Detox
Gaining a Better Understanding of Detox: What Sets it Apart from Rehabilitation
Are you or a loved one suffering from substance addiction? Whether it's alcohol, tobacco, meth, cocaine or any other substance, addiction is a very dangerous ailment. It can ruin your relationships with other people. Some addicted individuals lose their jobs because they just can't quit the bad habit, and others die from it.
No matter how severe your addiction is and no matter what type of substance you're addicted to, you should know the difference between rehabilitation and Detox. A lot of people confuse Detox for the entire process of rehabilitation or addiction recovery when the truth can't be farther from that.
What is Detox?
Detox or detoxification is just the beginning of the entire rehabilitation process. Before an addicted individual can go into counseling, his/her body must first go through a cleansing. The toxins in the body affect his/her thinking and unless they're purged out, the treatment will not be effective.
The Detox process isn't instant. It can take days or weeks, depending on the severity of the addiction. The process needs to be gradual or else the patient's body can suffer from trauma because of withdrawal symptoms. During Detox, some other non-addictive drugs may be introduced to the body to mimic the effects of the toxins they're trying to purge out. The dosages of these substitute drugs are lessened over time so that the patient is gently weaned out of the substance.
Unfortunately, the detoxification process doesn't heal the addiction completely. There are other factors that need to be eliminated, or at least controlled. Addiction is a physiological and a psychological condition. The detoxification of the body treats only the physiological side of the problem. The psychological aspect of it needs a different kind of attention.
Beyond Detox
After detoxification, the patient is usually still confined to the rehabilitation center. This is especially true for serious cases of addiction of meth and other illegal drugs. While confined in the rehabilitation center, the patients undergo counseling sessions and close observation by the staff. The slightest behaviors will help determine whether or not the patient is ready to go back to his old environment again.
The confinement is required so that the patient is removed from factors in his/her environment that could be triggering the addiction. For example, alcoholics may be triggered to drink alcohol because of peer pressure, or the sheer availability of alcoholic beverages in the home or in social settings. Unless he's able to control himself again, he won't be able to go back to his sober life. The release will be gauged on how the patient copes with his private and group counseling sessions.
The more effective addiction treatments also take into account the involvement of the family. Family members and the patient's closest peers are encouraged to be involved in the recovery of the patient. Once the patient is released from the rehab center, they can support his recovery. Aside from familial and peer support, the patient will also receive out-patient counseling. As with the in-patient program, these will be done both privately and in groups.
Choosing a Facility
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Facility for Detox
If this is your first time seeking detox for yourself or a loved one, it would be helpful to know which questions to ask when searching for possible programs.Recovery Now TV will guide you in making the most appropriate decision based on your individual needs.
When researching detox programs, consider the questions below to help guide you to making the most appropriate decision for treatment:
- Will the facility work with your health insurance company? If you have health insurance, please click here or scroll to the bottom of the page to access the complete Insurance Guidance Information page.
- Where is the facility located? Oftentimes facilities will urge you to travel out of your area to receive treatment. Consider the list of pros and cons below for traveling out of the area for treatment.
Treatment out of the area-
- PRO- Getting out of the area for detox will help an alcoholic or addict to focus on themselves rather than their familiar surroundings.
- PRO- Going out of the area for detox creates a mindset where a client is taking a journey for their recovery.
- PRO- If the going gets tough in treatment, a distance between the home and the treatment facility might affect a person's decision to not give up and to stay in treatment.
- CON- Going to an detox program out of the area puts distance between you and your loved ones. Most treatment programs offer a family component and a long distance could make it difficult for supportive family and friends to participate in the treatment program.
- CON- Going to an detox program out of the area might make it difficult to return to the home environment. If you choose to go out of the area for treatment, it is crucial to make sure that the treatment facility has a discharge planning process which includes assistance in finding outpatient and Twelve Step Support systems for when you return home.
- What governing body is the treatment facility licensed through? All detox programs providing therapeutic services and treatment planning, must be licensed by a State governing body. If one of the facilities that you are considering is NOT part of the RecoveryNowTV network, then you will need to make sure that the facility is licensed through the state.
- Is the facility accredited? If so, what is the accreditation agency governing the facility? Accreditation is a true sign of a quality and safety assurance plan for a facility. While accreditation is not mandatory for a facility, it does provide a higher level of standards for a facility to adhere to. The two major accrediting bodies are The Joint Commission (JCAHO) and Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities (CARF). Both accrediting organizations ensure that the facility actively participates in rigorous quality and safety improvement protocols.
- What does a typical day entail? Ask the detox facility go through the daily schedule and feel free to ask questions of each item on the schedule. This will give you an understanding of all of the services offered. This will allow you to take full advantage of the treatment protocols being offered.
- What is the price of the treatment? Are there additional costs over and above the stated cost? Is there a daily rate? Is there an early termination policy?
- Is there an extended care program? When searching for a detox, if time and your schedule permits, it is recommended one enter an extended care program or a structured sober living environment. This will ensure that the re-entry back into daily living is a safe transition. Many programs offer a step-down or sober living program which includes mandatory Twelve Step participation, curfews, and drug testing
- Is there a program in place for relapse? It is important to know if the detox program will support you during a relapse. Many programs have relapse prevention or a refresher course in case of a relapse. Although many people do not want to consider readmitting to a treatment facility, it is important to know that your treatment program will support you if you have a relapse.
