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Washington residents have problems with alcohol and drug abuse similar to other parts of the country. In 2014, the most commonly abused substances sending residents into treatment included alcohol with a secondary drug, heroin addiction, marijuana addiction, and amphetamines. While these substances are very different in their effect on the user, addiction to these drugs can be overcome with the help of a Washington drug rehab program. In fact, Washington drug rehab programs enrolled 35,216 individuals in addiction treatment during 2014.

For the majority of these recovering clients, the first step of rehabilitation is detox. This is the initial process to rid the client's body of any remaining substances and help them manage symptoms of withdrawal. Detoxification is a crucial time for recovering addicts because it is usually the most dreaded part of the recovery process. When a person has abused drugs or alcohol for an extended period of time it can be difficult to envision living life clean. Many clients who are physically dependent on their drug of choice have suffered from withdrawal symptoms at one point or another. This leaves them keenly aware of how potentially painful their detox process may feel.

However, going through detoxification in a professional setting is much different than doing it cold turkey on one's own. The program will have medical personal to help with managing the most severe symptoms of withdrawal while ensuring the person's safety and comfort during the process. Most detox programs utilize prescription medications during this phase of treatment to help their clients gradually and safely come off the substance they are dependent on while regaining control over their newly developing sobriety.

When it comes to how long the detox process will last, that depends on the individual and their drug of choice. Some substances such as prescription opioids and heroin will require a longer detox process, while other drugs like marijuana and cocaine usually don't take longer than a few days to get past physical symptoms of withdrawal; if they even experience any physical withdrawal symptoms at all. Once detox is complete, the program participant is ready to move forward in their rehabilitation program.