If a person is receiving outpatient detox they travel to the center helping them with their detox every day or at least five days a week in most situations. Outpatient detoxification services are either done in the daytime or evening, which makes it perfect for someone who needs to keep a normal school or work routine. Some programs also provide options to participate in detox treatment in a choice of regular outpatient or outpatient day treatment, to improve detoxification services and help prevent a relapse.
A standard time clients remain in outpatient detox is about seven days. Some facilities use medically assisted detoxification methods while others provide medication free detoxification treatement. There are times when medications are needed to prevent deadly withdrawal problems, like with alcohol and benzodiazepine medications where seizures are at times a problem. Otherwise, staff at the facility help individuals manage their emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms of cravings and withdrawal until they are safely detoxified and stabilized.
While outpatient detoxification in Art is more flexible for obvious reasons, a serious disadvantage is that people are at a higher chance of falling back into addiction due to the access they maintain to drugs. Ideally, people will then go into a comprehensive treatment facility to address the reasons for their addiction once outpatient or inpatient detoxification is finished.