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Drug alcohol detox


SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA

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  • SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

    Also visit the online treatment locator.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.

The service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

English and Spanish are available if you select the option to speak with a national representative. Currently, the 435748 (HELP4U) text messaging service is only available in English.

In 2020, the Helpline received 833,598 calls. This is a 27 percent increase from 2019, when the Helpline received a total of 656,953 calls for the year.

The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.

The service is confidential. We will not ask you for any personal information. We may ask for your zip code or other pertinent geographic information in order to track calls being routed to other offices or to accurately identify the local resources appropriate to your needs.

No, we do not provide counseling. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.

  • Suggested Resources

    What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families
    Created for family members of people with alcohol abuse or drug abuse problems. Answers questions about substance abuse, its symptoms, different types of treatment, and recovery. Addresses concerns of children of parents with substance use/abuse problems.

    It's Not Your Fault (NACoA) (PDF | 12 KB)
    Assures teens with parents who abuse alcohol or drugs that, "It's not your fault!" and that they are not alone. Encourages teens to seek emotional support from other adults, school counselors, and youth support groups such as Alateen, and provides a resource list.

    After an Attempt: A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department
    Aids family members in coping with the aftermath of a relative's suicide attempt. Describes the emergency department treatment process, lists questions to ask about follow-up treatment, and describes how to reduce risk and ensure safety at home.

    Family Therapy Can Help: For People in Recovery From Mental Illness or Addiction
    Explores the role of family therapy in recovery from mental illness or substance abuse. Explains how family therapy sessions are run and who conducts them, describes a typical session, and provides information on its effectiveness in recovery.

    For additional resources, please visit the SAMHSA Store.

Last Updated: 08/30/2022

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

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Misusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can have both immediate and long-term health effects.

The misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. SAMHSA’s 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that approximately 19.3 million people aged 18 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year.

Alcohol

Data:

  • In 2020, 50.0% of people aged 12 or older (or 138.5 million people) used alcohol in the past month (i.e., current alcohol users) (2020 NSDUH)
  • Among the 138.5 million people who were current alcohol users, 61. 6 million people (or 44.4%) were classified as binge drinkers and 17.7 million people (28.8% of current binge drinkers and 12.8% of current alcohol users) were classified as heavy drinkers (2020 NSDUH)
  • The percentage of people who were past month binge alcohol users was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (31.4%) compared with 22.9% of adults aged 26 or older and 4.1% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2020 NSDUH)
  • The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that 139.7 million Americans age 12 or older were past month alcohol users, 65.8 million people were binge drinkers in the past month, and 16 million were heavy drinkers in the past month
  • About 2.3 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in 2019 drank alcohol in the past month, and 1.2 million of these adolescents binge drank in that period (2019 NSDUH)
  • Approximately 14.5 million people age 12 or older had an alcohol use disorder (2019 NSDUH)
  • Excessive alcohol use can increase a person’s risk of stroke, liver cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, cancer, and other serious health conditions
  • Excessive alcohol use can also lead to risk-taking behavior, including driving while impaired. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver daily

Programs/Initiatives:

  • STOP Underage Drinking interagency portal - Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking
  • Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking
  • Talk. They Hear You.
  • Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts
  • Talking with your College-Bound Young Adult About Alcohol

Relevant links:

  • National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
  • Department of Transportation Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance
  • Alcohol Policy Information Systems Database (APIS)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Tobacco

Data:

  • In 2020, 20.7% of people aged 12 or older (or 57. 3 million people) used nicotine products (i.e., used tobacco products or vaped nicotine) in the past month (2020 NSDUH)
  • Among past month users of nicotine products, nearly two thirds of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (63.1%) vaped nicotine but did not use tobacco products. In contrast, 88.9% of past month nicotine product users aged 26 or older used only tobacco products (2020 NSDUH)
  • Data from the 2019 NSDUH reports that 58.1 million people were current (i.e., past month) tobacco users. Specifically, 45.9 million people aged 12 or older in 2019 were past month cigarette smokers (2019 NSDUH)
  • Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, often leading to lung cancer, respiratory disorders, heart disease, stroke, and other serious illnesses. The CDC reports that cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States
  • The CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health reports that more than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking cigarettes

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use data:

  • Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey.  Among both middle and high school students, current use of e-cigarettes declined from 2019 to 2020, reversing previous trends and returning current e-cigarette use to levels similar to those observed in 2018
  • E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, or pregnant women, especially because they contain nicotine and other chemicals

Resources:

  • Tips for Teens: Tobacco
  • Tips for Teens: E-cigarettes
  • Implementing Tobacco Cessation Programs in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Settings
  • Synar Amendment Program

Links:

  • Truth Initiative
  • FDA Center for Tobacco Products
  • CDC Office on Smoking and Health
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Tobacco, Nicotine, and E-Cigarettes
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: E-Cigarettes

Opioids

Data:

