Detoxification

Does the thought of going into a medical center or treatment facility for detoxification bring about unease or fear? Or have you tried to self-manage your own, or loved one’s detox, only to find it was too difficult and dangerous? Maybe you have a loved one who simply refuses to enter a treatment center due to professional responsibilities, parenting responsibilities or for anonymity reasons. If any of these sound familiar, we may have the option you have been looking for.

Our Private Residence Detox Program is designed to replicate the same, and often times increased, level of medical services found in a residential or inpatient treatment facility; while providing those services in the comfort of your own home. For those who live out of our geographic region, we can also deliver these services at one of our local resorts or within one of our beautiful private rental residences.

FAQ’s

Q: WHAT IS DETOX?

A: The word Detoxify has its origins in the words de– (prefix expressing removal) and the Latin word toxicum or “poison.” Hence, the removal of poison in any form is called detoxify or detoxification, and this generic use of the word has led to some confusion amongst everyday consumers who are able to purchase a plethora of “detox” remedies at any supermarket, smoke shop and even health food stores. There are no over-the-counter medications or supplements which can safely address the withdrawal symptoms resulting from the discontinuation of most addictive substances. You should always consult with a physician before attempting to detox yourself. Drugs and alcohol work by changing the chemical makeup of your body, creating an unbalanced system which causes the body to make adjustments to balance out these changes. When the substance is no longer introduced, the body finds itself severely compromised and often cannot readjust quickly enough. This is best understood with the concept of tolerance, or needing to take more of the same substance to achieve the desired effect. The body becomes accustomed to the substance through adjusting chemicals and neurotransmitter functionality.

The process of detoxifying your body from most mind-altering substances is physically demanding and can often lead to serious health problems, or even death. If you are physically dependent on drugs or alcohol, you should seek medical attention prior to attempting to manage the process at home or in a non-medically monitored setting.

It’s not the detox which is dangerous, but the withdrawal symptoms, and the acute withdrawal symptoms which make some people feel physically and emotionally assaulted.  There are certain classes of pharmaceuticals and chemical compounds which are much more dangerous than others. Benzodiazepines and alcohol are very difficult to detox from and such efforts to quit should never be attempted without medical supervision. The withdrawal from this class of drug can lead to death. They often produce psychosis in otherwise mentally stable persons and quite often lead to seizure activity which can result in permanent brain damage and/or death.

Q: WHAT ARE MY DETOXIFICATION OPTIONS?

A: There are several ways a person can detox, which include:

• inpatient medical facility
• medically managed detox at home
• residential clinically managed detox facility
• outpatient detox
• self-managed detox at home

These options are listed in ascending order from the most intensive and medically monitored down to the ill-advised self-management system.

• Inpatient Medical Facility: if you are in need of this level of care, there are no other safe alternatives. These facilities are staffed 24 hours with nurses and physicians, and they must have life-support equipment along with radiology, surgical, and intensive care capabilities. The only facilitates able to provide such care are licensed hospitals. These services are typically reserved for those individuals who have a co-occurring medical condition which would be exacerbated by the detox process. A history of seizures, liver damage, kidney failure, and many other factors such as age are taken into account by your physician when making a recommendation to this level of care.
• Residential, Clinically Managed Detox (Withdrawal Management): This level of service is provided within substance use disorder treatment facilities. The client would stay within the facility 24 hours each day for a detox lasting between five and twenty days. In most geographic regions (based on state regulations), there would be a physician or physician’s assistant who will see the patient soon after admission and would order the medications to help with the withdrawal symptoms. The staff onsite over a 24-hour period may or may not have a medical license or any advanced training in emergency medical response. This option is appropriate for people being treated for stimulants or minimal levels of opiates, benzodiazepines or alcohol. It is recommended that you consult with your primary care physician prior to making this choice.
• Outpatient detox is typically not recommended, because in most cases, the chances of returning to the substance of choice is quite high. As the cravings intensify, most people return to their substance of choice in order to relieve the extreme discomfort that comes along with these urges. In the system we designed, we take the benefits of each system, and came up with a safe alternative to the residential and inpatient stays. This option also leaves large gaps between medical visits and any complications which arise and may go unnoticed until there are serious life-threatening consequences. If your preferred substance is opiates (heroin, opium, morphine and codeine, etc.), opioids (Demerol, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Methadone, Percodan, Percocet, etc…) or benzodiazepines (klonopin, Xanax, Valium, etc..), this alternative should be utilized only after considerable thought to the possible consequences of returning to active use during mid or late stage detox; which include increased risk of seizure activity and death from overdose.
• Self-managed at home detox: this option can take several forms, including self-directed and physician-directed. If your drug of choice is alcohol, benzodiazepines, opiates, or opioids, we recommend you get a second opinion before following a physician recommendation which simply requires filling a prescription and going home with a follow-up visit scheduled in the future. Many physicians simply have not been educated on the disease of addiction. With most doctors having an average education which consisted of approximately 1 hour spent on addiction, the question should be asked by the patient prior to following such recommendations.
• Our System is not meant to serve a group of people falling somewhere within a specified level of care. We are able to provide individualized care based on individual needs, and incorporate the needed support to make real-time adjustments as the detox progresses. Along with the medical support, we incorporate therapeutic support to help you make it through the periods of depression, anxiety, shame, and other mental and emotional ups and downs which are to be expected during the detox process. Our providers and staff are all experienced in addiction studies within the respective disciplines, while the entire detox process is managed by a physician who is Board Certified in addiction medicine. Our program is often viewed as an attractive option for professionals and other people who value anonymity or are unable to leave their place of residence for a host of different reasons.

Depending on your needs, we will design the services to best meet those necessities. Whether it is 24 hour nursing care with daily MD visits, or you simply need pharmacological support with daily check-ins and clinical support, we have the program that meets you where you are.

Q: WHICH DETOX PROGRAM IS RIGHT FOR ME?

A: Through a comprehensive medical evaluation, we will determine which program will work for you. We look at current and past use, health, history of seizures and psychosis, psychological functioning, family history, and many more factors which will provide us with a full picture to analyze risk. The initial assessment can be completed by telephone interview and an in-person assessment will take place following the phone interview. A treatment plan will be developed and presented to the patient with all the required services listed. It is then decided by both the patient and the doctor whether or not to proceed with our services.

Q: HOW MUCH DOES DETOX COST?

A:   While a detox program can be a costly part of the treatment process, it could save your life, and that is priceless.  Think about all the money you’ve spent on drugs and/or alcohol and any costs incurred as they relate to your addiction.  Some of the services we provide during our 24/7 private detox care process include a sober companion, lab studies, medication, in-home nursing and an attending physician.

Our services are fully dependent on the level of care required and ancillary services requested.  Our services are competitively priced with other at-home medical service providers and similar to the costs of many other detox providers. Please call for a private and confidential consultation today.