Detoxification is the first step in alcohol or drug rehab. Drugs such as crack cocaine, heroin, Valium, PCP, amphetamines, Ecstasy, GHB and Ketamine, as well as abused medicinal drugs, can remain in the body for years. Detoxification is the process of removing these substances from your body.

Residues removed by detoxification can trigger a variety of symptoms, including drug cravings and depression. The first, vital step in successfully rehabilitating from substance abuse is flushing out these accumulated toxic residues, or undergoing detoxification, so you no longer experience adverse effects from these drugs.

Medical professional currently use three types of techniques:

Rapid Detox
Rapid detox, which usually takes just hours, is a medical procedure whereby a patient undergoes anesthesia in an intensive care unit and is closely monitored by physicians and hospital staff. The patient is then prescribed medications for up to a year to eliminate physical cravings.

Medical Model Detox
Medical model detox is usually located in a hospital setting. Patients are screened by medical personnel and monitored closely by hospital staff, and the process may require medications and close medical supervision.

Social Model Detox
A residential social model detoxification, which typically requires five to ten days, is monitored by a 24-hour staff, who provides counseling, therapy and supervision during detox. During this time patients will receive food, rest and some drug and alcohol education. This type of detoxification does not utilize medical treatment.

Because the social model allows addicts to understand and experience the procedure of detoxification, with its unpleasant attributes, and then provides long-term solutions for dealing with the problems of addiction, it is usually the preferred method of treatment.

Detoxification can seem a frightening proposition, but remember that anything that is hard to do is also courageous. Treatment Referral provides referrals to rehabs that effectively treat drug, alcohol and substance abuse beyond the initial cleansing of the system, addressing the behavioral and thinking patterns that directly contribute to the individual's disease.

If drug addiction might be a problem for you or someone you love, we encourage you to give Treatment Referral a call today to learn more about your treatment options.