Detox Programme

Detoxification is the use of prescribed medication to minimize or prevent the occurrence of drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms and to remove residual toxins in the body left as a result of using the chemicals found in drugs and/or alcohol. In the case of alcohol or some other sedative drugs such as diazepam, uncontrolled withdrawal can cause damage and may even be fatal in some circumstances. In these instances, detoxification is absolutely essential for medical reasons. For other substances such as heroin, although withdrawal is not life-threatening, it is usually so uncomfortable that detoxification is necessary to successfully cease use of the substance.

Detoxification involves the prescription of medication to prevent the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms. Usually a relatively large starting dose of medication is prescribed at the beginning of the detox, and the dose is then slowly reduced over a number of days, down to zero. In the case of alcohol detoxification, the usual first choice of medication is chlordiazepoxide (Librium) or diazepam (Valium). In the case of heroin (opiate) detoxification, a number of different medications may be used, but common ones are buprenorphine (Subutex) or lofexidine (Britlofex).

Apart from these main detox medications, additional medicines may be prescribed during the course of the detox to prevent specific symptoms occurring (such as nausea and vomiting, or sleeplessness).

Detox Centre/Detox Clinic

Detox centres aim to deal with the physical side of addiction; ensuring that individuals detox from the substance of choice in a safe, controlled environment, with as few withdrawal symptoms as possible. Detox Centre will employ the use of doctors, nurses and health care assistants to ensure that the individual is supported throughout the detox process. By the time a person has completed their stay at a detox centre, they should be entirely drug-free, or taking prescribed medication in a controlled manner.

Alcohol detoxification is the use of prescribed medication to minimize or prevent the occurrence of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Uncontrolled withdrawal from alcohol can cause damage and may even be fatal in some circumstances. In these instances, detoxification is absolutely essential for medical reasons. In the case of alcohol detoxification, the usual first choice of medication is chlordiazepoxide (Librium) or diazepam (Valium). Apart from these main detox medications, additional medicines may be prescribed during the course of the detox to prevent specific symptoms occurring (such as nausea and vomiting, or sleeplessness).

While at the present time, no proven pharmacologic therapy for cocaine addiction exists, several kinds of pharmaceutical drugs have been used in the detoxification of cocaine. Whilst withdrawal from cocaine is not life-threatening, withdrawal can produce anxiety, depression and intense cravings for the drug. Several types of pharmaceuticals, such as anti-depressants and benzodiazepines can be used to address these issues.

The first step in treating heroin addiction is physical detox. Medicated detoxification is necessary if an individual has developed a physical dependency. Detox is the process of eliminating all traces of heroin from the body and breaking physical dependency. This is usually achieved by replacing heroin with a longer acting opioid such as methadone or Subutex. These drugs replace the peaks and troughs of heroin intoxication and withdrawal with a steady level of opiate drug and do not deliver a high. Over time, the dosage of this replacement drug is gradually decreased until the person is drug free. Sometimes a medicine called lofexidine is used, as an alternative to methadone or Subutex. Lofexidine suppresses withdrawal symptoms in the body, but does not act to reduce craving (a brain mechanism). As lofexidine is not addictive (whereas methadone and Subutex may be, it is sometimes preferred. Other medicines may also be prescribed to help with specific symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and sleeplessness.