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Drug Detox Methods

Various drug detox methods are available to people addicted to opiates and other drugs, both legal and illicit. Choosing the method best suited for your addiction can make all the difference in whether the detox plan is successful and you remain drug free. However, detoxing from the addiction---ridding the patient of his physical dependency upon drugs---is only the first step to complete rehabilitation.

  1. "Cold Turkey" Method

    • The most common drug detox method is the "cold turkey" method, in which the addict suffers the symptoms of withdrawal for several days and up to several weeks or several months, until she no longer feels drug-related cravings. In this method, a recovering addict may be required to remain at a hospital or rehabilitation center so that doctors and nurses can monitor the patient's withdrawal symptoms and provide care as needed.

    Substitution Method

    • Replacing the abused substance with a new, less-addicting drug is the substitution method of drug detox; in heroin detox, for example, doses of methadone or Suboxone are used as a substitute for the heroin. This method is usually done at a rehabilitation center or hospital or in a clinical setting, where the new drug is dispensed to ensure that the patient is taking the proper dosage. This method can sometimes be done as outpatient treatment.

    Rapid Detox Method

    • Usually done in hospitals, this drug detox method places the addict on general anesthesia for several hours while a strong detoxing drug is pumped through the body in an attempt to rid the body of its dependence on the drug. This method of detoxing is the fastest option, but is also very expensive and may not be covered by insurance.

    Weaning Method

    • Similar to the substitution method, the weaning method of drug detoxification allows the patient to consume the drug to which they are addicted or a similar withdrawal drug. This method must be conducted at a hospital or rehabilitation center in order to monitor that the patient is taking the correct dosage; the dose is gradually reduced, allowing the patient to look forward to an eventual end to the dependency.

    Considerations

    • The drug detox method is the first step in becoming drug free and kicking dependency on a drug, either prescription or illegal. The drug detox merely erases the physical dependency on the drug; emotional rehabilitation to help stem the patient's psychological addiction to the drug can be done at the same time and should be continued as long as needed to ensure that the recovering addict does not backslide into his old habits.

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