Drug & Alcohol Detoxification Center*
Too often, what’s keeping people from getting and staying clean is withdrawal. An individual may secretly and desperately crave sobriety, but fear the symptoms of detox. Sometimes the mere hint of these symptoms makes the person drink or use again just to ease the discomfort.
Morningside provides the support and supervision needed during those first hours and days of abstinence – an experience that can seem overwhelming. Our partners specialize 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; the goal is to ease clients into a treatment plan that leads to a new life.
Many of our clients have a co-occurring (dual-diagnosis) disorder. Morningside Recovery’s clinical team creates the comprehensive psychological profile of each client upon entering detox. The detoxification team formulates an individualized detox plan that takes into account a client’s age, sex, body chemistry, diet, and physical illnesses. 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 opioid molecules are chemically similar to endorphins, the natural hormones regulating pain and range of emotions. Frequent opioid use reduces endorphin production.
Morningside's partnered facilities takes the latest research into account when dealing with the particulars of a client’s detoxification. Each client is treated as a unique individual with symptoms ranging from mild to severe, depending on the substance abused and duration of abuse. Not all clients will require medications, but detoxification frequently involves short-term medication (often for insomnia). The detox center has a range of medications, since some clients’ body chemistry may respond better to one medication than another. All prescription medication dispensed at is supervised by a psychiatrist and psychologist with years of experience in behavioral healthcare.
Morningside’s clinical staff believes it’s important that families and friends are involved from the very beginning in treatment. Families of clients are updated on 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 Morningside, not only helps a client through detoxification, but sets the stage for long-term recovery.
One client shared his experience: “When I was out using, I was always planning to get clean. I’d think about it a lot. But I just couldn’t do it. I was pretty beat down when I got to Morningside. I’d been living on candy bars, and just eating good food and sleeping was huge for me. I started to attend groups and meet people. Probably for the first time in my life I really didn’t want to use anymore.”
Withdrawal and detoxification can be a painful, stressful, disturbing experience. But it doesn’t have to be. A caring, professional staff oversees all care. A comfortable, peaceful, home-like environment allows clients the rest they need to get to the other side of the detox experience – refreshed, renewed and hopeful. 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 any more.
*Detoxification services are not provided at Morningside Recovery facilities. We work closely with local, fully licensed detoxification centers that provide the highest level of medical care to our clients. If a client requires detoxification and is admitting to any of Morningside's programs, our clinical team will follow the client’s detoxification treatment at these local facilities. If the detoxification period is to exceed 72 hours, we will also begin private therapy and other treatment services at the designated location. Our consulting physician and psychiatrist will also follow each client’s case at this outside center in order to ensure a smooth transition into any of our many levels of care. Although outcome studies have shown significant increase in client success when receiving full or extended treatment services after detoxification, if you require only a medical detoxification without further treatment, we are happy to refer you to one of the highly regarded and trusted detoxification facilities that we utilize.
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