Drug Detox
The goal of drug detox is to eliminate the build up of drugs and toxins in the body and to manage the withdrawal symptoms. Drug residue that remains in the body can be quite harmful as it can lead to cravings over time and the desire to use more drugs. It is important that the detox be thorough and medically administered to ensure the complete elimination of the drug from the body and in order for treatment to be effective. Drug residue can remain in the body’s fatty tissues and may be passed to the blood stream for many years after the individual has ceased the taking the drug.
There is a wide variety of drug detox protocols available today ranging from rapid drug and alcohol detox to medically monitored titration off of a substance gradually over time. In many cases, especially where not to do so would be life threatening, drug detox centers prescribe medication to the addict to assist them during detox. The appropriate medication serves to minimize the withdrawal symptoms and maintain the physical safety of the individual. Detox and withdrawal are the first steps needed to recover from addiction before meaningful treatment can commence.
Inpatient and outpatient detox options are available. In inpatient treatment, the detox center or drug treatment center provides round the clock twenty-four hour support and medical monitoring. Hospitals or residential drug and alcohol treatment centers are typically used for inpatient treatment. These inpatient treatment centers are residential environments with complete supervision. Inpatient treatments can be for both short-term and long-term periods. Detox typically takes up the first 3 to 14 days of residential treatment. Because of the level of supervision and containment provided, inpatient treatments are generally suggested for addicts who are moderately to severely addicted to drugs over a longer period of time.
Rapid Detox
Rapid detoxification and rapid opiate detox can be beneficial if you are suffering from an addiction to heroin, prescription painkillers, Oxycontin, Methadone, Suboxone, Vicodin, Darvocet, Percocet, Hydrocodone or any other opioid. Rapid opiod/alcohol or anesthesia assisted opioid detoxification involves administering an opioid antagonist drug to neutralize the effects of heroin while the addict is under general anesthesia.
In April 2000, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) released a public policy statement on rapid and ultra rapid opioid detox. The ASAM updated there statement April 2005. In short the ASAM cautioned that “Ultra-Rapid Opioid Detoxification (UROD) is a procedure with uncertain risks and benefits, and its use in clinical settings is not supportable until a clearly positive risk-benefit relationship can be demonstrated. Further research on UROD should be conducted.”
Rapid detox is a relatively painless way for individuals suffering from addiction to opioids and opiates. While rapid detox can be effective and helpful before beginning a treatment program, it should be undertaken only after discussing the benefits and risks as well as designing a follow up treatment plan.
Whether an addict in recovery undergoes standard detox or rapid detox, it is still only the first step towards a life long recovery process.