Rapid opiate detox / rapid detox is a humane, medical breakthrough procedure that has changed lives of thousands for the better, when safety measures were responsibly followed. Like other costly medical procedures, many patients try to save money by soliciting lesser qualified doctors or programs. However, these doctors and programs usually do not adhere to basic safety protocols. The Waismann Method® refuses to compromise the well-being of the patient and the success of the procedure.
Possible rapid detox complications when rapid detox centers do not follow safety measures:
- They say: You do not have to perform Rapid Detox in a full service hospital. An outpatient “hospital setting”, like a surgery center or office is safe.
DANGERS– Rapid opiate detox is a very serious and involving procedure that has the possibility of being dangerous if it isn’t done properly or in an accredited full-service hospital where most medical resources and specialists are readily available. Long-term use of opiates and other drugs can cause undetected medical conditions, so it is imperative that all patients have proper medical screening, hydration and pre-medication the day before a rapid detox procedure, as well as professional monitoring for a few days following the procedure to ensure stability and minimize complications.
- They Say: You can safely perform Rapid Detox in 24 hours.
DANGERS – To optimize safety, rapid detox under sedation/ and or anesthesia patients should be admitted to the hospital at minimum a day before the procedure to be monitored in a full service hospital’s ICU. Then, after the detox, the patient should stay another day for additional supervision. During this time, we need to carefully monitor a patient’s heart, lungs, electrolytes and fluid balance. This time in the hospital is critical to a patient’s wellbeing and the success of the procedure. This monitoring is vital to the patient’s well-being and the success of the procedure. Although a detox procedure is done in a couple of hours or less it usually takes the body at least a few days to stabilize physically and chemically, so it’s important to have proper assistance and monitoring for at least a few days after.
- They Say: Being under general anesthesia for 4-8 hours or more is better.
DANGERS– General anesthesia not only is unnecessary for rapid detox, but it can significantly increase risks to the patients. Other rapid detox programs implement this out of date method by placing their patients under general anesthesia for 4-8 hours. However, a safer and more progressive procedure can achieve better results in only 1-2 hours under sedation (twilight sleep) when correctly done. We need general anesthesia to help control the physical effects of withdrawal if we do not adequately pre-medicate the patient before the rapid opiate detox procedure. If the patient receives appropriate premedication, then general anesthesia becames unnecessary and sedation is sufficient to ensure that the patient has no memory of the procedure. With adequate premedication and sedation, we can safely perform the rapid detox. We can achieve this without the additional need for a breathing tube, ventilator and 4-8 hours of general anesthesia. This lowers the risks tremendously and increases the chance of a successful procedure enormously.
- They Say: It’s safe to discharge a patient to a hotel with a friend or relative right after detox.
DANGERS – Patients have a much higher risk of dehydration, cardiac / pulmonary events, and death when sent to a hotel right after rapid detox. Trained medical professionals need to supervise and address physiological and mental changes that can occur after a rapid opiate detox. This is in order to assist basic organ function regulation and prevent medical rapid detox complications. Well-meaning friends and relatives lack the training to recognize and treat the physical changes that can occur after rapid detox. Furthermore, they lack the resources to deal with the emotional instability patients can experience. This instability is due to lack of endorphins, anxiety and sometimes depression, which can lead to immediate relapse.
- They Say: You can immediately go home after the rapid detox procedure.
DANGERS – For long-term success, it’s crucial that doctors assess patients physically and emotionally. Additionally they should provide them with aftercare options that address their individual needs. A majority of patients use opiates as a numbing device to mask a physical or psychological pain. Therefore, to reduce the chance of relapse and increase successful recovery, we need to address these root causes of addiction.
Not all patients are candidates for rapid detox. The Waismann Method offers a number of different options for detoxification.
