detoxification

detoxification definition - medical

de·tox·i·fi·ca·tion (dē-tŏkˌsə-fĭ-kāˈshən)

noun
  1. The process of detoxifying.
  2. The state or condition of being detoxified.
  3. The metabolic process by which the toxic qualities of a poison or toxin are reduced by the body.
  4. A medically supervised treatment program for alcohol or drug addiction designed to purge the body of intoxicating or addictive substances and used as a first step in overcoming physiological or psychological addiction.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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