"Detox" is the vernacular for detoxification. And much like “rehab” which has entered the lexicon as a word synonymous with becoming straight – people equate detox with getting clean and sober. But detox is only a first step, and experts in addiction recovery agree that even the best alcohol detox programs, are worthless, if they are not then combined with therapy to get at the root causes of a drug or alcohol problem.
Actual Detoxification, which literally means cleaning the body of toxins, is normally accomplished by the Liver. In terms of drug detox programs, it specifically refers to removing the addictive substances from the body. Drug or alcohol detox can be accomplished by simple abstinence the so-called “Cold Turkey” method or several more sophisticated methodologies. Since detox programs involve removing from the body that which it has become dependent upon, there will always be withdrawal. How severe the symptoms of withdrawal will be, and how the detox programs will be designed to cope with them, all depend on the nature of the drugs involved. Stimulants such as Cocaine and amphetamines work their euphoric effects by increasing the abilities of nerves to signal one another, and stimulate the “pleasure centers” of the brain by increasing the output of chemicals known as neurotransmitters. When the stimulants are removed the “well” of these chemicals in the brain has “run dry” so to speak, the nerves have trouble communicating and fatigue and sleep disorders are the result. This biochemical reaction is the reason for the description of users as “coming down” off of drugs like speed and cocaine. Benzodiazepines or “Tranquilizes” - drugs like Valium, Xanax and Ativan – have the opposite effect. They work by suppressing the signaling ability of the nerve cells. So when we stop taking these types of drugs the nerves become extremely sensitive to even the slightest stimulations, so withdrawal during detox from these drugs will include jitteriness, shaking and difficulty in sleeping. When it comes to detox and withdrawal people are probably most familiar with the term as it relates to addiction to Opiates: Heroin, Morphine and more recently Vicodin and Oxycontin. These drugs which have been used as pain killers for centuries, cause very strong physical addictions, in fact much that medical science has learned about physical addiction, detox, withdrawal, and recovery comes from what has been learned about those habituated to Opiates. But because of the severe physical addiction and the painful even possibly fatal withdrawal symptoms that can occur when ceasing the use of opiates like heroin, detox from these drugs should never be attempted without medical supervision.
Surprisingly enough detox and withdrawal from alcohol can be almost as serious and challenging as from Opiates. Alcohol has both stimulating and depressive qualities and as such, it plays havoc with the brain and nerve connections. Many alcoholics experience this as physical addiction; they say they need a drink just to feel normal; they don’t mean to feel high or happy or euphoric - they literally mean to not be sick since their bodies have become so adapted to the presence of alcohol. Therefore, alcohol detox programs should also be carefully monitored by a physician. Sudden stoppage of the use of alcohol can result in convulsions, hallucinations, even sudden death due to a heart attack.
So what methods of detox are actually used at a typical alcohol detox program? Basically an evaluation and full medical workup will be done upon arrival at a facility. Then, once the condition of the body has been properly assessed, an alcohol detox program involving a 7-10 day process called titration is started. During this time the body is slowly weaned off of the chemicals it has been dependent on, as well as any medication that may be given to the detox patient to ease withdrawal symptoms. In some cases where it is recommended by a doctor there is a relatively new processes specifically for opiate addiction and some other narcotics, called Rapid detox, it must be done in a hospital under general anesthesia. During the procedure the patient is given various medications that accelerate the withdrawal process and accomplish full detox in 4- 6 hours.
Whatever alcohol detox program is used, detox is basically a three-phase process, the next two stages can be considered:
Physical detox – now that your body is cleansed of the drugs, you must regain your physical strength and well-being through diet and proper nutrition to return your body to a more natural state of balance.
Emotional detox – for the addict the line between a physical dependency and an emotional one can be very blurry. Once the alcohol detox program has eliminated the physical dependency, the emotional one needs to be treated too. For some the emotional anguish of detox can be almost as severe as the physical pain of withdrawal.
The bottom line? No matter what the addiction - it hurts to quit and it can be dangerous to come off certain substances. Modern medical science has provided us with some excellent tools and methods to minimize both the physical and emotional discomfort associated with the detox process. That is why it is important that you enter into a detoxification program that is medically supervised by physicians and other healthcare professionals who specialize in detox. This is the only way you can expect detox to be as safe and pain free as possible. Remember detox in and of itself is not recovery, it is a sometimes-difficult first step that must be taken. While still suffering from withdrawal or in a drug o induced state, a person is not in the right place neither physically, emotionally or spiritually to be fully prepared to continue down the road to actual recovery and experience the often-strenuous educational and therapeutic process of rehab and treatment. Until the detox process is complete, someone is simply not ready for rehab, treatment and recovery.
