The Safe Way to Detox Post-Holidays
But, other than cutting your alcohol intake, Duker-Freuman says that you don't need to do any crazy detoxing to counteract all the fun you had over the holidays—your body is well-equipped to filter all the bad stuff out on its own. However, she says …
Read more on Cosmopolitan (blog)

Fitchburg nixes drug detox facility
FITCHBURG — The Zoning Board of Appeals has voted unanimously against granting a variance to allow a city pastor to open a drug and alcohol detoxification facility out of his Cleghorn property. Members of the board cited several reasons for denying Dr.
Read more on Sentinel and Enterprise

Drug detox centers are instrumental in beating a drug addiction. Most people that try to quit drugs on their own fail because they haven’t distanced themselves from the urge to use drugs. Those that try to go it alone never work on the underlying things that got them hooked on drugs, so there’s a good chance that they’ll go right back to their old habits.

Before you go into a drug detox center, there are some things you should know and a few things you can do to give yourself a real chance to succeed. Even the best drug detox program won’t work unless the addict has admitted that they have a problem, and they have a genuine desire to change. A drug detox center requires a high level of commitment from its patients.

A drug detox center is there to help addicts learn to live a normal life, and replace drugs with other, more healthy pleasures. These programs also help the person get through the most difficult part- the painful withdrawal period. A drug detox center will work with each person to try to figure out what led them to become addicted. Many people have had rough childhoods, or have been devastated over the loss of a loved one or the ending of a relationship. People that keep their feelings bottled up often end up abusing drugs or alcohol to deal with them. A drug detox center will help the person find healthy methods for dealing with their feelings.

After the treatment team knows the reasoning behind the person’s addiction, they’ll go through the drug detox program. The first phase is the medical detox, where doctors observe the patient in order to help with their withdrawal symptoms, and to minimize the chance of a relapse. When the medical detox is over, physical detox starts. This phase continues what the medical detox began, and the last vestiges of the drug are removed from the body. Some centers use medication to treat the patient during this stage in recovery, and others take a spiritual or holistic approach.

The final part of the drug detox program is emotional detox. As this progresses, the patient will go to group meetings, counseling sessions, and therapy. They’ll also participate in other activities that encourage the formation of new, healthy habits and stable relationships. A lot of work is needed here to help the addict deal with the problems that caused them to start using drugs to begin with.

Those that are in need of treatment for a drug problem are sometimes embarrassed to admit it, and even more reluctant to seek help. There are almost 14,000 drug detox centers in the United States, so almost everyone has one near where they live. When you seek help for your drug problem, you should get evaluated by your doctor, who will be able to figure out what kind of drug detox program will help you win your battle with addiction.

Drug Enforcement Agnecy (DEA) – http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov/
National Institue of Health (NIH) – http://www.nih.gov/

Addictions to both prescription and illegal drugs are a growing concern in this country. Between 2004 and 2006, admissions to detox centers for prescription drugs rose more than 40%. A SAMHSA study says that 20% of people between 18 and 25 needed drug or alcohol treatment within the last year. In 2007, the last year for which data is available, almost 4 million people asked for help with a substance addiction. With the rapid influx of people seeking treatment, detox and rehab centers are struggling to keep up.

There are many choices for the addict that’s looking to get clean, and detoxification is an important part of treatment for almost every addiction. There are three basic phases in detoxification:

Medical detox – the patient is under constant medical supervision in order to monitor withdrawal symptoms and prevent immediate relapse. This part can take a few days.

Physical detox consists of the patient’s body being taught how to live without the drug. There are many different ways to do this, and each detox center has its own methods.

Emotional detox- the addict will get counseling to heal their mind and spirit. As they progress through detoxification, they will need emotional, moral, and physical support to compensate for the removal of the drug from their lives. As the person learns that there is life after drug use, they will complete their detox treatment.

Illegal drugs like methamphetamines, heroin and cocaine aren’t the only addictive substances on Earth. Many prescription medicines cause serious effects and are extremely habit-forming. Almost every addictive drug leaves a residue in the body, which builds up over time. Alcohol and drug detox centers aim to remove that toxic residue from the body, preparing the person for treatment. Almost twenty percent of addicts will need detox treatment to help minimize their painful withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal from any addictive substance can be difficult and debilitating. Symptoms can include excessive sweating, faster heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, hallucinations, and panic attacks. For most addicts, it can take a few days to complete a detox center treatment. Detox should always be medically supervised, because the intense withdrawal symptoms will drive many to use again. Very few that attempt to detox on their own are successful in their efforts to quit using drugs.

Most detox centers use other drugs to manage withdrawal symptoms, and close monitoring is necessary to make sure the user doesn’t become addicted all over again. Residential facilities often include a detox program, and most publicly-run centers concentrate on detoxification. Often, an addict will complete treatment in a detox center, and will be sent to outpatient treatment and counseling.

No matter what kind of detoxification is needed, it’s something you need to talk about with your physician. If you think that you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, seek an evaluation as soon as possible. Your doctor will be able to assess your addiction, and recommend a detox center that will meet your needs.

Drug Enforcement Agnecy (DEA) – http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov/
National Institue of Health (NIH) – http://www.nih.gov/