 

How Long Does Medical Detoxification Take?

The amount of time that it takes for patients to detox depends on their medical history, the drug abused, and the extent of abuse. Since everyone is different, there is not a set time for medical detoxification, however, it will take at least a few days.