What Is A Detox Drug Rehab?
A detox drug rehab is a facility which helps individuals through the detox and withdrawal process once they decide to stop abusing drugs and/or alcohol. Some individuals are under the false assumption that detoxification is rehab. Detox however is merely the process which occurs when someone initially becomes abstinent, as alcohol and drugs are purged from their body and they become physically stable. Withdrawal symptoms will need to be overcome, which will very often be both physically and psychologically challenging during detox. An individual who is detoxed isn't actually treated for their addiction however. A detox drug rehab can help them get through detox safely and help make detox more manageable so that withdrawal symptoms aren't as severe in some cases.
Detox drug rehabs can also help individuals avoid many serious side effects of withdrawal, such as seizures and other negative health effects which may occur. Some of the effects caused by withdrawal during detox can actually be life threatening, such as with alcohol withdrawal. If someone is dependent to alcohol and attempts to detox on their own, they are putting their lives at risk. In a detox drug rehab, medicines may need to be administered for situations such as this which can help avoid these types of side effects. Some individuals who take prescription benzodiazepines may not be aware of the fact that they are at risk of potentially life threatening side effects when they stop taking these drugs suddenly. This goes for individuals who use prescription benzodiazepines as prescribed and individuals who abuse them non-medically. There are also risks involved when the drug user is in poor physical health and is attempting to quit any type of drug cold turkey. Long story short, it is unwise to attempt to detox oneself under any circumstances because of situations which may arise that cannot be aptly addressed without medical intervention in a detox drug rehab.
A standard detox procedure, aside from situation where medical intervention is needed, mainly consists of proper rest, nutrition and supplements to help the individual become physically stable. Because coming off of drugs or alcohol can also be a mental challenge, some detox drug rehabs incorporate activities into the clients daily routine to help them achieve a healthier mental state as well. This can include many different exercise techniques or regiments such as yoga, swimming, running and walking and even massage and acupuncture.
As stated before, there is no cure for addiction in a detox drug rehab. Detox is the first step of a comprehensive treatment plan which should be pursued directly following ones stay in a detox drug rehab. Long term inpatient or residential drug rehab programs work directly with detox drug rehabs to help phase patients into treatment without hesitation, so that there is no chance of relapse if further treatment isn't pursued immediately. Relapse rates are extremely high when individuals only detox and receive no further treatment, so treatment counselors will encourage further treatment as should friends and family.