Alcohol detoxification - When a person is used to having alcohol in their system on an ongoing basis. Serious alcoholics experience a decrease in the GABA neuroinhibitor because the alcohol replaces it. When someone has been a long term alcoholic detoxification can cause very serious health risks and needs to be monitored very carefully. After detoxification is safely complete then rehabilitation can begin.
Drug detoxification - There are cases in which substance abuse patients are given certain prescription drugs to help them with the horrific effects of detoxification. This is often done in a residential treatment center so that the patients can be closely monitored. It is important to remember that all drug addicts do not need drug therapy while detoxifying. The process is not part of rehabilitation but it is a stepping stone to further treatment.
When an alcoholic or drug addict seeks help it is crucial that they are honest about all of the substances that they have used or have recently used. Medical professionals can't help in the right way without all of the appropriate information. Since most addicts use more than one substance the detoxification process can vary and the people treating the patient need to be aware of everything.
