Detox, or detoxification, is the first step in the continuum of care for addiction treatment. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explains detox as “a set of interventions aimed at managing acute intoxication and withdrawal. It denotes a clearing of toxins from the body of the patient who is acutely intoxicated and/ or dependent on substances of abuse.” Certain factors such as one’s personal health history, the type of substance abused, the potency of the substance, the frequency of abuse, the length of time the individual abused the substance, if she simultaneously abused other substances, and the presence of any co-morbid disorders will all inform one’s detox experience and associated withdrawal symptoms. The array of detox methods available are typically divided and categorized into the following two overarching types:
- Outpatient detox: Outpatient detox programs have a range of support available. Some women may choose to undergo detox in their own home with minimal or outside no support, while others may opt to enlist twenty-four-hour support for the duration of their detox process, while remaining at home. Outpatient detox allows more freedom to its participants, as they do not reside in a detox facility. A female participating in a formal outpatient detox program will spend a certain amount of time each day at the detox treatment facility, for anywhere between three to fourteen days. For women struggling with severe addiction, outpatient detox may be insufficient.
- Inpatient detox: Inpatient detox requires a participant to reside in a detox or rehab facility. Inpatient detox offers access to twenty-four-hour medical care, in addition to being closely monitored and supported throughout the entire process. Inpatient detox programs can last between five to fourteen days long. The two main types of inpatient detox include:
- Medical detox: When a person is overseen by medical professionals throughout her detox process and is administered medication to help with various discomforts that accompany one’s withdrawal symptoms.
- Medically supervised detox: When doctors and/ or medical professionals monitor one’s detox process and only intervene if physically dangerous withdrawal symptoms present.
Every woman is different and just as each person will have a distinct physiological response to habitually abusing drugs, the detox process is entirely unique for everyone. Further, it is virtually impossible to claim any single detox method as universally superior for all women. Rather, to yield the most successful outcome, the best detox protocol for any female must be directly informed and expressly designed around the distinct and nuanced needs of each individual woman.
For Information and Support
Substance abuse and addiction can be incredibly dangerous and can result in severe short and long-term consequences. If you or someone you know is suffering from substance abuse or addiction, please get help as soon as possible. The earlier you seek support, the sooner you and your loved ones can return to leading happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. There is no reason to go through this alone, and we are here to help. Please feel free to reach out to us for further information or with any questions regarding substance abuse or addiction. We are available anytime via telephone at: 213-389-9964, or you can always email us at: info@friendlyhousela.org.
