What Is Detoxification?
Detoxification (detox) is the process of clearing the body of the drugs or alcohol that an individual has consumed. The purpose of detox is to safely manage withdrawal symptoms when someone stops taking drugs or alcohol.
Everyone has a different experience with detox. The type of drug and how long it was used affect what detox will be like.
Medications used in detox help keep former users comfortable while the drugs leave their body.
It can take days or months to get through withdrawal symptoms for most drugs. The length of withdrawal depends on a number of factors, including:
- Type of substance the user is addicted to
- Duration of addiction has lasted
- Method of abuse (snorting, smoking, injecting, or swallowing)
- Amount of substance taken
- Family history
- Underlying medical conditions
(via https://www.addictioncenter.com)
FAQs
- Can I Detox At Home? Choosing to detox at home can be dangerous and potentially deadly. Quitting “cold turkey” or without medical supervision can lead to serious issues such as seizures and severe dehydration. The presence of trainede professionals can help prevent dangerous complications. People with severe addictions should seek inpatient detox because withdrawal can be fatal. Inpatient detox includes 24-hour support and monitoring.