Detoxification or detox describes the way in which a drug such as heroin is eliminated from the drug user’s body, often with the help of a doctor and/ or specialist drug worker. This is often a gradual process and may take a number of days or weeks. It can involve the use of other drugs such as methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone to help deal with withdrawal symptoms. However, detox is only the beginning of the process of helping somebody to stay off drugs. Other help such as counselling is usually required. [Drugwise encyclopedia]

From WHO lexicon: (1) The process by which an individual is withdrawn from the effects of a psychoactive substance. (2) As a clinical procedure, the withdrawal process carried out in a safe and effective manner, such that withdrawal symptoms are minimized. The facility in which this takes place may be variously termed a detoxification centre, detox centre, or sobering-up station.

Typically, the individual is clinically intoxicated or already in withdrawal at the outset of detoxification. Detoxification may or may not involve the administration of medication. When it does, the medication given is usually a drug that shows cross-tolerance and cross-dependence to the substance(s) taken by the patient. The dose is calculated to relieve the withdrawal syndrome without inducing intoxication, and is gradually tapered off as the patient recovers. Detoxification as a clinical procedure implies that the individual is supervised until recovery from intoxication or from the physical withdrawal syndrome is complete. The term "self-detoxification" is sometimes used to denote unassisted recovery from a bout of intoxication or withdrawal symptoms (WHO Lexicon of alcohol and drug terms.)