Detoxification: FSA Eligibility

Substance abuse treatment and counseling for a chemical dependency can take on a variety of forms to suit the nature and severity of an individual's addiction. This can include treatment in an outpatient, residential or inpatient program, while others may be able to beat their addictions with individual, family or group counseling sessions. No one treatment plan will be the same for each person, but there are a series of important elements that remain consistent throughout this field (National Institute on Drug Abuse). One form of treatment is detoxification.

What is detoxification?

Detoxification is a set of interventions aimed at managing acute intoxication and withdrawal. It requires a person addicted to drugs or alcohol to clear the toxins from their body by abstaining from usage (National Center for Biotechnology Information). 

There are three essential components to detoxification as defined by the National Center for Biotechnology Information:

Evaluation: This step requires a person to be tested for substances in their system. It also screens a person’s mental, psychological and physical states to best determine a course of action.

Stabilization: This requires monitoring and help as a person goes through acute intoxication and withdrawal. The process is typically aided with medication to wean the person off of the substance they were abusing.

Fostering entry into treatment: This requires stressing the importance of entering a treatment rehabilitation program, and may involve a form of written consent for patients who have completed a detox program but have failed to enter treatment.