What
Short-term (roughly 3 – 8 days) managed residential or out-patient withdrawal, transitioning from regular drug use of your primary drug of dependence to no drug use, with the assistance of various medications.

Who
People looking for a break from drugs or a quick fix.

Like
Short-term commitment for a quick result.

Dislike
Short-term discomfort if no opiates are given, increased overdose risk when going back to drug use and little evidence for consistent long-term benefits.

Tell me more...

There are many times when detox may be a good choice. It is particularly appropriate if you wish to be drug-free for a short period of time. There is little evidence supporting the longer term success of short-term detox treatments. In addition, you should be aware that after detoxifying, your lowered tolerance will mean that you can’t take your previous opiate dose – overdoses and deaths have occurred when people have started using after detox. In a Swedish study, 20% of those who didn't get maintenance treatment died in the year after their detox – none of those who did have treatment died.

Though it can be extremely unpleasant, detox itself is not life threatening. A range of medications are available to manage some of the withdrawal symptoms, which include dehydration, vomiting, diarrhoea, sleeplessness, stomach cramps, aches and pains, appetite loss, cravings, depression, panic attacks, hot and cold sweats, yawning, tears, goose bumps, as well as agitation and distress. These symptoms usually resolve by themselves after a week, having peaked during the second to fourth day. For an outpatient detox, some clinics will send a nurse to visit you at home during the detox, while others will ask you to attend each day for counselling and medication.

If you are considering transitioning to maintenance, some clinics offer an opioid-assisted detox episode over 5–8 days with the opportunity to switch into a maintenance programme if required.