Overview
According to the Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment publication within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) series:
“Detoxification is a set of interventions aimed at managing acute intoxication and withdrawal. It denotes a clearing of toxins from the body of the patient who is acutely intoxicated and/or dependent on substances of abuse. Detoxification seeks to minimize the physical harm caused by the abuse of substances. The acute medical management of life-threatening intoxication and related medical problems generally is not included within the term detoxification and is not covered in detail in this TIP.”
The TIP also mentions a definition provided by the Washington Circle Group (WCG):
“a medical intervention that manages an individual safely through the process of acute withdrawal… a detoxification program is not designed to resolve the longstanding psychological, social, and behavioral problems associated with alcohol and drug abuse”
The three components of detoxification involve evaluation of substance use and co-occuring health conditions, stabilization through both medical and psychosocial processes, and fostering the patient’s entry into treatment for substance use disorders as part of a continuum of care. 1