Most recoveries begin with detoxification. This process clears the body of toxins accumulated during the period of drug and alcohol abuse and provides a starting point for recovery. Once the bio-chemical addiction has been addressed, the process of mental and emotional healing can begin. Drug and alcohol detox is the first step towards successful drug and alcohol treatment while here in Florida.
Detox is considered to be complete when all the major withdrawal symptoms have subsided and the substance is no longer present in an addict's system. The detoxification process can vary depending on the frequency of abuse, the pattern of typical use and on individual differences. Because major withdrawal symptoms will peak during the first few days after discontinuing use, it is important to seek medical detox help from trained professionals immediately if trying to quit an addiction. The major withdrawal symptoms are generally cleared within this first phase of detoxification; however, many lesser withdrawal symptoms can last much longer.
Although marijuana
use may precede use
of other drugs of
abuse, prevention
programs may not be
successful if they
do not take into
account the
underlying biology
that predisposes
people to use
multiple drugs.
Successful programs
should focus on
minimizing or
eliminating risk
factors that may be
common to different
drugs of abuse.
Marijuana and other
drugs of abuse often
are used
concurrently, and
one model of
explanation claims
that marijuana use
leads to the use of
other substances.
However, research by
Arpana Agrawal and
her colleagues at
the Medical College
of Virginia,
Richmond, suggests
that the propensity
to use multiple
drugs depends not on
an introduction to
drug use through
marijuana, but on
common genetic and
environmental
factors that
influence the
decision to use a
variety of
substances.
