A medical process, usually in a hospital setting, in which a person addicted to alcohol or drugs is withdrawn from the addictive substance under the care of a physician. Detoxification is not a treatment for the addiction; rather, it is designed to manage the serious, even fatal physiological effects of stopping drug use, such as delirium tremens in alcohol-dependent people. Medications are available to help in detoxification from opiates (for example, heroin and morphine), nicotine (tobacco), benzodiazepines, alcohol, barbiturates, and other sedatives. A detoxification program normally lasts from 4 to 7 days and should be followed by a treatment program to address the psychological, social, and behavioral issues surrounding the person’s addiction.
A drug abuse treatment program that involves gradual but complete withdrawal from an abused substance.