More than 3.3 million people identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, comprising 1.3% of the entire country. Yet for many within such a vibrant and resilient community, substance abuse sadly remains a prevalent problem.
Alcohol and substance abuse and mortality rates often remain higher than in white and Latino demographics, where nearly one in four Native Americans suffer from substance use disorders and experience alcohol-related deaths five times higher than the general U.S. population. The reasons surrounding these numbers are commonly connected among indigenous communities. Drinking and drug use become ways to cope with generational trauma, historical injustices, imposed tribal relocation, poverty and systemic discrimination that still exists in 2025.
Help for substance abuse becomes a path of reclamation for the self, one’s spirit and sobriety together, where alcohol or drugs is no longer a crutch to manage emotional pain. An initial step begins with detox, the process of clearing drugs or alcohol from the body.
Myths and misconceptions still exist about what medical detox at a treatment center actually involves. Read on to learn more and get the facts.
What Is Medical Detox?
Medical detoxification, or detox for short, is the first phase of entering rehab. Addiction to alcohol or drugs means that the body and brain have become so dependent on them that stopping use can trigger withdrawal symptoms, physical reactions that can range from mildly uncomfortable to dangerous in certain situations.
Medically-assisted detox in a safe environment ensures that you can flush out substances from the system, begin to move past physical dependency before moving onto the next stages of addiction treatment.
How Does Medical Detoxification Work?
The detox process follows a carefully planned trajectory:
- Evaluation: The clinical team learns the details of why you’ve entered rehab. For example, for an alcohol use disorder, they’ll know what withdrawal symptoms to expect and which medications to administer, along with an assessment to get a better understanding of your physical and mental health.
- Cessation: This step marks the point you stop using a substance for it to clear from your system.
- Symptom management: As your body adjusts, you’ll experience withdrawal, and this step focuses entirely on helping you through it. The care team works to ease your symptoms and make you more comfortable, possibly using supports like IV fluids or specific medications.
- Monitoring: Your vital signs — like heart rate, blood pressure and respiration — are tracked and watched to make sure you remain stable and any issues that arise can be addressed.
- Tapering: As detox comes to an end, any medications you might be administered are slowly, gradually tapered off to let your body readjust.
- Conclusion: The last step of medical detox is the start of the next segment of treatment. When the body is cleared of an addictive substance, you regain the mental clarity and physical fortitude to enter talk therapy; however, the care team is on hand in case any lingering effects of drugs or alcohol remain.
Alcohol Detox Services
It’s not uncommon for some people to try and quit drinking cold turkey without any help, but statistics show that only one-fourth stay sober for more than a year. Stopping suddenly can cause serious shock and strain to the body, including seizures and severe strain on the heart, leading some people to keep drinking just to avoid those symptoms. Alcohol detox helps to safely end an unsafe relationship with alcohol because a medical team is alongside you 24/7 to mitigate and manage any withdrawal symptoms that may arise, like anxiety or tremors, administering medications when needed.
Drug Detox Services
Likewise, drug use disorders can carry their own unique withdrawal symptoms that can differ based on the type of substance — whether it’s opioids, methamphetamines or other stimulants or depressants — and each person’s own physical and mental makeup. Each substance has a different hold. Drug detox is tailored with these factors in mind, so any challenging withdrawal signs, cravings and physical and emotional pain are controlled and eased.
What To Expect During Medical Detox?
Entering rehab is a brave step to taking accountability for your sobriety, so it’s natural to be nervous about what to expect when starting medical detox. Here’s what’s often involved:
Medically-Monitored Detox Services
Addiction is a disease that makes tangible, real changes in the brain and body. Because many substances cause one to become physically dependent on them (when alcohol and drugs are needed to function), quitting outright with no medical assistance can make relapsing a real inevitability. By medically monitoring in a controlled environment, your vital signs are kept stable and side effects are kept to a minimum, since tremors, nausea, heart palpitations, anxiety and seizures are possible symptoms. And if any medical intervention is needed, a doctor or nurse on duty is right there to help.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Services During Detox
During detox, medication can be a helpful and powerful tool. Withdrawal symptoms can create new issues that can make detoxing more difficult and interfere with entering counseling. For instance, some medications serve multiple functions, like buprenorphine, a prescription drug that can ease withdrawal symptoms of opioid use disorder but also reduce cravings to prevent relapse. Or naltrexone, which does double duty as a medication to treat opioid or alcohol use disorders. Depending on the severity of one’s disorder, MAT treatment may continue after detox and during therapy under a psychiatrist’s supervision.
