16 Jan

The 8 Principles of Effective Detox

Effective detox plans should follow specific guidelines. When reading about detox plans, make sure they target all the aspects below in order to adequately address substance abuse and lead to sobriety.

1. Detox is one part of a continuum of care for addiction.

Addiction takes on many forms, and the consequences, therefore, affect many areas of one’s life. There are matters of health, social and emotional relationships, work, mental help, etc., all of which are not completely addressed by every detox program.

Detox is incredibly important—getting the body off the rhythm of drug use is the first step to returning to a healthy lifestyle, but also know that it is the beginning of a long journey back to “normal.”

2. The detox process consists of evaluation, stabilization and preparation for therapy.

The idea behind detox is to prepare the body’s biological measures for a continued plan to reach a healthy lifestyle. In order to get to this therapeutic stage, the person must first undergo an evaluation and stabilization of their body’s chemical makeup. This first step will prepare the person physically for the treatment necessary to get sober.

Did you know? Quitting “cold turkey” is dangerous and can be fatal. It leads to rough withdrawal symptoms and changes in a person’s tolerance. This can cause them to overdose easily if they reintroduce the drug into their system.

3. Individuals should participate in the full process, regardless of the severity of their condition.

The detox process has been studied and vetted by professionals. Furthermore, your body’s chemical makeup can’t change from one second to the next. Even if you don’t think you have a serious substance abuse problem, it is important to go through the entire process to make sure the detox has indeed worked before moving onto the next treatment stage.

4. Detox plans should be individualized.

Detox isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment. The detox process should be based on the person’s medical history and their use of the substance at hand. Medically-assisted detox is the safest method out there because you have a medical professional making sure your body is progressing positively throughout the process.

5. All patients should be referred to therapy after detox.

Once again—detox is not the end of the substance abuse treatment. It is the beginning of a process that will lead to getting sober. Without therapeutic help after detox, returning to substance abuse is likely and incredibly dangerous.

6. Insurance plans should cover the full range of detox services.

Money should not be a hindrance to receiving the care a person needs. Due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most insurance companies cover detox as part of their plans, though their definition of detox programs might differ from carrier to carrier. Check here to see if your insurance supports detox programs.

7. Services should be able to accommodate culturally diverse needs.

People come from different backgrounds, and thus need different services to help them reach a point where they can receive therapy for their substance abuse. A great detox program will address these different cultural needs and implement them in order to maximize results.

8. Success can be measured by participation in and compliance with future treatment.

If a person completes the detox process, it indicates they are good candidates for substance abuse therapy for getting and staying sober.

9. Hope is the Foundation of Recovery

No, we did not count wrong. There are eight principles to effective detox, but hope and the ability to see oneself living a healthier life is incredibly important to getting sober. Leaving a drug habit behind is not easy and takes time and patience; therefore, resilience and determination are key ingredients in a successful recovery process.

If you are interested in a detox program, contact us today to see how we can help.