Detox

Detoxification

Detoxification can be a painful experience. But it doesn’t have to be. As part of our continuum of care, we work exclusively with local, fully-licensed detoxification centers to provide the highest level of care to our clients, including medical detoxification services like Suboxone. Our clinical team monitors the client’s progress at the detoxification treatment center until they are ready to admit to one of our residential treatment tracks. Living Sober partners with facilities that provide the following:

• The latest research is used to design each client’s detoxification.
• The unique symptoms of each client, ranging from mild to severe, are treated.
• Detoxification may involve short-term medication (often for insomnia).
• The detox center offers a range of medications, since some clients’ body chemistries may respond better to one medication than another.
• All prescription medication is supervised by a psychiatrist with years of experience in behavioral healthcare.

Nearly all individuals desperately crave sobriety, but they fear the symptoms of detox. Sometimes the mere hint of these symptoms makes the person drink or use again just to ease the discomfort. Depending on the substance abused and duration of abuse, these clients will require medications with support and supervision during those first hours and days of abstinence. Our continuum of care specializes in substance detoxification with comprehensive, individualized programs for any addiction or dual-diagnosis. Commonly seen addictions include alcohol, opiates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamine and methadone. Complete detoxification can take just days, or a few weeks, easing clients into a treatment plan that leads to a fresh start.

The private, confidential detox offers a luxurious environment for our clients, including:

• well-appointed rooms
• laundry service
• healthy, gourmet meals
• gym and fitness center
• holistic programs such as yoga

A New Beginning

One client shared his experience: “I’d been through detox before in a hospital setting, and I was dreading doing that again. Detoxing in a comfortable, home-style environment was way better. When you’re out using you always fear detox. But Living Sober made it way easier.”

The goal is to help clients get through this process as safely and comfortably as possible, so that long-term recovery can take root. The fragile first days of the detoxification are when therapists and staff nourish the early self-awareness and self-confidence necessary to move forward in treatment. Clients and their families don’t have to suffer unnecessarily. Our clinical staff believes it’s important that families and friends are involved from the very beginning. Families of clients are updated on withdrawal progress and also learn about the illness so they can be supportive and understanding. Education about detoxification helps families support the suffering loved one. This support, in addition to the psychological treatment programs at Living Sober, not only helps a client through detoxification, but sets the stage for long-term recovery.

Detox with a Dual Diagnosis

Many of our clients present with a dual diagnosis, often more than one co-occurring disorder. That’s why it’s so important to have a caring, professional staff like that of Living Sober overseeing all care. Likewise, that’s why we provide a comfortable, peaceful, home-like environment that allows clients the rest they need to get to the other side of the detoxification experience – refreshed, renewed and ready to begin treatment. Detox staff supervises the process around the clock to help manage the acute physical symptoms that often accompany withdrawal from alcohol and drugs. For example, research has demonstrated that cocaine alters the release of endorphins, the natural hormones regulating pain and range of emotions. Frequent cocaine use reduces endorphin production. Thus, an individual who has abused cocaine or opioids will likely suffer from depression and anxiety during the early phases of their recovery.

Likewise with benzodiazepines. For clients who have become addicted to ever-increasing doses of benzodiazepines, stopping their use can be a protracted process, and should not be attempted without medical supervision. Signs of withdrawal from benzodiazepines include: increased anxiety; insomnia; confusion and disorientation; sensitivity to light and noise; and heart palpitations. However, symptoms can be mild to moderate for most recreational users and vary depending upon how much and how long a client has used. Different benzodiazepines are metabolized at different speeds in the liver, and each drug accumulates differently in the body. Our clinicians are truly experts and take into account how some benzodiazepines remain in the bloodstream much longer than others, using this information to help clients detoxify.

The Living Sober Difference

Living Sober’s clinicians develop the comprehensive psychological profile of each client upon entering detoxification. Together, the detoxification team and the clinical team design an individualized detoxification plan that takes into account a client’s sex, age, body type, diet, and physical illnesses. No matter the substance in question, a client’s detox process will deal with compulsive urges to use. The goal of detox is to encourage clients to avoid extreme reactions and begin a path to the thoughts, feelings and reactions that lead to recovery. The client gets much needed rest in a home-like detoxification facility, quieting the mind and healing the brain. When ready, clients begin their recovery journey by meeting with therapists and attending seminars. Clients are often amazed at how much better they feel.