Detox
Detox, or withdrawal management, is the set of clinical interventions that manage acute intoxication and withdrawal from alcohol or other drugs safely, usually the first step before ongoing addiction treatment.
Also called detoxification, withdrawal management, medical detox
- Last reviewed
- 2 sources, linked
- 4 related terms
What it means
SAMHSA's treatment guidance, TIP 45, describes detox as three steps: evaluation, stabilization, and fostering the patient's readiness for and entry into treatment. It also says plainly that detox alone is not sufficient treatment for addiction; it is one part of a continuum of care.
Where detox happens depends on the substance and the risk. Withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines or opioids can need medical supervision, and medications are often part of the care, so settings range from hospital units to residential and outpatient programs.
The fourth edition of the ASAM Criteria no longer treats withdrawal management as its own set of levels. It is a service delivered within a level of care, so a program can say which levels it offers withdrawal management in.
Why it matters for your website
Detox inquiries are the most urgent a center gets, often at night and on a phone. The page has to load fast, show a tap-to-call admissions number without scrolling, and answer what a frightened family asks first: is it medically supervised, which substances, do you take my insurance, and what happens after.
Say what comes next. A detox page that does not explain the step into residential, PHP or IOP care loses the family at the exact moment ongoing treatment should begin.
Sources
The facts on this page about a law, a regulator, a clinical standard or a platform come from these sources. Each link opens the original in a new tab.
- SAMHSATIP 45: Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment (opens in a new tab)
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, SAPCASAM Criteria 4th Edition Implementation (levels of care and dimensions) (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed
This entry explains a clinical term so you can describe your care accurately on your website. It is not medical advice, and clinical decisions belong with your clinical team.
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