Drug Detox Facilities

by erin on December 22, 2011

Deciding on a technique for drug detox depends on whether a person intends simply to clear their system long enough to pass a blood or urine test or they are looking for a way of getting off addictive substances and completely modifying their lifestyle. The more ambitious goal requires rehabilitation. A method of rapid opiate detox was developed at the end of the last century by physicians in Israel. Since then, it has been adapted using safer medications that have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Rapid Detox

Withdrawing from an addictive substance without the support of medical intervention can last for a period of several days. The symptoms of withdrawal may be extremely painful and very unpleasant. This can often put people off from going into rehabilitation. It is possible to go through detox very quickly. This method of ‘rapid detox’ involves placing the patient under an anesthetic to spare them the severe pain and other symptoms. It is claimed that it can give results in as little as two hours. This treatment is very expensive and the safety has not yet been proven. It is an extreme measure for passing a simple urine test.

Reasons For Testing

A person may be asked to submit to a laboratory drug test for any one of a number of reasons. Insurance companies sometimes ask for them before issuing a life insurance policy. Students, probationers and parolees may all be asked to provide a sample for testing from time to time. Athletes in competitive sports are often required to take urine tests. Many employers require them prior to making an appointment or a promotion. There is only one sure way to be sure of passing one of these tests and that is to abstain completely, at least for the duration of its detection time.

Clearance Time

The drug detection time is defined as the length of time that a drug remains detectable via testing the urine. Some substances like cannabinoids (marijuana), steroids and phenobarbital (a long-acting barbiturate) may take as long as weeks or even months to clear the system. Tranquillizers in the benzodiazepine family (lorazepam, valium, etc.) can take a week or ten days. Amphetamines, cocaine, opiates and short-acting barbiturates may clear the system in less than a week.

Detox Drinks

There is a substantial market for personal drug tests so that casual drug users may monitor their levels. For those facing an impending drug test, it is possible to buy special ‘detox drinks’ over the Internet that act long enough to get through a test successfully. These may also be bought over the telephone or at special retailers.

Total Rehabilitation

Simply passing a urine test may be good enough for casual users who just want to keep their jobs and blow the odd joint over the weekend. For people with a serious addiction problem who want to put it behind them and get clean for good, a longer, more structured program of detoxification and rehabilitation may be in order. These focus on social, psychological and behavioral issues associated with addiction, as well as clearing the substance physically out of the system.

Residential Treatment

A residential program can work very well. It physically removes the subject from the environmental and social cues that may trigger their addictive behavior. It also permits residents to learn how to build satisfying relationships with people who are not users. After being discharged from a residential facility, a good program of after care is necessary to consolidate the progress made during their time in residence and to keep them from falling back into their old ways.

Only a small percentage of people with addiction problems to benzodiazepines, heroin, phenobarbital, crack, etc., have access to the necessary resources to check themselves into a detox clinic or crack rehab. Fortunately, their family doctors and nurses can help by offering advice. Doctors can also prescribe medication to help ease the torture of drug detox. Local medical facilities can also provide referrals for counseling and relevant self-help groups.

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post: