First stage of Treatment
This is the first stage of the treatment and it is when the body is safely cleared of the harmful substances taken. The toxins left in the body from the drugs or alcohol are cleansed from the system and this can cause withdrawal symptoms. It can be a scary and difficult stage as withdrawal can cause acute mental and physical symptoms. The way withdrawal affects people will be different for each individual and will depend on the substance used, the length of the abuse, the doses used, and the other medical or mental issues suffered. The detox assists with the dependency on a substance and it can be done naturally or with medication that makes the symptoms more manageable.

It might in some cases be safe to detoxify without close medical supervision, at home for example, but it is always advisable to do this within an institution where it can be monitored and controlled. The cleansing stage might last a few days, or it is possible it will take a number of weeks for the body to be completely rid of the drugs or alcohol abused and return to its natural state.

Withdrawal Symptoms
Typical withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, depression, physical shaking, insomnia, sweating, breathing difficulties, blood pressure irregularity, headaches, body aches, seizures and hallucinations. The craving to take more of the substances the body is withdrawing from is very strong and the brain will be unclear. For these reasons, this stage of the process needs to be approached with help and support from someone who understand the process, and knows that it is temporary.

A detox is usually not enough to change substance dependancy, it is just the cleansing part of the process, and the rest of the treatment plan must be followed to have a long-term positive result.