What Drug Detox Can and Cannot Do

It is no secret that drug abuse is a crisis in the U.S. In 2011, 8.7 percent of the population either used an illicit drug in the past month, or abused psychopharmacological material, including tranquilizers and stimulants. Disturbingly, the decade ending that year saw illicit drug users between 50 and 59 triple to 2.7 million, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Abuse prevention is something society needs to work on. What is real and proven is drug detox, the first stage of addiction recovery. Drug detox, such as oxycontin detox and alcohol detox treatment, can help patients get away from the harmful substances they have been depending on. Drug detox facilities can help a person withdrawal in a safe, caring environment, and with medication to mitigate the withdrawal symptoms. For instance, Naltrexone received FDA approval for alcohol dependence in 1994, after two peer reviewed trials in 1992 showed its efficacy.

Of course, drug detox is not perfect. Drug detox cannot address psychological or social issues that led to addiction in the first place. That said, drug detox gives patients a clear mind to tackle these challenges. Going forward, they can successfully paint the portrait of a drug free life.