detoxification
n. a therapeutic procedure, popularly known as detox, that reduces or eliminates toxic substances (e.g., alcohol, opioids) in the body. The procedure may be metabolic (by converting the toxic substance to a less harmful agent that is more easily excreted), or it may require induced vomiting, gastric lavage (washing), or dialysis, depending upon the nature of the poison and other factors. In many cases, detoxification occurs in a clinic, hospital unit, or residential rehabilitation center devoted to treating individuals for the toxic effects of alcohol or drug overdose and to managing their acute withdrawal symptoms; these facilities may also provide professional- or peer-run social support during the detox process (known as social setting detoxification). In the absence of this type of assistance, an individual who actively tries to manage his or her own withdrawal from a substance is said to be engaged in self-detoxification.