Medical detox, also commonly referred to as medically supervised detox, is the first part of most substance abuse treatment. Detox is the process in which the body cleanses, or detoxifies itself of drugs and alcohol. To the addicted individual, detox can be an uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience due to the withdrawal symptoms associated with many drugs and alcohol. However, it is also important to note that the withdrawal from certain substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines can be physically dangerous, and in severe cases fatal. To ensure that someone safely and comfortably detoxes from drugs and alcohol, it should be done in a medically supervised setting because, in a phrase, medical detox can save your life.

Medical detox is intended to control and manage the severity of withdrawal symptoms under the close, watchful eyes of medical professionals, and usually lasts between three and ten days. During this process, patients have their vital signs monitored to ensure that they are not in physical danger. Vital signs commonly monitored include heart rate, core temperature, respiratory rate, blood pressure and more. During detoxification, patients are often given prescription medication to help alleviate the physical symptoms of withdrawal and make patients more comfortable. Any medication that is administered is reduced daily so that upon discharge from the medical detox the patient is completely substance free.

A large reason so many addicts continue to abuse substances is to stave off the unpleasantries associated with withdrawal. Withdrawal occurs when an individual stops using drugs or alcohol abruptly, either because they're trying to quit or because they simply can't get their hands on any. The severity of withdrawal symptoms will depend entirely on the particular substance abused, but can range from the more minor like anxiety, irritability, insomnia and headaches to the more worrisome like depression, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, tremors, convulsions, seizures, strokes and in certain cases can be fatal.

Many people wonder how quitting drinking or doing drugs can cause such detriment to the mind and body when you're trying to do something healthy. Unfortunately, it's just not as simple as trying to turn over a new leaf when you've allowed your body to grow dependent on drugs or alcohol, which is why medical detox is so important.