Medical Detox

What Is Medical Detox For Addiction?

Medical detoxification—otherwise known as detox—is a supervised process to help people safely withdraw from drugs or alcohol after quitting substance use. Detox for addiction is usually an important first step in a person’s recovery journey.

Medical detox can occur at home (outpatient) or at a facility (inpatient), depending on the severity of symptoms and any special medical needs. Sometimes, medication can be prescribed to wean the patient off the drugs they were taking—also known as tapering.

During detox, a medical professional will monitor your symptoms and can make adjustments to any support medications or tapering schedules as you go through the process.

Overall, the goal of detox for addiction is to not just keep you safe (some withdrawal symptoms can be deadly), but to ease any discomfort to help you avoid temptation to relapse.

When Is a Medical Detox Necessary?

Medical detox for addiction is often a critical step in the addiction recovery process. A few circumstances could make a medical detox the right choice for yourself or a loved one.

Medical detox can provide the following benefits:

• Ensure a safe detoxification process in cases with dangerous withdrawal symptoms
• Mitigate uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that could lead to relapse
• Provide medical support for those with additional health conditions or co-occurring disorders

Why Medical Detox Is Necessary for Dangerous Symptoms

Detox treatment is highly recommended for people who are quitting certain drug or alcohol addiction and are at risk of experiencing severe or dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

The following substances present the highest risk for dangerous withdrawals:

• Alcohol addiction
• Benzodiazepine addiction (e.g. Xanax®, Valium®)
• Opioid addiction (e.g., heroin or prescription opiates)

While withdrawal symptoms from most substances can be uncomfortable, alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawals can cause life-threatening side effects without medical intervention.

For instance, delirium tremens (DTs) are a severe side effect of alcohol withdrawal. DTs can cause hallucinations, sudden high blood pressure, seizures, and coma. Under medical supervision, however, these symptoms can be mitigated to ensure your safety.

Other common withdrawal symptoms that detox can help alleviate are:

• Nausea
• Sweating
• Tremors
• Insomnia
• Strong drug cravings

Medical Detox Also Helps In Relapse Prevention

While some withdrawals may not be life-threatening, the side effects can still be extremely uncomfortable for the patient. Additionally, patients may experience strong cravings as one of their withdrawal side effects.

Both the discomfort and the cravings can encourage the individual to return to substance abuse to avoid these side effects. However, with medical detox, healthcare providers can help mitigate your discomfort through tapering or other medications.

For example, the symptoms of opioid withdrawal themselves aren’t usually life-threatening, but they can be notably uncomfortable without medical support.

Patients detoxing from opioids have a very high risk of overdosing if they relapse, so medical detox can help alleviate their discomfort to prevent potential relapse.

Medical Detox For Co-Occurring Disorders

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) indicates that overall care for individuals with other medical conditions (physical or mental health) will not differ much from any other patient diagnosed with substance use disorder.

However, co-occurring disorders may require special consideration of medications used during medical detox, as well as the presentation of other symptoms.

If you or your loved one have co-occurring disorders or any additional health concerns, medical detox can ensure that the withdrawal process does not exacerbate any of your other symptoms.

What to Expect During a Medical Detox

The medical detox process will typically follow a few key stages to help keep you or your loved one safe and supported. You may receive medication to help you taper off the drug(s) or to help lessen some of the more uncomfortable side effects (such as insomnia or anxiety).

1. Assessment: The addiction doctor or other healthcare provider will evaluate your physical and mental health. They will also get more information about your drug use (or perform a blood test) to determine what type of tapering schedule and/or assistive medications might be used.
2. Detox: The medical detox process often happens at home, where you’ll receive instructions for a tapering schedule and any additional medications (as applicable), along with important signs to watch out for. You may need to check in with your doctor periodically, especially if symptoms remain significant.
3. Rehabilitation: For many, detox for addiction is just the first step. Once the drugs have left your system, the next stage of recovery is usually entering some kind of treatment program—whether that’s a 30-90 day stay at a residential facility, or attending meetings through an outpatient program.

Medical detox for addiction can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on several factors like the amount of drugs previously used, type of drug, taper schedule, additional health concerns, and so on.

Medications Used During a Medical Detox

Sometimes, your doctor will prescribe medication during medical detox to help mitigate the negative symptoms associated with withdrawal.

Also known as Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), these medications are used both to combat the effects of withdrawal and to help patients avoid relapse.

Some of the most common medications used during detox include:

• Methadone
• Buprenorphine
• Suboxone
• Naltrexone
• Benzodiazepines

Some of these medications are intended for use on a very short-term basis. Other medications may be part of your overall substance abuse treatment plan and be used even after medical detox has been completed.

Where Does Medical Detox Take Place?

