Alcohol & Drug Addiction Treatment

A drug and alcohol detox is an important step during the rehabilitation process. Though not every case requires a medical detox many of them do. Alcohol and drug treatment does not always provide a detox, in these cases they usually work with a local hospital where the detox can take place. A person who is addicted to opiates like heroin, Oxycontin, and other prescription painkillers generally need a detox. Also many acute alcoholics need a detox as well. Some people coming off of opiates don’t want a detox but this should be left up to the patient and the doctor.

A medical detox always is the first form of treatment during rehab. When a person who requires detox enters the inpatient drug rehab they first meet with a doctor and nurse for a physical and mental evaluation. Then they are taken to the detox area where they are given certain medications to keep the safe medically to withdraw of the drugs or alcohol. The detox takes about 3-10 days. Once complete the patient will then start the rehabilitation process.

It is always better to be safe than sorry. In the case of a medical detox a person may be kept an extra day to ensure that they are ready to start the drug rehab program. Most drug rehab centers which are private pay include detox in the price of the program so an extra day does not mean an extra expense to the financier.