Intensive Therapy Services During Medical Detox
Remaining hooked or addicted to a substance can compromise therapy, so medical detox must finish fully before proper treatment can begin. Treatment usually comprises a combination of talk therapies, where you’ll sit in a safe, non-judgmental space with a therapist who aims to know you better and, in turn, help you explore the underlying causes of your addiction. What are the drivers and the root reasons for turning to drugs and alcohol, and how can changing your mindset propel you to more positive, sober actions in life? Approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are just one example of a therapy you might be involved in.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment During Detox
Sometimes, substance abuse is often intertwined with mental health challenges like depression or anxiety. These co-occurring disorders are cyclical — an addiction may begin first and create mental health issues, and vice versa, where a mental health condition may drive someone to start drinking or using drugs to cope. A dual diagnosis is when both overlapping conditions are diagnosed and treated at the same time, not separately. During detox, psychiatric medication management plays an integral role, since aiding symptoms of a co-occurring disorder can help wean off a substance while facilitating improvement in mental health to ready you for therapy.
When Does Someone Need Medical Detox?
Medical detox is a must if you’ve become dependent on an addictive substance. Even if that dependency is relatively mild, detox is necessary to make a clean break from substances before an addiction becomes worse. And from start to finish, it’s carried out under the caring, compassionate watch of medical and addiction staff you can place your trust in.
Is Medical Detox the Right Program for Me or My Loved One?
If you’ve noticed an increase in drug use or drinking in yourself or a loved one, ask yourself some honest questions:
- Are you using substances to excess to escape troubles you’re afraid to face sober?
- Do you start to go through withdrawal when you stop using at any point, like shaking, nausea or anxiety?
- Have you attempted going cold turkey but found withdrawal was too unmanageable?
- Has substance use begun to get in the way of work, school, home life or community engagement?
- Have drugs or alcohol become a crutch to lean on when life becomes stressful?
- Do you need to use more of a substance to get the same effect as when you started using it?
- Have you recognized the damage that drugs and alcohol do but continue to use them despite the negative consequences?
If you can honestly answer yes to any of these questions, rehab may be smart choice for yourself or a family member dealing with substance abuse, where detox begins the journey.
Speaking to a Loved One About Medical Detox
It can be difficult to feel like you’re sitting idly by watching a family member or friend struggle with substance abuse. And it’s not easy to have a conversation with them about their drinking or drug use without feeling like overstepping a boundary or burning a bridge.
The kindest course of action that keeps their health and best interests at heart is to approach them — and broach the subject — with care and compassion. Choose a calm, private moment to talk. Don’t ambush or confront. Speak from the heart using “I” statements, such as “I’m worried about your health,” rather than assigning blame or judging them. Focus on your love and concern for them and their well-being, and make known your belief in their strength to heal.
Most importantly, let them know that they have your support and that you’ll be there to lean on every step of the way. Offer to help them look at potential rehab centers that might be a good fit and help them make the call. Addiction can become an isolating experience and sometimes, knowing they’re not alone in the ordeal is all it takes.
What Happens After Detox?
The end of medical detox means your body has been flushed of any remnants of alcohol or drugs, your withdrawal symptoms have largely subsided, and you’ve reached a place of physical stability and mental clarity to start therapy, strong and clear-headed. It also means you can take one of several different treatment paths.
Residential Treatment
After detox, many people move into residential care. Also called inpatient treatment, it asks you to live on-site in a rehab facility for treatment, where you’ll have your own room and accommodations, meals are served and extracurricular activities are available. Residential treatment is best for people with severe or crippling addictions who need 24/7 care if they can’t function on their own or are at risk of relapsing. Round-the-clock care, daily therapy and a safe, caring environment are the defining surroundings as you can devote your time fully to getting clean and sober.
Outpatient Treatment
Many people transition to an outpatient program once they’ve reached a certain level of recovery in inpatient, enabling them to attend therapy during the day and return home each night. For others, outpatient treatment is a good fit when substance abuse issues are milder and haven’t greatly interfered with day-to-day living, or when one’s risk of relapse is minimal. The flexibility of outpatient offers the best of both worlds, where both treatment and your home, school or work obligations receive equal weight.
Aftercare and Sober Living
Formal treatment may eventually come to an end, but like any lifestyle change, maintaining your recovery must be a lifelong effort. One of the best parts about making an investment in rehab and medical detox is that your treatment provider makes an investment in you. As rehab comes to a close, you’ll have the chance to get connected with various aftercare programs, like 12-Step support groups (Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous, for example) and sober living and transitional housing to help reintegrate back into daily life. The Everlight Native American program also provides resources for families of people in recovery. Your counselor and case manager at the rehab center can provide you with the info.
