What is the Difference Between Detox and Rehab?

Drug addiction is a complex disorder. Finding the right type of professional care can be complicated, too. Here are just a few common questions that people have when they’re trying to get help: Where is the best place to start treatment? How do I know what kinds of services I need? What is the difference between detox and rehab?

What is the Difference Between Detox and Rehab?

Let’s address the third question first. When you learn what is the difference between detox and rehab, you’ll be better prepared to decide where you should start treatment and what types of services you may need.

Rehab is short for rehabilitation. When an athlete is injured, they often need to complete physical rehab to build their strength back so they can return to the court or the field. When we use the term rehab to talk about drug treatment, this is just another way of describing the process of strengthening your body and mind so you can resist the urge to abuse alcohol or other substances.

In other words, drug rehab is a general term that encompasses a variety of specific programs and services.

It may help to think about it in terms of physical health. Going to rehab is like going to the hospital.  When you’re in the hospital, you might get cardiac care, you might have surgery, you may be treated in the maternity ward, or you could receive a completely different type of service.

When you go to drug rehab, you might take part in one or more of the following programs:

• Detoxification (detox)
• Inpatient treatment
• Residential care
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
• Outpatient care

So, the short answer to the question, “What is the difference between detox and rehab?” is that detox is a specific program, while rehab refers to the entire process. 

Some drug rehab centers only offer one of the options listed above. Others provide several or all of them. When you’re evaluating rehab centers for yourself or someone that you care about, it’s important to identify the types and levels of care that each facility offers. Then it’s a matter of matching their services with your needs (or with the needs of your loved one). 

Benefits of a Drug Detoxification Center

Detoxification is the removal of poisons (or toxins) from a person’s body. In the context of drug rehab, detox is the process through which your body eliminates alcohol or other dangerous substances.

When you use alcohol, heroin, cocaine, or another drug, your body breaks the substance down into its component parts, then expels the waste through your urine, sweat, or breath. Then it starts the process all over again the next time you use the drug. 

When you become addicted to a drug, your body expects to have some remnants of the substance in your system virtually all the time. When you suddenly stop using the drug, your body may respond with a variety of painful reactions. This is known as withdrawal.

Depending on factors such as which drug you’ve become addicted to and how much of it you’ve been using, withdrawal can be extremely painful. In some circumstances, such as people who have severe alcoholism, withdrawal can even be fatal.

The primary benefit of a drug detoxification center is that you can complete the withdrawal process safely and with as little discomfort as possible. 

Detox centers are staffed by professionals who are familiar with all stages of the withdrawal process. These experts may be able to provide you with medication to ease some of the symptoms you develop. They may also offer therapeutic support to help you manage your symptoms.

Once you have successfully completed detox, you can transfer to the next phase of your treatment.

Benefits of a Drug Rehabilitation Center

Another answer to the question, “What is the difference between detox and rehab?” relates to typical length of stay:

• Detoxification is a short-term program. Some people only need to spend three to five days in detox.
• Rehab can be a long-term experience. Some people spend multiple weeks in rehab, while others spend several months. 

In addition to detox, rehab also offers an array of additional benefits. Here are just a few of them:

• Multiple levels of care: As we explained earlier in this post, rehab can include inpatient and residential care. At these levels, you will live at the facility while you’re receiving treatment. Rehab can also include treatment at the PHP, IOP, and outpatient levels. When you are in one of these programs, you need to be at the center only when treatment is in session.
• Treatment for co-occurring mental illness: Many people who struggle with addiction also have anxiety, depression, or another mental health disorder. While you’re in rehab, you can get care for these concerns as well as for addiction. If you don’t get proper mental health services, you may have a very difficult time maintaining your recovery.
• Skills development: During rehab, you may participate in several types of therapy. Therapy sessions can help you develop the skills you need to protect your recovery. Addiction doesn’t only affect your body. It also impacts how you think, feel, behave, and interact with other people. Therapy can help you make important changes in all aspects of your life, so you can resist relapse and continue to build a healthier future for yourself.

Perhaps the most important benefit of an effective drug rehab is that it can provide you with a comprehensive scope of services that have been customized to best meet your unique needs.

Begin Drug Detoxification in Los Angeles, California

For many people, successful drug rehab starts with detoxification. If the pain of withdrawal has kept you trapped in the darkness of active addiction, LA Detox is here for you. Our team of skilled detox experts can help you take an important step toward a drug-free future. Contact us today to learn more.