Whether you struggle from a drug or alcohol use disorder, treatment is the first and most critical step in regard to your recovery — but where do you begin?

Should you go to rehab or do you simply just need to detox? What’s the difference and which option is right for you?

Detox and Rehab Each Serve Their Own Purpose

While detox and rehab are not independent of one another, they are most certainly unique. These two terms are often used interchangeably. However, they each serve their own purpose.

Put simply, detoxification focuses on addressing the physical effects of addiction, reducing one’s risk of harm during the withdrawal period. Although for many clients, detox is often a part of the rehabilitation process, rehab itself focuses more on the psychological effects of addiction.

Detox or Rehab? Which Option Is the Best For You?

Detox and rehab programs differ from one facility to the next — and not all treatment centers offer both. At Transformations Treatment Center, we’re known for our excellent detox program, as well as the wide array of therapy options and services offered after this initial step.

To better decide which option is best for you, it’s imperative to understand what each option entails. In general, here’s how detox and rehab compare.

Detox

Drug and alcohol detox treatment is the process of physically removing substances from your body. This is required in order to continue your recovery process, especially in terms of psychological healing. It is important to seek medical supervision during this process, as sudden withdrawal can be incredibly dangerous — even deadly.

Like any aspect of treatment, each client’s detox journey will differ. Depending on the substance of abuse, specialized options will be offered to increase comfort and safety. Overall, this process will physically cleanse the body of toxins, reduce pain, and help lessen physical cravings.

If you are physically dependent on drugs and/or alcohol, then detox will be beneficial for you. This is particularly the case if you’re addicted to substances such as alcohol, heroin, benzodiazepines, oxycodone, etc. Once again, unsupervised detox can lead to severe seizures, hallucinations, coma, nausea, and death.

Rehab

Drug and alcohol rehab focuses more on healing the body, mind, and spirit through programs that help you work through the underlying issues that encourage symptoms of a substance abuse or mental health disorder. This option focuses more on psychiatric services.

However, facilities that treat each client as a whole, also offer programs that help clients build practical life skills while encouraging positive well-being. During a rehab program, you will not just uncover the root cause of your addiction, but you will also learn how to develop healthier habits in terms of your behavior, thought patterns, and approach to self-care.

You May Benefit From a Detox and Rehab Program

The vast majority of addiction clients require BOTH detoxification and rehab. By completing both programs, clients significantly increase their chance of recovering. While detox is often a component of rehab, whether you require detox will depend on the type of substance you’ve been abusing and for how long.

Most often, to ensure the safety of our clients, detox and rehab go hand-in-hand. When you first visit Transformations Treatment Center, we will assess your current needs and develop a plan accordingly.

To find out more, please contact our dual-diagnosis treatment center today!