FAQ About Medical Detox
A detox center is a healthcare facility — either a standalone clinic or part of a larger rehab center — where you can go to safely withdraw from drugs or alcohol.
Yes, medical detox would be considered a type of residential, inpatient care because it requires you to remain at the facility and be medically monitored, especially during the acute withdrawal phase when symptoms may be at their most severe.
Your detox timeline can depend on a number of factors, like the type of substance used, the severity of dependency, the length of time used, your age, gender, medical history and more. In general, the detox phase of rehab takes anywhere from a few days to a week or longer depending on one’s individual circumstances.
The term “detox” specifically refers to withdrawing from a dependency on an addictive substance and doesn’t generally apply to mental health. But in the case of a co-occurring disorder, where an addiction and mental health disorder overlap, medications (such as anti-anxiety benzodiazepines) can be administered to assuage symptoms of anxiety, depression or other accompanying signs of substance withdrawal.
Detox sets up a “clean slate” for recovery. By clearing drugs or alcohol from the system and letting withdrawal symptoms subside, it makes beginning treatment easier without the presence of withdrawal that can diminish your focus, concentration and mental and physical health. It’s a safe environment where professionals trained in addiction treatment can guide you through the process, give medication as needed and avert any potentially dangerous complications before moving onto the next phase of recovery.
What Are the Benefits of Medical Detox?
- Safety: Medically-supervised care is in place to manage, mitigate and prevent withdrawal complications.
- Support and stability: Round-the-clock, 24/7 means addressing and intervening in issues if and when they arise in the moment.
- Comfort: Your stay in medical detox is designed to be as comfortable and relaxing as possible, to put yourself at ease without discomfort, pain or distress.
- Cultural competency and inclusiveness: To ensure authentic recovery, we prioritize the integration of cultural traditions and believe that incorporating Native American ceremonies, practices and crafts is vital for honoring tradition in the pursuit of sobriety.
But more importantly, detox sets up a foundation for recovery — a transition, a jumping-off point for therapy that follows. Knowing that you’ve taken the steps to successfully rid yourself of a substance that may have been an adverse part of your life for months, even years, is an accomplishment unto itself, giving you the confidence to see treatment through to the end.
How Much Does Medical Detox Cost?
According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), the average cost of drug rehab per person — which includes drug detox and alcohol detox — is $13,475. The NCDAS notes additionally that:
- The cost for the cheapest medical detox programs is $1,750
- $6,000 for the most affordable inpatient rehab
- $5,000 for a 3-month outpatient program
Cost is a concern for most people on fixed or low incomes, but remember that financial assistance and insurance options are always available and make treatment an accessibility, not something unreachable.
Does Insurance Cover Medical Detox?
Yes, most private and state insurance plans provide a degree of coverage for medical detox and addiction rehab. At Everlight, we work with Shasta Insurance, the Healthcare Management Administration (HMA) and Indian Health Services (IHS), and our admissions team collaborates with various insurance providers to verify your benefits and ensure your entry into our Native American program. And if your insurance is out of network, we advocate on your behalf.
Can I Go to Medical Detox Without Insurance?
Yes, but we believe that finances should never be a barrier to life-saving care. If you have any remaining out-of-pocket obligations after insurance coverage has been verified, we offer various self-payment options and can work with you to find a viable solution.
Medical Detox at Everlight Native Americans
The medical detox program at Everlight Native Americans is designed specifically for Native communities. It’s the combination of a compassionate continuum of care with cultural respect that led us to form our Native American program to address the physical, emotional and mental realities of addiction and the many places they can stem from. Substance abuse treatment is integrative, meaning that in addition to detox, we include counseling, medication and other supportive services for you and loved ones that honor yourself, your identity and tradition.
Medical Detox Centers Near Me
Making the decision to enter rehab is the most courageous part of the recovery journey because it means you’re taking responsibility for your health and your well-being — a sign of care for you and those around you. Everlight runs rehab and medical detoxification centers in eight states across the U.S., each one committed to seeing your goal of recovery come true.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol withdrawal and addiction, opioid addiction and withdrawal, or other types of addiction, know that help is available. At our treatment center, we offer drug and alcohol detox designed to safely manage symptoms of withdrawal—including severe cases like delirium tremens—with medically assisted detox. Our team can provide medications to ease withdrawal processes, stabilize your health, and prepare you for long-term treatment.
If you or a loved one struggles with substance dependence, you’re not alone. Help is here. Our admissions team is available 24/7 to answer your questions about treatment programs, verify your insurance and guide you through the steps. Call us today or fill out our confidential contact form to get started at our behavioral health center.