When attempting to break off from an addiction, it is not recommended for patients to quit cold turkey, or without assistance. Especially if that patient is addicted to opioid drugs. Doing so can often lead to relapse or serious medical issues. Detox treatment is designed to assist with the initial breaking away from the drug or alcohol addiction. It does not, however address any psychological or social factors that may have caused the addiction.
One division in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, had defined drug detox treatment as intervention targeted at managing withdrawal. When supervised, it can prevent potentially fatal complications that may otherwise appear if the patient did not undergo treatment. Drug and alcohol detox is the first step in a long recovery process.
A need for drug and alcohol detox treatment and detox facilities is growing rapidly. Drug and alcohol addiction now affects approximately 22.5 million American citizens as young as 12 years old. These addictions include anything from marijuana to prescription pain killers to illegal drugs such as Oxycontin. The truth is, drug detox facilities can save the lives of millions of people.