In the drug and alcohol treatment field we often hear the word “detox”. Detox, simply put, is the medical removal of toxic substances from the body. Without proper medical help from a facility like Clearbrook, detox can be life threatening, uneasy, and uncomfortable; both physically and mentally. Coming to Clearbrook and starting your treatment in our detox unit allows the patient a safe environment and the ability to get through the acute withdrawal phase under the guidance of our licensed medical professionals. Our staff has the experience and knowledge of how long the substances that are being used take to leave the body. The process of detox is not the same for everyone. With that said, everyone we detox is evaluated, stabilized, and prepared for ongoing treatment. When you arrive, the first step is to ask a series of questions to properly diagnose how you are both physically and mentally. The next step is to transition from the state of intoxication, manage your withdrawals as comfortably as possible, to a physically clean and sober state.
Many people have the belief that they can leave the treatment center right after detox. They don’t even think about the circumstances that led them into a drug and alcohol detox in the first place. Detox alone does not teach the addict/alcoholic how to live and cope with life after chemicals. There won’t be any investigation and soul searching as to why the patient turned to chemicals in the first place.
Detox alone does not teach the skills necessary to avoid relapse. Proper treatment is required to learn the skill sets necessary to stay clean and sober on a daily basis while coping with the difficulties and challenges of everyday life. Without those skills, people are seen returning time and time again to detoxes when it could have been avoided in the first place.
