Medically Assisted Treatment & Outpatient Detox in Albuquerque
Our Medically Assisted Treatment & Outpatient Addiction Detox Process
Do you or a loved one need help detoxing from drugs or alcohol? Our medically-assisted treatment and addiction detox services will help ensure you are safe and comfortable.
The first step to treatment is an evaluation. One of our licensed providers will perform a private and thorough medical evaluation and work with you to create a successful treatment plan.
Ongoing medical care for extended withdrawal symptoms
We can help you detox from drugs and alcohol in a safe, successful manner.
Do You Need Medically Assisted Treatment?
Substance use disorder occurs when you develop a reliance on drugs, alcohol, or another substance that leads to health issues, disruption of work or school, or trouble within a relationship. This somewhat common disorder can exert an extremely powerful influence upon you that can take over nearly every aspect of your life. As a result, substance use disorder is typically very difficult to overcome unless you have professional support and guidance. Plus, it’s always nice if someone has your back.
In particular, the first stages of beginning drug or alcohol treatment can be extremely difficult to handle on your own. If you’ve developed a habit of regular alcohol, drug, or other substance use, you may require detoxification before you are able to begin treatment safely. Going through the detox process on your own could be dangerous.
What Is Addiction Detox?
Whether you’ve built a routine in which you regularly use alcohol or drugs, a pattern of binge drinking, or a physical dependence on a substance to cope with daily life, your body and brain become used to having these chemicals in your system every day. Once you stop taking that substance, your body can experience serious, and sometimes dangerous, symptoms of withdrawal. For that reason, the beginning of substance use disorder treatment can pose serious medical and psychological issues that make progressing through treatment dangerous, difficult, or both.
Drug and alcohol detoxification (commonly known as detox) is a medically-supervised process by which you remove all traces of the chosen substance from your system. It’s usually the first step in your recovery journey. The process helps prepare you for the next phases of treatment and increases your chances of success. Perhaps most importantly, addiction detox helps address lingering symptoms of withdrawal in a safe way because you are monitored by a healthcare professional.
When you stop using a drug you’ve become dependent on – particularly if you have a long history of substance abuse – your body and brain can begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms within two hours. While withdrawal symptoms are sometimes limited to mild discomfort, depending on the frequency of your use, you may experience early withdrawal symptoms right away. Withdrawal symptoms may include headache, nausea, sweating, sensitivity to light and sound, and irritability.
For people who have substance dependence, withdrawal symptoms can become more severe, including:
Tremors
Seizures
Hallucinations
Cardiac arrest
For this reason, it is essential to undergo detoxification with the assistance of a medically licensed detox professional. Ongoing medical supervision can help look after your symptoms, and ongoing counseling can help you navigate through your withdrawal mentally. The beginning stages of drug and alcohol treatment present the highest rates of relapse. Utilizing outpatient detox services can provide you with support when you are withdrawing and most are tempted to use again. Supervised detox can help get through to the crucial next stage of treatment.
How Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Detox Works at Sage Neuroscience Center
Here at Sage, the first step to beginning a safe, successful drug and alcohol detox involves a thorough medical examination. This private appointment serves to assess the severity of your substance use, how intense your withdrawal symptoms might be, and any other co-occurring mental health disorders or medical conditions that may affect treatment. Then, we’ll create a plan moving forward. The next step will probably include an intensive outpatient program (IOP) that is designed to address your specific needs.
In addition to detox and IOP, your treatment plan may include:
Addiction counseling
Other group therapy sessions
Community support referrals
Medical care for ongoing withdrawal symptoms
Medication Management to address other underlying mental health concerns
On the day you begin your detox, you’ll be expected to arrive at Sage Neuroscience Center substance-free; if you’ve used a substance on detox day, you can work with our staff to reschedule. We’ll offer immediate relief from any initial withdrawal symptoms with medication and continue to manage your symptoms throughout your time here – usually four to eight hours. Depending on your unique treatment plan, you might go through therapy services assessment or support sessions at this time, in addition to the use of medications.
Medications and Detox
To help you manage your withdrawal symptoms safely and effectively – and prevent relapse – Sage provides medically assisted treatment. Medically managed detox includes the use of prescription medications to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal and keep you safe during the withdrawal and detox process. We pledge to:
Fully involve you in the medication selection process, including a thorough explanation of the benefits and risks of each prescription
Use carefully selected medications that not only adhere to the latest research but manage your unique symptoms with maximum efficacy and minimal medical risk or side effects
Carefully determine your ideal dose of the selected medication to provide relief without supplying more of your medication than you need
At the end of each day, we’ll send you home with a remaining dose of your medication to help continue managing your symptoms through the evening. For more extended withdrawal periods, you may receive an extended prescription to continue taking at home.
Advantages of IOP Detox
As opposed to a residential detox program, outpatient detox simply requires you to return to our outpatient facility several times per week for monitoring. Our team will note any withdrawal symptoms you are having, your comfort level, and help you begin participating in counseling sessions, support groups, or other therapies that may help with your recovery. If your substance use disorder is mild or moderate, IOP detox can take the place of inpatient detox; alternatively, if you have already completed residential detox, outpatient detox can serve a great step-down service option to move you on to the next step to recovery.
Outpatient drug and alcohol detox often costs a lot less than residential detox in initial cost. In addition, IOP detox allows you to maintain a regular work schedule, eliminating the need to take time off work. Finally, outpatient detox allows you to maintain close contact with family and other loved ones as you begin the road to recovery. IOP is also open to family members who want to support you or learn more about Substance Use Disorder to help you get better.
Get Safe, Supervised Outpatient Detox Help from Sage Neuroscience Center
Before beginning the big jump into the stages of drug and alcohol treatment, it is important to pursue safe, supervised detoxification first. Detox under the supervision of a medical professional not only helps you manage your symptoms and achieve relief but ensures you can receive immediate help if you begin experiencing severe symptoms. During the crucial first stages of recovery, when relapse is a significant risk, detox can help you avoid the urge to use again and increase your chances of success.
If you or a loved one is experiencing Substance Use Disorder, Sage Neuroscience Center can help. We offer IOP detox as a part of our comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment program. Our addiction specialists can help you determine your detox needs and help map your next steps to recovery. Reach out today to learn more about detox and how we can help you pursue a healthy, active life.
Our mission at Sage Neuroscience Center is to create collaborative teams of healthcare providers to engage those we serve to achieve sustainable wellness.
