Recreational drug and alcohol use are not the only scenarios in which a person may become dependent on various substances. In many cases, medical patients with no prior history of substance abuse find themselves battling addiction after being prescribed painkillers or other medications to ease their recovery process. In other cases, dependence is not a factor, but rather, a patient may simply be looking for a way to gradually taper off their medications without causing significant health concerns.
In any of the above scenarios, medical outpatient detox with Priority You MD of Clearwater, Florida, can help you to safely and sustainably decrease your dependence on medications or other substances. Our physician-guided detox protocols are carefully designed to both ensure your safety throughout the program and the staying power of every intervention we provide. Take control of your wellness again with medical outpatient detox by Priority You MD.
What Exactly Is Medical Detox?
Simply put, medical detox programs refer to the medically supervised process of ridding the body of one or more potentially harmful and/or addictive substances. These substances include, but are not limited to the following:
- Prescription opioids
- Alcohol
- Heroin
- Benzodiazepines
Some substances are more likely than others to require medical detox, and every case is unique to some extent. In any case, medical detox is a crucial first step in helping patients fully and sustainably recover from dependence.
Programs can vary slightly in their structure and specific protocols, but the underlying goal is the same: to transition patients off of certain drugs and substances safely. Sometimes, this involves the use of additional medications, such as methadone (for opioids like Vicodin, OxyContin, etc.), Suboxone, and others. Ideally, as with our program at Priority You MD, the detox process is individualized both to the patient and the substance(s) that they are trying to wean themselves off of.
Medical Detox Benefits
While people often feel compelled to manage their own detoxification for various reasons, medical detox offers a range of benefits, applications, and advantages that are often more difficult to access on your own.
One of the greatest benefits is the ability to receive medication under the care of a physician. As mentioned, methadone and other medications are often used in detox programs. These can make a drastic difference in your detox experience by alleviating withdrawal symptoms like pain, cravings, anxiety, muscle spasms, nausea, and several others. For many patients, medication makes the difference between successful detoxification and relapse.
In addition to (or instead of) medication, clinical-grade solutions to dehydration, nausea, and other symptoms of withdrawal are also commonly available in medical detox programs. For example, an IV drip, hydrating drinks, and nutritional food options may be available, depending on the program.
Finally, an often overlooked component to successful detoxification is emotional support. Detoxification is often a distressing experience, especially when experiencing powerful withdrawal symptoms. Both outpatient and inpatient medical detox programs can help you through this challenging time with supportive, kind, and reassuring staff. In some cases, therapy services may also be available.
Similarities and Differences Between Outpatient and Inpatient Medical Detox Programs
As a general rule, inpatient medical detox programs are more intensive and restrictive than outpatient programs. However, this does not mean that outpatient programs can’t be as effective at both the detoxification and long-term recovery aspects. Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences of these program types.
Inpatient Detox Programs
After being admitted to an inpatient detoxification program, patients will remain in that controlled environment, including staying overnight, for a period of several days or weeks. During this time, patients typically have access to 24-hour medical care, which helps them to manage withdrawal symptoms, emotional needs, and other vital needs.
Because family support is an important component to recovery, patients will often be encouraged to have their family members and other loved ones visit them throughout their stay. Treatment is often administered by a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, counselors, and others, and medication is very frequently used to facilitate the detoxification process. Patients are monitored throughout their stay as the body rids itself of substances.
Outpatient Detox Programs
There are multiple levels of outpatient detox programs, some of which require more of a time commitment than others. For example, some programs will have patients visit the program facilities for five or six hours of treatment, five or more days a week. Others will require patients to visit for closer to three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week. These programs can be more practical, while still effective, for patients looking to balance their work schedules with the detoxification program.
In outpatient detoxification, patients receive many of the same services offered in inpatient programs, including medication, counseling and support, education, social connection, and more. This is typically a more affordable option than the around-the-clock care model associated with inpatient programs. However, in many cases, outpatient participants often stay in their programs for six months or longer to ensure a full recovery.
Who Is Medical Detox for?
Medical detox is for anyone dependent on alcohol or other substances. Oftentimes, people with no history of recreational drug use may not consider themselves candidates for medical detox after becoming dependent on prescription drugs, but this is by no means the case. Whether someone is a longtime recreational user or simply a medical patient (e.g., post-surgery, chronic back pain, etc.) looking to wean themselves off of prescription medications, medical detox has been proven to deliver lasting results.
Both inpatient and outpatient medical detox can also offer very powerful results for people who have tried to self-wean in the past with little success. For these patients who have personally experienced powerful and painful withdrawal symptoms, the prospect of trying again on their own can be frightening or even traumatic. But medical detox programs can provide medications that are otherwise inaccessible in the self-treatment scenario, potentially making the difference between success and failure.
