Are There Different Types of Detox Drug Rehabs?

A detox drug rehab is a program where the main focus is detoxing the individual from illicit drugs, prescription drugs or alcohol. This is the only service offered at a detox drug rehab, and individuals will typically be released as soon as detox is complete without any further treatment to address addiction issues. There are different types of detox drug rehabs. For example, there are detox drug rehabs which help the individual naturally through detox and withdrawal and there are detox drug rehabs which utilize medical drugs to detox clients. It is important to understand everything involved in a standard detox and a medical detox so that one can make an informed decision if a detox drug rehab is going to be the treatment option of choice.

Individuals will inevitably detox when they suddenly stop consuming drugs or alcohol, which is the process of drugs and/or alcohol being eliminated from ones system and the body having to adjust to normal function in the absence of these substances. Detox can be mild to severe depending on which drug or drugs are involved and if alcohol is also involved or is the primary substance of abuse. The severity of ones detox is also associated with the length of time someone has been involved in substance abuse and how much drugs and alcohol they were used to consuming regularly. For example, someone who has been a regular heroin user for several years will have a severe set of symptoms while detoxing and they will feel quite sick. Heroin detox isn't typically life threatening however and the physical symptoms can be overcoming in a matter of days. Intense cravings to use heroin however may persist for quite some time if no follow up treatment is administered following detox.

A standard detox delivered at a detox drug rehab without the use of medical drugs mainly consists of ensuring the individual is getting proper rest and nutrition and supplements as needed to make their experience as smooth and manageable as possible. For most drugs, this is all that is needed and no further medical intervention is necessary. For alcohol and a category of medical drugs known as benzodiazepines however, medical intervention may be necessary and there are detox drug rehabs specifically for such cases to ensure there are no health complications during the detox process. If there are, there are medications which can be and often must be administered to address any complications as they arise. These are the only instances when medical drugs need be administered to ensure detox is a safe process for clients.

There are also detox drug rehabs which utilize medical drugs to either ease the symptoms associated with detoxing and withdrawing from drugs or completely eliminate them. Some of the drugs used in such a detox drug rehab are opioid agonists for example, such as methadone or buprenorphine, for individuals who are opiate dependent to drugs such as heroin or prescription pain killers. Unfortunately, the treatment client will also have to detox from these drugs as well at some point. So it is advised that anyone considering a medical drug assisted detox considers such factors before they take part in such a program.