Actually, there is really no difference between a detox (this term is a shortened version of the word detoxification) program and a recovery program. Detox is simply a phase of the recovery program.
During the detox phase, a person’s body is actually being deprived of the substance that was being abused; for instance, alcohol. Because no more alcohol is being consumed, the body is beginning to feel the effects of this deprivation. These effects are both physical and mental, and are being manifested in a variety of symptoms.
Physical symptoms of detox include chills, sweating, uncontrollable trembling, and sometimes severe abdominal or muscle cramps. The mental symptoms include hallucinations, confusion, and possibly profound depression.
While detox is only one phase of a recovery program, many times a person will undergo this phase in a specific place that has been designated as a detox center. And, depending on the substance being abused, there can be separate facilities for alcohol detox and drug detox.
When a facility, or an area of a facility, is designated a detox center, medical attention and support is usually available. This allows the person undergoing detox to be monitored closely, in case something happens that may be hazardous or even fatal to one’s physical and mental health.
In an alcohol detox center, specific drugs and other medical intervention tools can be used that address problems inherent to alcohol detox. Medications can be given to alleviate any pain associated with alcohol detox, as well as other measures taken. For information on an alcohol detox center near you, please log onto http://detox-center.com/ or call 1-800-923-1134.