Point being, if you are dependent on any substance, regardless of your history of substance abuse or lack thereof, there is no reason whatsoever to allow stigmas or misguided assumptions to prevent you from receiving the life-altering care that you need. Anyone battling addiction is welcome to join our medical outpatient detox program at Priority You MD, where they will be treated with compassion and respect by our caring staff.
How Long Does Medical Detox Take?
The answer varies considerably based on the patient’s condition, the program, financial considerations, and several other factors that are unique to each situation. Acute detox programs can last as little as one week in many cases. In others, it’s not uncommon for patients to participate in inpatient or outpatient medical detox programs for as long as one to three months. Finally, as mentioned above, some programs may last for six months or even a year. This is more feasible when the patient is able to continue working and/or engaging in their regular activities while continuing to report in for an outpatient program.
There is no “magic number” when it comes to program duration, and each patient responds to interventions differently. In some cases, patients check themselves out of rehab programs early because they feel they have completely recovered. Inpatient or outpatient, your condition and progress will be continually monitored, and your program may be tweaked (including duration) to best accommodate your recovery.
Inside the Medical Detox Process
Some outpatient medical detox programs are more streamlined, while others are more comprehensive. In any case, there are three major pillars to the process that virtually all programs rely on: evaluation, stabilization, and support.
As with any other treatment or program, when a patient first reports to outpatient medical detox, they are evaluated. In an evaluation appointment with our own Dr. Agin, your physical and psychological condition will be comprehensively evaluated, along with your history of substance use (if any) and other important details. The purpose of this appointment is to get an accurate sense of your condition, mindset, and goals in order to inform a safe and effective treatment approach.
Next, as the program is implemented, you are stabilized. This is the detoxification component; the part of the treatment that oversees the ridding of substances from your body. During this time, you are provided with everything you need, including medications, counseling, and other services, to endure the withdrawal and recovery process as comfortably and safely as possible.
Arguably more important than even the detoxification component itself is the final step: support. Regardless of their physical condition, if a patient leaves a program without being equipped with the tools they need to continue in their recovery while preventing relapse, then there is a high chance that they will in fact relapse. This is why our program at Priority You MD also focuses on approaching the psychological, social, and other determinants to substance abuse.
How Medical Detox Is Personalized to Each Patient
Priority You MD tailors treatment to each patient according to a range of factors, among which the type of substance that the patient is dependent on ranks very highly. Alcohol withdrawal, for example, is fundamentally different from prescription opiate withdrawal. Medications, counseling, and several other aspects of treatment are affected by this distinction.
Another factor that can significantly affect your care is your relationship with said substance(s), psychologically speaking. For example, a person with no other history of substance abuse who became dependent on prescription painkillers after a surgery may have very different motivations, perceptions, and behaviors surrounding their dependence than a person who has been abusing multiple substances recreationally for decades.
More Medical Detox FAQ
How Do I Know If I Need Medical Detox?
While each situation is unique in how profoundly substance abuse affects physical wellbeing, social functioning, and other aspects of life, there is one highly reliable indicator that anyone can use to determine whether or not medical detox may be an effective treatment: withdrawal symptoms. If, when temporarily ceasing use of the substance(s) in question, a person experiences even mild withdrawal symptoms like fatigue and/or sweating, this is a fairly strong indication that medical detox may be necessary.
Can’t I Just Detox On My Own?
While we understand that first-time patients especially may be hesitant to enter an outpatient medical detox program, the chances of relapsing while trying to manage withdrawal symptoms on your own are much, much higher in the self-care scenario. The structuring and support of medical detox programs creates a system of accountability, alongside a much more tolerable medically assisted withdrawal period, that greatly increases your chances of success.
How Can I Prepare for Outpatient Detox?
Dr. Agin and the rest of our kind and well-trained staff will provide you with personalized instructions prior to entering our outpatient medical detox program. As a general rule, patients are encouraged to inform loved ones and employers that they will be entering a program, including making all necessary childcare and other arrangements. We are here to answer any other questions you have relating to preparing for your outpatient medical detox program.
Choose Priority You MD for Compassionate and Effective Detox Care
Many people want to stop using multiple prescription medications due to the horrible side effects and symptoms or even other substances, but do not have a doctor who can help guide them safely off of the prescription or non-prescription substance. Dr. Agin can help patients safely detox or switch to a more natural treatment approach. A medical appointment is required to determine candidacy. Contact us to schedule your consultation.
