Detox Centers on Alcohol Detox and Drug Detox

Alcohol Detox

Never attempt to detox from alcohol without proper medical supervision

Alcohol detox is generally the term referring to the process of medically monitored detoxification from a high level of ethyl alcohol in an alcoholic’s body. It is the first step in the rehab process, usually done in a detox center, prior to treatment.

Alcohol detox (detoxification) is the gradual process of the human body naturally ridding itself of ethyl alcohol. Alcohol detox can be uncomfortable and cause (serious) side effects. Over time, drinking alcohol causes physical dependence. The actual stopping of drinking alcohol results in what is known as withdrawal. Alcohol detox can result in severe consequences, such as a seizure, nausea, hallucinations, high blood pressure and anxiety. The side effects of detox from alcohol can be more complicated than people realize. As the human body rids itself of ethyl alcohol, the resultant effects can trigger Delirium Tremens and even turn fatal. Five percent of acute ethanol withdrawal cases progress to delirium tremens. Mortality can be up to 35% if untreated; if treated early, death rates range from 5-15%.

Drug Detox

Never attempt to perform any drug detox without proper medical supervision.
The term drug detox generally refers to the process the human body goes through to rid itself of the chemical residue left after using one or more chemical substance for some period of time. Detoxing from heroin can be dangerous with significant side effects such as nausea, hallucinations, and others. Detoxification of drugs of abuse has generally followed a traditional approach involving pharmacological intervention in the biochemical action of the abused substance. This intervention has usually taken the form of the development of inhibitors or antagonists of biological macromolecules such as central nervous system (CNS) receptors. Some of the shortcomings of this approach include the fundamental biological activity of the antagonist, the possible occurrence of side effects or pharmacological liabilities of the antagonist itself, and the stoichiometric nature of the antagonism.

There are a variety of methods and philosophies about the best, most comfortable way to detox. This also indirectly opens the issue of drug detox being the first step in the recovery process. Most experts agree the best way is to gradually taper off using some form of mild narcotic derivative to ease the withdrawal symptoms. Buprenex, a form of Buprenorphine is considered the ideal method of drug detox.

Detox Centers

From a medical prospective, alcohol detox is the process of medically managing the body’s physical withdrawal from alcohol or drug(s) to minimize the possible side effects and help prevent potentially harmful consequences. There are a variety of methods for the actual medical process of alcohol and drug detox.

As long as there is alcohol in a person’s body and as the body goes into detox/ withdrawal the result is a craving for more alcohol to relieve the detox/ withdrawal symptoms. Also, until a person is mentally and physically stabilized, they are not prepared to participate in a treatment program. Most treatment centers have there own detox centers. Others have affiliations with detox centers for their patients to use. There are licensed detox centers in most areas of the United States. Some are hospitals or clinics.