Medical detox can be performed at multiple treatment facilities. Hospitals, inpatient rehab centers, outpatient rehab centers, and standalone facilities can all provide the services required for medical detox.

The type of facility where you seek your medical detox may depend on your specific treatment plan (i.e., if you are also seeking a rehab program), as well as the severity of your addiction and the level of risk that comes with your withdrawal symptoms.

Inpatient Detox

Inpatient medical detox services are recommended for individuals with more severe addiction or other serious health issues.

For medical detox at an inpatient level, the patient will be required to check into a treatment facility for the entire detoxification process. During their stay, medical professionals can monitor their vitals and adjust medication or treatment as needed.

Patients at inpatient facilities also have 24/7 access to life support services, which may be necessary for those recovering from addiction to benzodiazepines or alcohol.

Outpatient Detox

Outpatient detox is provided to patients with mild to moderate addictions. These patients can visit a detox treatment facility for medical care, support, and medication adjustments but may not require around-the-clock care.

Recovering addicts in outpatient facilities receive the same quality of care as those in inpatient detox but don’t require the same level of care as more at-risk patients.

Is Detoxing Safe?

Medical detox itself is a very safe process overall.

However, depending on the severity of addiction and the type of substance that was abused, the individual may experience some dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Detoxification occurs when the body begins eliminating a substance from its system. As the brain stops receiving this substance, it may start to overcompensate—causing a vast range of symptoms, from a runny nose to seizures.

The withdrawal symptoms that a person will experience depend on factors such as level of addiction, type of substance(s) abused, and even personal medical history.

Some substances (i.e., alcohol or benzodiazepines) are also known for their potentially life-threatening side effects. Therefore, self-detox or “quitting cold turkey” is NOT considered safe in many cases.

During medical detox, patients have access to a team of clinicians as well as (when necessary) around-the-clock care and access to life support to mitigate these potentially dangerous side effects.

How Long Does a Medical Detox Take?

Medical detox programs typically run for between 3 to 10 days. However, overall detoxification can vary depending on several individual factors.

Factors that can impact the length of detox include:

• Type of substance(s) abused
• Length of abuse
• Quantity consumed
• Age
• Gender
• Medical history
• Presence of additional health issues (i.e., co-occurring disorders)

The medical detox process is designed to mitigate any dangerous symptoms of withdrawal and make the initial process more comfortable for the person in recovery.

Once medical detox is completed, the patient may still experience some cravings. In many cases, some form of continued addiction treatment program is recommended, such as inpatient or outpatient rehab.

What Are The Steps of a Medical Detox?

The medical detox process can be broken down into a few stages.

The stages of medical detox generally follow the same order:

1. Assessment: Medical detox usually begins with assessing your medical history and current needs.
2. Withdrawals: Next, the patient will begin to experience symptoms of withdrawal. These symptoms can vary depending on the substance you were using, how long you used it, and other unique health factors. You will receive ongoing medical care and support as you progress through the withdrawal phase.
3. Medication: Patients often receive medication treatment to help minimize these withdrawal side effects and ensure their safety.
4. Transition: Once complete, you may receive a referral for a rehab center (inpatient or outpatient), depending on your specific treatment plan.

What Happens After a Medical Detox?

After medical detox, the individual should remain focused on their overall addiction recovery. While detox is an important part of the process, it isn’t the main issue that needs attention.

Many individuals go from detox to a rehab program. There are various treatment options, including inpatient and outpatient options.

After detox at an inpatient facility ends, you will likely continue on with additional rehab services, such as therapy or daily rehab activities.

Those in outpatient care may continue to seek therapy and work with support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) to strengthen decision-making and continue to avoid alcohol or drug use.

Find Medical Detox Options Near You

If you or a loved one is ready to begin the recovery journey, help is available. You can search for nearby medical detox programs using the SAMHSA Treatment Locator. You can also call the free, confidential helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to speak with someone 24/7.

Written by

Jessica Miller

Editorial Director

Jessica Miller is the Editorial Director of Addiction Help. Jessica graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) with an English degree and combines her writing expertise and passion for helping others to deliver reliable information to those impacted by addiction. Informed by her personal journey to recovery and support of loved ones in sobriety, Jessica's empathetic and authentic approach resonates deeply with the Addiction Help community.

Reviewed by

• Fact-Checked
• Editor

Kent S. Hoffman, D.O.

Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer

Kent S. Hoffman, D.O. has been an expert in addiction medicine for more than 15 years. In addition to managing a successful family medical practice, Dr. Hoffman is board certified in addiction medicine by the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM). Dr. Hoffman has successfully treated hundreds of patients battling addiction. Dr. Hoffman is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of AddictionHelp.com and ensures the website’s medical content and messaging quality.