Ohio Recovery Center | Medical Detox Program For Alcohol & Drug Addiction

When you live with alcohol or drug addiction (also called substance use disorder), your first step toward recovery is detox. Detoxing means cleansing your body of drugs by avoiding drug use.

During the detoxification process, you may experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. You can minimize these symptoms by attending the medical detox program at Ohio Recovery Center (ORC).

ORC’s Medical Detoxification Program

Some people try to start the detox process without professional help. While detoxing on your own might sound convenient, medical detox at ORC is much safer. 

When you first enter our medical detox program, a team of medical and clinical professionals will evaluate your situation and check your blood pressure, body temperature, pulse, and other vital signs. 

We will also gather information about your drug use and overall health via a biopsychosocial assessment. For example, you might be asked about:

• which drugs you used
• how often have you used the drugs
• any withdrawal symptoms you have experienced so far
• whether you have attended a medical detox program before
• whether you have any preexisting physical or mental health problems

Our medical and clinical team will use this information to create your personalized detox treatment plan. 

ORC’s Detox Treatment Plan

Our detox treatment plan will outline your drug or alcohol detox needs, including length of stay, daily services, medications, and tapering schedules.

Length Of Stay

Our detox program typically lasts between 7 and 10 days. However, your specific detox timeline will depend on your overall health and the severity of your withdrawal symptoms. 

Daily Services

As you stabilize from drugs or alcohol, our team of clinicians and nurses will monitor your health and help you stay as comfortable as possible. To maximize comfort and safety, we bring all detox services to where you’re staying on campus.

Detox services at ORC can include:

• daily medical oversight
• vitals monitoring
• evaluation for post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)
• emergency medical care for any withdrawal-related complications
• medication administration when necessary

Medications

Our treatment team may prescribe medications to ease certain withdrawal symptoms. For example, we might use anti-anxiety medications to treat anxiety, anti-nausea medications to treat nausea, or sleep aids to treat insomnia. 

There are also some medications that help treat withdrawal symptoms associated with certain drugs. 

For instance, benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan) may help treat withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol addiction. Similarly, a drug called methadone can help ease opioid withdrawal symptoms. 

Tapering Schedules

Tapering means slowly reducing your drug use until you are completely drug-free. In most cases, tapering is safer than quitting drugs suddenly (which is also called “going cold turkey”). 

That’s because tapering gives your body time to adjust to life without drugs. 

Our treatment team may create a personalized tapering schedule when it’s deemed medically necessary. 

Symptoms Of Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms vary depending on various factors, including the drugs you used, how long you used the drugs, and your overall health. However, the most common withdrawal symptoms include:

• drug cravings
• sweating
• shaking
• loss of appetite
• nausea and vomiting
• cold, clammy skin
• fatigue
• trouble sleeping
• nightmares
• depression
• anxiety
• irritability
• mood swings

While these symptoms are uncomfortable, they’re usually not life-threatening. However, some people experience rare withdrawal symptoms that can have serious complications. These symptoms include:

• severe confusion
• hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there)
• seizures
• loss of consciousness

What Causes Withdrawal Symptoms?

When you regularly abuse a drug, your body may start relying on it to function. This is called physical dependence. 

When you’re physically dependent on a drug and stop using it, your body must relearn how to function without the drug. This experience can put significant stress on your body, causing withdrawal symptoms. 

How Much Does Medical Detox Cost At ORC?

The cost of medical detox at ORC depends on a variety of factors, including the length of your stay as well as your insurance plan. 

To determine your payment options, contact your health insurance provider or ORC directly. 

If you don’t have health insurance, consider taking out a loan, applying for a scholarship, starting a fundraiser, or asking loved ones to help you pay for treatment. 

What Happens After Medical Detox?

Although our medical detox treats withdrawal symptoms, it does not treat drug cravings or other psychological aspects of addiction. Thus, in most cases, medical detox is only the first phase of the drug addiction treatment process. 

After you finish detox, your treatment will likely suggest that you attend our drug rehab program. Our inpatient drug and alcohol rehab program teaches you how to manage drug cravings, strengthen your mental health, and build a fulfilling, drug-free life. 

Inpatient  Care

Our inpatient/residential treatment program is recommended for people with moderate-to-severe addictions following our detox program. Your treatment team will help you seamlessly transition from our detox level of care to our residential treatment program.

Residential treatment at ORC features a variety of evidence-based and holistic treatment services. 

Addiction Treatment Services

Our residential treatment services are tailored to your needs and may include:

• behavioral therapy, where you can learn how to cope with drug cravings and any underlying behavioral health concerns that may have contributed to your drug abuse
• group therapy, where you can connect with other people recovering from addiction and develop skills for relapse prevention
• medication-assisted treatment, where doctors prescribe medications to ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol and opioids
• aftercare planning, where you and your doctors can identify strategies to promote your long-term recovery, such as ongoing therapy, regular exercise, and housing assistance

To learn about our medical detox and inpatient substance abuse treatment options, please contact Ohio Recovery Center. Our compassionate healthcare providers offer a variety of evidence-based recovery programs to help you or your loved one stay sober and healthy.