Treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol begins with a detoxification program. Detox takes place first in order to allow the individual to release all the toxins built up in their systems from drug and alcohol abuse. This process further allows the body to begin to heal, and the mind to be able to focus on the hard work of recovery.
Historically, medically-monitored detox centers such as ours in Nashville offer clients a way to reduce or eliminate the unpleasant side effects that accompany withdrawal from substance use. In addition, people who undergo a medically supervised or medically-assisted detox are more likely to complete the process and stay in recovery. With insurance like Cigna and UHC, those who quality can get quality care with coverage.
What is a Medically-Monitored Detox?
Detoxification, or detox, is the first step to ending an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Detox should not be attempted alone because of the danger of potential withdrawal symptoms. A medically-monitored detox takes place under the constant supervision of medical professionals in order to keep the individual safe. This type of detox may take place in a hospital, another medical office, or a facility that specifically treats substance use disorders.
The goal of a medically-monitored detox is to safely supervise a person throughout their detox process. Medical and psychological professionals will provide assessments, recommendations for care directives, and any needed medications. This process removes the risks commonly associated with a person attempting to detox on their own. Modern approaches and FDA-approved medications make the experience of detoxing under medical supervision easier than trying it without professional help.
What Happens During a Medically-Monitored Detox in Nashville?
Medical personnel evaluates a person entering a medically-monitored detox program. First, they will determine the extent of the person’s addiction, and any possible risks that may develop during detox. Then, the clinicians will determine a plan for the detox process and monitor the person throughout it. After this, the team will look for signs of withdrawal symptoms during detox, and offer any appropriate relief. Medication options provided to the individual can reduce or eliminate any physical, psychological, or emotional withdrawal symptoms.
The clinicians will then determine when the detox process is complete. They can further advise on any medications the person might need to continue to use in order to ease withdrawal symptoms that last past the initial detox phase. In addition, they can also help the person plan for their next step in treatment in order to ensure they continue to work on their recovery after detox.
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Detox Nashville is a premier leader in the provision of addiction treatment services. If you or someone you love is in need of professional care to address a substance use disorder, reach out to us right now at (615) 845-4747 to speak with an admissions specialist who can get you started on the road to recovery.
What Do Medical Detox Centers Do?
Medical detox refers to a type of treatment program that supervises a person as they go through the detoxification process. This type of detox helps people complete an otherwise difficult process, and increase their chances of staying sober. Thus, medical detox centers provide patients with hands-on care and the professional support they need to complete the detox process.
Consequently, detoxing alone can be dangerous or even deadly. Moreover, if someone does not have options for medication to assist in coping with withdrawal symptoms, they may struggle unnecessarily. They can struggle even if they have entered a facility to complete detox. As a result, this often leads to the person leaving detox before completing it, or relapsing quickly after finishing it.
How Long Does a Medically-Monitored Detox Take?
Detox can last as little as five days but may extend to two weeks or longer. The timeframe of a medically-monitored detox in Nashville, TN depends on several factors. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to:
- The substances involved in the addiction
- How long the addiction has occurred
- The amount of the substance typically ingested
- If someone has also abused other substances
- Any past experiences with detox
- The individual’s physical health
- Any mental health issues
Another contributing factor to the length of time for detox pertains to any withdrawal symptoms experienced, and the severity of them.
Common Withdrawal Symptoms During Detox
Many symptoms can occur while undergoing detox from drugs and alcohol. These symptoms last anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks. The difficulty of coping with them without medical assistance, however, serves to cause many people to suffer needlessly. Unfortunately, for others, it can cause them to drop out of detox before completing it.
Physical withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Changes in blood pressure
- Shaking
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Many people also experience psychological and emotional withdrawal symptoms that staff at medical detox centers can address. These include, but may not be limited to:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Panic attacks
- Suicidal feelings
- Feeling agitated
- Paranoia
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medical detox centers often offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for some of their clients. MAT works best for people who need to detox from alcohol or opioids. The withdrawal symptoms from those substances can be particularly difficult, and respond well to the treatment.
