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Medical Detox for Opiate Addiction: Understanding Your Options

What is an Opiate Medical Detox?

Medical detoxification is a general term for procedures designed to help a person get through withdrawal from opiates. In other words, the detox is medically controlled and involves a withdrawal supervised by a physician or other medical experts. It could be a rapid medical detox, in which specific medications are used to clear opiates from brain receptors. Additionally, a rapid medical detox allows a person to undergo the withdrawal process within a few hours, using the assistance of anesthesia to keep patients comfortable.

Medical detox could also involve medication-assisted withdrawal. In this case, withdrawal symptoms are carefully managed by the treating physician. This is an excellent choice for older individuals or people with particular health problems, as the natural withdrawal process can be difficult or even dangerous to tolerate.

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Opiate Addiction Treatment

Opiate addiction affects millions of Americans, making it important for people to access treatments that work. Medical opiate detox is a safe, effective procedure to help people overcome opiate addiction. This medically controlled drug withdrawal process places patients on the road to a successful recovery.

The most important factor when choosing medical detox is to find a facility that uses an individualized assessment to determine a treatment protocol. Some detox facilities use a “one size fits all” approach in which everyone who walks through the door gets the same medical detox protocol. This can be dangerous, as it does not account for unique differences between patients. Instead, a safe medical detox program will begin with a thorough medical assessment. This may include consultation with other medical specialists, so the procedure needs to occur in a full-service hospital. Only after carefully assessing a person’s health should a medical detox provider create a treatment protocol.

Opioid Detox Medications

The specific medications and dosages used during medical detox depend on the patient. These may include medications to clear opiates from receptor sites in the brain, pain management medications, or other medications to support health during the medically supervised withdrawal process. Only after assessing your unique physical background and medical needs should a physician decide on drugs that will keep you safe and comfortable during medical detoxification.

How Long does an Opioid Medical Detox Take?

Medical detoxification procedures are best when they take place in an inpatient unit in a full-service hospital. Some rapid detox programs are in surgery centers where patients cannot usually stay for more than 24 hours. Furthermore, discharging patients to a hotel room or before they have fully stabilized can be detrimental to the recovery process. Detox providers need to take an individualized and flexible approach to treatment and post-detox recovery. More importantly, the treatment protocol should meet each specific case, and not facility restrains.

The specific length of stay depends on a patient’s medical history. There cannot be a pre-determined treatment plan. Instead, medical detox is a flexible process in which an inpatient length of stay may change, or medications may be adjusted based on a patient’s needs. Patients respond differently to detoxification based on age, dependence history, physical status, emotional state, and other personal factors. Thus, it is important to have supportive medical providers on hand and extend a patient’s stay based on the body’s needs.

How to Choose the Best Medical Detox?

To ensure safety and good results, it is important to find a qualified provider. For best results, ask the following questions:
  • Is there a “one size fits all” medical protocol for all patients regardless of age, physical health, or dosage needs?
  • What changes will be made within the same facility if a patient reacts differently to the withdrawal than expected? Will they stay at the facility or be transferred elsewhere for others to care for them?
  • What are the credentials of the treating doctor?
  • What is the treating doctor’s experience with medical drug detox?
  • Is the facility accredited?
  • Are there additional medical specialists available if needed?
  • What percentage of people who start a medical detox actually completes it?
  • What is the estimated time required for the medical detox? Can that time be extended if needed?
  • Will the patient leave the medical detox opiate free or just switched to a replacement drug?
  • Is there a private room, or do patients share space with strangers?
  • Do experienced professionals give the post-care inpatient, or is the stabilization period handled by a family member?
  • Are there any restrictions on watching television, smoking, making telephone calls, eating meals, or Internet access?
  • What are the comments of former patients about their experiences at the facility?

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Waismann Detox™ Difference

Each patient is unique, with a different history and profile. At the Waismann Method Medical Detox Center, we incorporate the most advanced medical procedures with the country’s top detox physicians. We create individualized detox programs based on each person’s specific needs. Our patients receive private rooms, where all attention and care are undivided. We prioritize safety, privacy, and the dignity of each patient. The most successful medical detox procedures result from treating the patients, not just their symptoms.

Our quadruple board-certified medical director has successfully performed rapid detox and other medical detoxification forms for thousands of patients in almost two decades. We receive patients from all over the world into their private rooms at our full service accredited hospital in Southern California.

Waismann Method® is found “exclusively”  in So. California and has been considered the premier opiate medical detox in the world. Additionally, we utilize the most successful and advanced techniques available to treat opiate dependence. Our patients experience the highest level of professionalism, dignity, and respect.

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