Drug detox centers are instrumental in beating a drug addiction. Most people that try to quit drugs on their own fail because they haven’t distanced themselves from the urge to use drugs. Those that try to go it alone never work on the underlying things that got them hooked on drugs, so there’s a good chance that they’ll go right back to their old habits.

Before you go into a drug detox center, there are some things you should know and a few things you can do to give yourself a real chance to succeed. Even the best drug detox program won’t work unless the addict has admitted that they have a problem, and they have a genuine desire to change. A drug detox center requires a high level of commitment from its patients.

A drug detox center is there to help addicts learn to live a normal life, and replace drugs with other, more healthy pleasures. These programs also help the person get through the most difficult part- the painful withdrawal period. A drug detox center will work with each person to try to figure out what led them to become addicted. Many people have had rough childhoods, or have been devastated over the loss of a loved one or the ending of a relationship. People that keep their feelings bottled up often end up abusing drugs or alcohol to deal with them. A drug detox center will help the person find healthy methods for dealing with their feelings.

After the treatment team knows the reasoning behind the person’s addiction, they’ll go through the drug detox program. The first phase is the medical detox, where doctors observe the patient in order to help with their withdrawal symptoms, and to minimize the chance of a relapse. When the medical detox is over, physical detox starts. This phase continues what the medical detox began, and the last vestiges of the drug are removed from the body. Some centers use medication to treat the patient during this stage in recovery, and others take a spiritual or holistic approach.

The final part of the drug detox program is emotional detox. As this progresses, the patient will go to group meetings, counseling sessions, and therapy. They’ll also participate in other activities that encourage the formation of new, healthy habits and stable relationships. A lot of work is needed here to help the addict deal with the problems that caused them to start using drugs to begin with.

Those that are in need of treatment for a drug problem are sometimes embarrassed to admit it, and even more reluctant to seek help. There are almost 14,000 drug detox centers in the United States, so almost everyone has one near where they live. When you seek help for your drug problem, you should get evaluated by your doctor, who will be able to figure out what kind of drug detox program will help you win your battle with addiction.

Drug Enforcement Agnecy (DEA) – http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov/
National Institue of Health (NIH) – http://www.nih.gov/