With both illicit and prescription drug addictions skyrocketing in the United States (admissions for pharmaceutical abuse alone climbed 44% between 2004 and 2006), treatment centers of all types are required to deal with the influx of patients. One study released by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in June 2009 indicates that 1 in 5 Americans aged 18-25, nearly 7 million people, required treatment for drug or alcohol abuse within the past year. In 2007, 3.9 million people of all ages sought treatment for a substance abuse problem. Public and private drug and alcohol treatment centers are hard-pressed to keep up.

2007 National Study on Drug Use and Health, SAMHSA

A tremendous variety of programs exist for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and while not all patients suffering from drug addiction will require the use of a specialized drug detoxification center, the detox process is part of nearly every addiction treatment in some form.

Both illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth, and prescription drugs like Xanax, Ambien, and Oxycontin have highly addictive qualities and real, physical effects on the body and brain. Nearly all build up in the body to some degree, along with residues of harmful chemicals used to cut street drugs for distribution. Drug and alcohol detoxification involves removing all of these toxins from the body in order to prepare the addict for treatment and long-term recovery. A significant number of patients (approximately 20% in one Utah study) require inpatient care at a detoxification center of some type to manage moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms experienced by the sudden stoppage of drugs or alcohol.

Withdrawal from drugs or alcohol is usually characterized by symptoms ranging from anxiety, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and nausea to tremors, hallucinations, convulsions, panic attacks, and depression. Because it takes several days to “detox” and completely flush all residue from the system, most addicts attempting to quit on their own are driven straight back to the drug by the withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings. A significant step in drug and alcohol recovery, therefore, involves management of withdrawal symptoms through the detoxification process.

Any detox center or program, whether inpatient or outpatient, must closely supervise treatment to ensure that adverse effects are caught and treated quickly and appropriately. Some therapies require the use of substitute drugs to manage symptoms, which means close supervision is necessary to avoid the user becoming addicted to something new. Inpatient detoxification centers avoid these problems through 24/7 medical supervision by experienced staff in an environment removed from temptation and availability of illicit drugs.

Many times, a stay in a detoxification center is followed by referral to other programs for outpatient follow-up and counseling. Residential treatment can be all-inclusive in this regard, or simply the first step in recovery. Many public programs focus solely on detoxification, or on outpatient management of all phases whenever possible to reduce cost. Private nonprofit facilities may or may not have their own detoxification center, preferring to contract with a local hospital. Regardless of how administered, detoxification should be something every patient discusses with his or her doctor when entering treatment.