People who have made the brave decision to end their cycle of substance abuse will likely start in a detoxification program. This first step in addiction treatment is so important for people who are ready to make a change.

At Summit at Harmony Oaks, our detox program offers medical supervision while the drugs and alcohol leave your system. Our program helps people manage difficult withdrawal symptoms of substance use disorders like opioid or alcohol addiction in a safe and controlled space. 

Learn more about our detox programs and how they can help you or a loved one, the detox process, and the rehab programs that follow.

What to Know About Drug and Alcohol Detox Programs

The first step in substance use disorder (SUD) programs is often a medically assisted detox. This step focuses on clearing out the toxins from your body in a careful and manageable way. Withdrawal symptoms for some substances, such as opioids and alcohol, can be severe.

When we have a client in our detox center at Summit at Harmony Oaks, our team of healthcare professionals monitors their vital signs around the clock. 

Our medical staff will also provide medications that can help with the side effects and prevent any complications. 

Our specialists will create a unique and specialized treatment plan to ensure your needs are covered. This personalized plan will be the foundation for your long-term treatment goals and help ensure you are stable and ready to continue drug and alcohol rehab.

Our substance abuse and mental health care programs are evidence-based, and our addiction specialists provide compassion and support to everyone enrolled.

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What Happens In Detox Programs at Harmony Oaks?

When you enter our detox program, you can expect support and care during this process. Our treatment facility provides 24/7 round-the-clock care and access to a nurse. 

Our medical professionals are ready to provide you with compassion and understanding as you heal your mind and body.

Assessment & Evaluation

You can expect a complete medical assessment when you first enter our rehab center. This helps our team better understand your current condition and drug and alcohol use history. 

We will also assess you for any mental health disorders and formulate a dual diagnosis plan if needed.

When we design your detox program, we consider many factors. For instance, adolescents and young adults have different needs than older adults. Remembering these needs ensures your personalized detox program is safe and effective.

It also gives you the best chance at having targeted treatment to encourage lasting addiction recovery.

Nursing Care

To ensure your safety, we provide access to medical care 24 hours a day, seven days a week at our recovery center. Throughout your detox, a member of our medical staff will supervise you.

They will monitor your vitals, including your blood pressure and heart rate. They will administer any medication that you need to assist with your withdrawal. If any complications arise, our medical team is prepared to act immediately.

Treatment of Withdrawal Symptoms

One of the reasons people put off rehab is the fear of the withdrawal symptoms. Sometimes, these symptoms can be severe, but medication is available to help. Medication can be used to reduce the intensity of cravings and side effects temporarily.

Also known as medication-assisted treatment, this phase helps you reach stabilization so you can move on from detox to substance abuse treatment.

Some of the commonly used medications to help with alcohol and opioid detox include buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. Any of our clients who are treated with these medications will be watched closely.

Designing of Treatment Program

Once you are nearly done with your detox, the next step is to design the rest of your treatment program. To do this, we will consider both your short-term and long-term recovery goals. 

Our team will decide whether an inpatient rehab or outpatient treatment program will best suit your needs.

At our addiction treatment center, we offer both residential treatment and outpatient rehab programs to meet our clients’ varying needs. Once you determine the right level of care, we can build a program with treatment services tailored to your recovery goals.

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What Are the Goals of Detoxification?

Each step of recovery has its own set of goals. The following are the goals of detoxification at Summit at Harmony Oaks:

  • Achieving sobriety from drugs and alcohol through medically assisted detox.
  • Using addiction education and medication-assisted treatment to reach long-term sobriety.
  • Setting you up with support groups and helping you create a support network to help make sobriety easier.
  • Helping you create new coping skills to reduce your risk of falling back into substance abuse.
  • Diagnosing co-occurring disorders, which is when a person has both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder.

Once these goals have been met, you will be ready to take the next step in your journey to lasting sobriety.

Detox Medications for Withdrawal

There are some medications that make the withdrawal process a little easier to go through. These medications make the side effects less painful and can take away the intensity of your cravings. Different medications are used to treat withdrawals from different substances. 

Summit at Harmony Oaks offers several medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help you work toward physical wellness in detox.

Buprenorphine (Suboxone)

Buprenorphine (Suboxone) was the very first medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). A doctor prescribes this medication to treat opioid and prescription opioid addictions.

Buprenorphine makes a person feel calmer while lowering the intensity of withdrawal side effects. It also lowers the risk of opioid overdose when taken correctly.

Naltrexone (Vivitrol)

Naltrexone is used to block the effects of withdrawal from opioids in people who have a history of opioid abuse. This medication comes as a shot that a medical practitioner can administer, but it also comes in pill form that needs to be prescribed by a doctor.

Naltrexone binds to and blocks the opioid receptors in order to suppress and reduce the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that come from ending the use of opioids.