  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2020, 3.4% (or 9.5 million people) misused opioids in the past year. Among the 9.5 million people who misused opioids in the past year, 9.3 million people misused prescription pain relievers and 902,000 people used heroin (2020 NSDUH)
  • An estimated 745,000 people had used heroin in the past year, based on 2019 NSDUH data
  • In 2019, there were 10.1 million people age 12 or older who misused opioids in the past year. The vast majority of people misused prescription pain relievers (2019 NSDUH)
  • An estimated 1.6 million people aged 12 or older had an opioid use disorder based on 2019 NSDUH data
  • Opioid use, specifically injection drug use, is a risk factor for contracting HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. The CDC reports that people who inject drugs accounted for 9 percent of HIV diagnoses in the United States in 2016
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Understanding the Epidemic, an average of 128 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose

Resources:

  • Medication-Assisted Treatment
  • Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit
  • TIP 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
  • Use of Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Criminal Justice Settings
  • Opioid Use Disorder and Pregnancy
  • Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and Parenting Women With Opioid Use Disorder and Their Infants
  • The Facts about Buprenorphine for Treatment of Opioid Addiction
  • Pregnancy Planning for Women Being Treated for Opioid Use Disorder
  • Tips for Teens: Opioids
  • Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Grants
  • Tribal Opioid Response Grants
  • Provider’s Clinical Support System - Medication Assisted Treatment Grant Program

Links:

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Opioids
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Heroin
  • HHS Prevent Opioid Abuse
  • Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
  • Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network
  • Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network

Marijuana

Data:

  • The percentage of people who used marijuana in the past year was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (34. 5%) compared with 16.3% of adults aged 26 or older and 10.1% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2020 NSDUH)
  • 2019 NSDUH data indicates that 48.2 million Americans aged 12 or older, 17.5 percent of the population, used marijuana in the past year
  • Approximately 4.8 million people aged 12 or older in 2019 had a marijuana use disorder in the past year (2019 NSDUH)
  • Marijuana can impair judgment and distort perception in the short term and can lead to memory impairment in the long term
  • Marijuana can have significant health effects on youth and pregnant women.

Resources:

  • Know the Risks of Marijuana
  • Marijuana and Pregnancy
  • Tips for Teens: Marijuana

Relevant links:

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Marijuana
  • Addiction Technology Transfer Centers on Marijuana
  • CDC Marijuana and Public Health

Emerging Trends in Substance Misuse:

  • Methamphetamine—In 2019, NSDUH data show that approximately 2 million people used methamphetamine in the past year. Approximately 1 million people had a methamphetamine use disorder, which was higher than the percentage in 2016, but similar to the percentages in 2015 and 2018. The National Institute on Drug Abuse Data shows that overdose death rates involving methamphetamine have quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Frequent meth use is associated with mood disturbances, hallucinations, and paranoia.
  • Cocaine—In 2019, NSDUH data show an estimated 5.5 million people aged 12 or older were past users of cocaine, including about 778,000 users of crack. The CDC reports that overdose deaths involving have increased by one-third from 2016 to 2017. In the short term, cocaine use can result in increased blood pressure, restlessness, and irritability. In the long term, severe medical complications of cocaine use include heart attacks, seizures, and abdominal pain.
  • Kratom—In 2019, NSDUH data show that about 825,000 people had used Kratom in the past month. Kratom is a tropical plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia with leaves that can have psychotropic effects by affecting opioid brain receptors. It is currently unregulated and has risk of abuse and dependence. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that health effects of Kratom can include nausea, itching, seizures, and hallucinations.

Resources:

  • Tips for Teens: Methamphetamine
  • Tips for Teens: Cocaine
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse

More SAMHSA publications on substance use prevention and treatment.

Last Updated: 04/27/2022

Detoxification from alcohol - prices from 4500 rubles. around the clock and anonymously at the Clinic for Narcology and Psychiatry

Detoxification after alcohol is a complex of therapeutic measures aimed at the complete removal of the decay products of ethyl alcohol from the body. The main role in the process of purification of blood from ethanol is played by the liver. With regular use of alcoholic beverages, this organ suffers first. The liver of a chronic alcoholic cannot cope with high loads, so acetaldehyde and other toxic substances gradually accumulate in the cells of the body. The result is severe alcohol poisoning. Toxins have a detrimental effect on all organs and tissues, disrupting the functioning of the heart, lungs, brain, and digestive system. Therefore, the first step in the treatment of alcohol dependence is detoxification of the body. nine0003

When alcohol detox is needed

When the toxic products of ethanol metabolism enter the brain, a person who abuses alcohol has the following symptoms:

  • Deterioration of brain activity. With regular drinking of alcohol, concentration and memory decrease, the patient cannot concentrate on performing elementary tasks.
  • Uncontrolled tremor of the hands and whole body.
  • Headache, nausea, vomiting. nine0010
  • Lethargy, fatigue.
  • Apathy, depression.
  • Increased body temperature, sharp jumps in blood pressure.
  • Rapid heartbeat.

In advanced cases, intoxication manifests itself in the form of visual hallucinations, confusion, outbursts of unmotivated aggression. Detoxification of the body after alcohol will help to quickly and “painlessly” bring a person to his senses.

