There are distinct differences between rapid detox center that can impact not just your safety, but your comfort and procedure success. The most significant differences are the treating doctors’ experience and credentials, the centers’ reputations, the facilities’ accreditation, immediate available medical resources and inpatient recovery care.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) reported that drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. ASAM reports that a record 70,237 drug overdose deaths occurred in 2017, two-thirds of these tragic deaths involved opioid drugs.
Rapid Detox Center Differences
How Rapid Detox Works
Ultra-rapid detox was established in the late 1980s and entails sedating patients in a hospital while an opiate blocker — such as naltrexone — is administered to induce and speed opioid detoxification. Upon waking, patients do not remember the detoxification and remain in the hospital until physically stable for discharge. Patents who stay in a recovery center for a few extra days to overcome the regulation phase are much more likely to succeed.
Over the past decade or so, many “rapid opiate detox centers” have popped up all across the country. More and more, providers are cutting corners and not providing an adequate level of medical care. Furthermore, patients do not have an appropriate amount of inpatient time in a proper medical facility. Subsequently, the medical community criticized “rapid detox” because of patient safety concerns.
While traditional detox treatments for opioid drugs can require extended time and involve intense discomfort, a rapid detox performed by an expert in a hospital can facilitate medically assisted withdrawal completion in a short amount of time.
Safety Requirements
To understand rapid detox differences, you need to be aware of the necessary safety requirements:
- An Accredited Hospital
An accredited full-service hospital provides a superior level of care and access to specialists for consultation or immediate medical assistance. This medical accessibility significantly contributes to the safety and effectiveness of the rapid detox procedure. Hospitals can offer a broad range of medical services not available in overnight surgical centers. These are just a few of the advantages the hospital setting provides that are often not found in surgery centers.
- Experienced, Board-Certified Physicians
A physician with extensive experience in rapid detox can modify each procedure based on the patient’s health, age and dependency history. Furthermore, having the proper credentials from recognized and reputable medical institutions can also show the capacity and competence of the treating doctor. A doctor’s ability to identify and implement modifications to the procedure at any given time is founded on a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience.
- Adequate, Inpatient Pre-Evaluation
Each patient’s physiological response to medications varies significantly. Some patients receive a small dosage of commonly used drugs and become overly sedated, have low blood pressure or even a slow heart rate. Other patients might need more substantial doses or different medications to maintain the expected stability and comfort.
Comprehensive pre-treatment testing includes X-rays, CT scans, blood tests, an echocardiogram, urinalysis, and an ECG. These preliminary tests ensure safety and reconfirm that anesthesia opiate detoxification is the safest treatment option for the patient.
Another primary requirement should be the absolute knowledge of what the patient has ingested or used the 24 hours prior to their rapid detox. For this reason, hospital admission the day before the procedure is a must. Any unknown substances, varying dosages or even consumed foods can directly affect events throughout the detoxification. The treating physician should require at least one day of assessment in the hospital before anesthesia detox to accurately identify the correct drugs and dosages the patient will need during detoxification.
- Length and Type of Anesthesia During Rapid Detox
Rapid detox centers that are still using general anesthesia for two to six hours are using an old protocol. This archaic form of detox can pose significant and unnecessary health risks to the patient. Medicine is an evolving science, and anesthesia-assisted detoxification has also evolved over the past two decades. Physicians should use the most current, effective and safest protocols.
- Private ICU Room
Rapid detox can cause sudden physiological changes that might require comprehensive medical care. For this reason, undivided attention in an ICU is crucial for the patient’s safety and comfort. Furthermore, patients should remain in the ICU overnight for monitoring of blood pressure, chemical levels (such as salt and minerals in the bloodstream), and respiratory function.
An ICU is also equipped to manage acute needs such as any unexpected complications or if the patient develops irregularities. Also, this highly advanced area of the hospital has skilled medical staff and specialized equipment on hand. During and after detox, patients should be in an ICU where they can receive the extensive and individualized monitoring required to ensure their well-being.
- Rapid Detox Aftercare (Recovery Care)
After detox, essential organ functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, fluid retention, sleep patterns, and emotional balance will be trying to regulate. While this process can be smooth for some, others may find it incredibly difficult. At a private recovery center, professional support can make this challenging phase much more comfortable and safer for the patient. Spending several days in our private recovery center can make all the difference in the patient’s success.
Contact Us Today at 1-800-423-2482 for Additional Information and Treatment Options
Rapid Detox Center in a Full-Service Accredited Hospital
Waismann Method® -The Wise Choice for Rapid Detox
Waismann Institute® has been the premier rapid detox center worldwide for over 20 years
Our medical director is one of the pioneers of rapid drug detoxification. His credentials, experience, and success with detoxification under sedation are unparalleled. Dr. Michael H. Lowenstein, MD, and the Waismann Method® team are the pioneers and leaders in the evolution and advancement of anesthesia-assisted detox.
Our commitment to providing superior care is as strong today as it was in the late ’90s when we started.
Rapid detox, when performed responsibly, can be the most beneficial form of opioid detox available today. It focuses on the patient’s physiology instead of the symptom (addiction). It is the evolution of medical science. Rapid detox procedure comes from the ability to understand what opioid dependence is and using medicine to reverse it. There are no therapeutic benefits to shame, stigma or unnecessary suffering. Additionally, rapid detox provides individuals with the ability to participate in mental health care without the influence of opioids, withdrawal or physical cravings.
The WAISMANN TREATMENT™ is considered the most advanced and safest rapid opiate detox. Thousands of patients from all over the world have gained the opportunity to return to a productive life with their dignity intact. Call today for more information and treatment options: 1-800-423-2482.
We don’t make our patients feel guilty or shameful about their addiction; instead, we empathize and assure them they are not alone.