LOS ANGELES — Severe cramping and shaking, three weeks of vomiting — for addicts looking to kick the habit, enduring the body's painful response to withdrawal can be a major obstacle to getting clean.
But imagine a treatment that could painlessly wean you off of drugs in a few hours. It's called rapid detox, a controversial and expensive treatment that has advocates claiming a miracle cure for patients who have become addicted to painkillers, and critics concerned about the promises of a pricey quick-fix that might not hold over time.
For Larry Loyd, a California animal lover, four surgeries for a neurological disorder had left him with a 10-year addiction to painkillers. He took 40 Norcos — the equivalent of 80 Vicodin — a day, and could barely function or take care of his dozen pets.
"It's not a craving, you don't take it because you want to get high or anything like that," Loyd said. "No, when you're addicted, your body, you're physically addicted," he said.
Like many addicts, Loyd tried traditional rehab programs, but couldn't handle the weeks-long detox process. The violent shaking, cramping and vomiting would drive him back to the pills. | 