Methadone

Methadone is a medication that treats opioid use disorder. It can also be used for pain management. Methadone is a long-lasting opioid agonist that blunts and dulls the side effects of quitting opioid drugs.

This medication is available in liquid, powder, and diskette forms. To be able to use methadone, you must be currently enrolled in an opioid treatment program. Methadone must be used under the supervision of a qualified methadone practitioner.

Substance Addictions That Need Detox

When a person becomes addicted to a substance, it can change the chemistry of their brain. This means that quitting can cause very uncomfortable or dangerous symptoms for them. 

The following are substances that need supervision to detox and their common withdrawal symptoms:

  • Alcohol can cause nausea, tremors, vomiting, high blood pressure, and a rapid heart rate.
  • Benzodiazepines can cause rapid heart rate, nausea, seizures, hallucinations, hard time sleeping, anxiety, and hand tremors.
  • Opioids can cause dilated pupils, a racing heart, muscle pain, goosebumps, a runny nose, diarrhea, insomnia, and nausea.
  • Stimulants can cause fatigue, depression, severe cravings, insomnia, and irritability. Stimulants are cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA.
  • Prescription drugs such as prescription pain relievers, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and gabapentin can cause anxiety, drowsiness, agitation, nausea, tremors, and sweating.
  • Synthetic drugs can produce withdrawal symptoms such as chills, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, diarrhea, muscle pain, and enlarged pupils.

Most Insurance Accepted

As a member of the Harmony Health Group family of treatment programs, we are able to work with many private insurance plans.

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How Long Does Detox Last at Harmony Oaks?

The timeline for detox depends on many different risk factors, including:

  • What substance was used: alcohol generally takes less time than benzodiazepines and opioids to become stabilized
  • A person’s history with the substance: long-term and frequent drug use or drug addiction can lengthen detox
  • The dosage amount: higher doses create higher tolerance, leading to more severe physical dependence
  • Your current health condition, including your overall well-being

Summit at Harmony Oaks estimates that most detox stays last between three and ten days. In order to reduce the risk of relapse, we will require you to stay onsite at our alcohol and drug rehab center for the length of your detox.

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Treatment Options Following Inpatient Detox

It is important to keep in mind that a medical detox is only the beginning of your journey to long-lasting recovery. 

After detox, clients have the option of entering the following behavioral health programs:

  • Residential or inpatient programs: In these programs, patients live and attend all classes and therapies onsite, which is very structured.
  • Partial hospitalization programs (PHP): These programs are very structured and more intensive than general outpatient therapy or support groups. These are “day programs” for people who cannot commit to inpatient treatment.
  • Intensive outpatient programs (IOP): These programs are more flexible for people who still need more care than support groups and weekly therapy but are less structured than PHP or inpatient programs.
  • Outpatient programs: General outpatient services provide support through group and individual therapy and meetings a few times a week.
  • Aftercare: Following detox and either inpatient or outpatient treatment, you will likely continue addiction recovery with ongoing therapy and counseling as needed.

Get Medical Supervision and Support During Detox

Contact Us

If you or someone you love are looking to end your toxic cycle of substance abuse, help is available when you are ready to make the journey to sobriety.

Summit at Harmony Oaks will care for your mental health with psychiatry and counseling, as well as your physical health through detox and formal treatment. When you are ready, call our offices today to learn more about our treatment options.

Begin your road to sobriety at our treatment center now. Call us today to get started.

Detox FAQs

How do you detox your body from drugs or alcohol?

It can be incredibly dangerous to quit some substances suddenly. It is safer to slowly quit or “taper” your use gradually and with medical assistance and supervision.

What helps in detoxification of drugs?

The best way to detox from drugs or alcohol is with the use of medication. These medications help treat the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol and drug abuse.

An accredited health care provider, like Summit at Harmony Oaks, must prescribe these medications.

How long do withdrawal symptoms last?

The length of time withdrawal symptoms will last depends on which substance you have taken. Some withdrawal symptoms can last days, weeks, and sometimes even months, depending on the severity.

What is the process of detoxification of drugs?

Detoxification is the clearing of drugs, alcohol, and other substances out of your system. Detox generally requires medical intervention to assist with withdrawal symptoms and prevent any complications. 

It also involves monitoring your symptoms, nutritional guidance, therapy, counseling, and more to get you to stabilization before moving on to a formal treatment program.

Sources

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Basics about prescription opioids.” Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/rx-awareness/information/index.html. Accessed on October 27, 2024.
  2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Buprenorphine.” Retrieved from: “https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/buprenorphine. Accessed on October 27, 2024.
  3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Naltrexone.” Retrieved from: https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/naltrexone. Accessed on October 27, 2024. 
  4. WebMD.”Addiction: What to know about detox.” Retrieved from: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/addiction-detox-what-to-know accessed on October 27, 2024.
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