A person undergoing MAT will be monitored for any withdrawal symptoms they have, and which medications can be used to help address them. Furthermore, MAT medications not only provide relief from the physical side effects of withdrawal but also helps quell psychological and emotional side effects. The client experiences an easier time getting through detox when there are reductions in more than one category of withdrawal symptoms.
Some MAT drugs are only used for a short time, while others provide benefits over a longer duration. Fortunately, medical detox center professionals provide an assessment for each client in order to determine how long they should use MAT medication. They can coordinate with those providing follow-up care after the detox ends in order to make sure a person’s entire treatment team understands the scope of a medically-monitored detox.
What Medications Are Used During MAT?
Medications can be used during the detox process which makes the individual more comfortable. They can reduce and even eliminate certain withdrawal symptoms and help with cravings for the substance. There are several options for FDA-approved medications to use during MAT.
MAT Medications for Alcohol Withdrawal
- Acamprosate: This drug does not help reduce withdrawal symptoms experienced during detox but does reduce cravings for alcohol. This can help a person stay in recovery.
- Disulfiram: This drug causes unpleasant side effects if a person drinks alcohol, such as nausea, vomiting, and chest pains. This serves as an inspiration to stay sober.
- Naltrexone: This drug blocks the effects of alcohol so the person does not feel tipsy or drunk if they consume it. It also reduces alcohol cravings.
MAT Medications for Opioid Withdrawal
- Clonidine: This drug relieves withdrawal symptoms that can come with opioid withdrawal, including muscle aches, cramps, sweating, and anxiety.
- Methadone: This drug stops withdrawal symptoms that happen when someone stops using heroin. Additionally, to provide the best results people use it for several months or years.
- Naltrexone: This drug blocks the brain’s opioid receptors, which keeps a person from feeling a euphoric high when they use heroin. Alternatively, they experience withdrawal symptoms instead, and the combination of these effects greatly reduces the chance they will use heroin again.
- Buprenorphine: This drug helps prevent withdrawal symptoms from occurring. Patients generally use it long-term in order to achieve optimum results.
Does Insurance Cover a Medically-Monitored Detox in Nashville?
Several insurance plans cover a medically-monitored detox along with other treatment programs for drug and alcohol addiction. Anyone interested in a detox program should contact their insurance provider to find out what options they provide. Many insurance plans require that their customers receive approval for any treatment plan prior to beginning it.
How much a person may be expected to pay for a detox program depends on their particular insurance plan and if they met their deductible. Medicaid offers coverage for different types of addiction treatment programs which may include detox. Checking with an individual’s state office can give them information about what options are covered, and any cost they may incur.
What Happens After a Medically-Monitored Detox?
Once a person completes the detox process, they are ready to enter the next stage of recovery. Some people transition to residential recovery which involves living in a treatment facility for a few weeks or months. At this point, they receive intensive treatment around-the-clock and can participate in several types of therapies. Other people move from detox to outpatient programs, including outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and partial hospitalization programs.
Both inpatient and outpatient programs offer a host of treatment modalities designed to assist a person in succeeding in their recovery efforts. Below are the different types of therapies used at addiction treatment centers:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Support groups
- Holistic therapy
- Experiential therapy
- Medication management
- Nutritional and exercise counseling
- Learning life skills
- Aftercare plans
Another treatment option offered by many programs includes assistance with compromised mental health. Approximately half of all people who struggle with addiction to drugs and alcohol also have at least one diagnosable mental illness. In fact, conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder often feed into a person’s addiction.
Known as a dual diagnosis of addiction and mental health disorder since people often abuse drugs or alcohol in order to attempt to self-medicate mental illness symptoms. Luckily, receiving help for these co-occurring disorders simultaneously helps people both recover from addiction. They can also learn to manage their mental health in ways that improve their overall health.
Medically-Monitored Detox Centers in Nashville, TN
When a person decides to get help for their substance use disorder, the first step is finding a detox program. Detoxing without medical supervision results in uncomfortable and potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Despite this, medically-monitored detox centers provide medications that help ease the symptoms and make detox an easier process to complete.
If you want to stop living with addiction, let us help you. Contact us today and find out how our program in the Nashville or Hendersonville areas can provide you with the beginning of lifelong recovery.