How detoxification works

nine0002 Despite the fact that many clients of rehabilitation centers prefer to be treated at home, alcohol detoxification in a hospital is much more effective. During the procedure, the client is under the constant supervision of medical personnel who are able to promptly provide first aid if necessary.

Detoxification after binge involves intravenous infusion of drugs based on glucose or saline to restore the water and electrolyte balance in the dehydrated body of an alcoholic. Additionally, the following drugs are used:

  • Nootropics - to improve brain function.
  • Adsorbents that contribute to the rapid removal of alcohol from the body and the effective elimination of the effects of intoxication.
  • Vitamin supplements. B vitamins, magnesium and calcium, ascorbic acid help to normalize metabolic processes and improve blood composition.
  • Diuretics. The use of these drugs prevents the development of cerebral edema as a result of the infusion of large amounts of fluid. nine0010
  • Tablets for the restoration of the functions of the liver, the cardiovascular system.
  • Antidepressants, mild sedatives. They help to solve problems with sleep disturbance, eliminate depressive, anxiety states.

In severe alcohol poisoning, the doctor prescribes gastric lavage. The method of plasmaphoresis has proven itself well. The procedure involves the introduction to the patient of his own blood, purified from toxic components. Please note: this treatment is carried out only in the clinic. nine0003

If the client is unable or unwilling to undergo therapy in a hospital, outpatient detoxification after alcohol is an alternative. In this case, the patient can go home immediately after he returns to a sober state.

On average, the procedure lasts about two hours, but if the patient entered the rehabilitation center after a long binge, it may take several days. The method of cleansing the body and drugs are selected individually, taking into account the stage of dependence and the state of health of the alcoholic. Like any other medical procedure, detoxification has a number of contraindications. Therapy is not carried out if the patient has severe mental disorders or chronic diseases during an exacerbation. nine0003

Features of the detox procedure

Remember that detoxification is not a substitute for full treatment for alcohol dependence. To return a person to a sober life requires months of work with an experienced narcologist and psychotherapist. After cleansing the body, a person can start drinking alcohol again. However, without a preliminary detox, it is impossible to carry out further treatment, because in a state of intoxication, the patient is not capable of a constructive dialogue with a specialist.

Detoxification from alcohol on an outpatient basis and in a hospital in Moscow

Looking for a place to detox in Moscow - the Clinic for Narcology and Psychiatry is open at any time of the day. We guarantee each client 100% confidentiality, safety and effectiveness of the procedure. Experienced staff of our center are ready to help even at an advanced stage of the disease.

Detoxification at home (from alcohol, toxins, etc.)

Detoxification at home (from alcohol, toxins, etc.) - Neuron Medical and Diagnostic Center (Taganrog) nine0008
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  • Home detoxification (alcohol, toxins, etc.)

    • Detoxification at home (from alcohol, toxins, etc.)

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    Author: LDC Neuron
    Published: 10 November 2015
    nine0083

    If the body has undergone any kind of intoxication, it is necessary to help it. Do a detox. At the initial stage, this can and should be done on your own, at home.

    Stages of body detoxification at home

    • The first thing you need is water . Any poisoning of the body leads to dehydration. You need to drink as much water as possible. You can weakly brewed tea, mineral water without gas. Avoid carbonated drinks. The intake of water in the body should help to remove toxins naturally. nine0010
    • Juices from citrus fruits - grapefruit, lemon, orange, containing a large amount of vitamin C, will help the body to restore basic metabolic functions. If these are not available, beet juice can be used.
    • Rosehip syrup contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals, helps cleanse the blood and the body from various toxic substances. To remove toxins from the body, you can use infusions of herbs St. John's wort, wormwood, chamomile, dandelion .
    • Pay special attention to food. Eliminate fatty, fried, smoked foods. Include fruits, vegetables, herbs in your diet. Eat apples, pears, cucumbers, lettuce, parsley, cabbage . Be sure to include fresh tomatoes and tomato juice in your diet . It is the strongest natural antioxidant, able to remove toxic substances from the body.

    Detoxification for alcohol poisoning

    In case of alcohol poisoning, it is necessary to remove acetaldehyde from the body, it was formed as a result of the interaction of toxins and alcohol with liver enzymes. It is a poison that cannot be excreted by the body on its own.

    • A very effective remedy for the treatment of alcohol poisoning, milk with honey. With individual intolerance to milk, it should be excluded.
    • Take Aspirin, it blocks the breakdown products of alcohol and has an analgesic effect. Any drug in this group will do - aspirin-C, aspirin-upsa, alka-seltzer , preferably instant or in powder, for faster absorption.
    • In case of mild alcohol poisoning, the stomach should be washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate . After that, you need to induce vomiting. Use of artificial vomiting as a method of detoxification is not recommended. It is necessary to ensure that the liquid does not enter the respiratory system.
    • Be sure to use an absorbent or antidote. These include such well-known drugs as activated carbon, Polyphepan, Enterosgel, Polysorb.
    • To restore damaged liver cells and its natural functions, use the drug in capsules Essentiale-forte . During the period of detoxification, the use of hepatoprotective drugs is mandatory.