Detoxification
Detoxification treatment means the dispensing of an opioid agonist treatment medication in decreasing doses to the persons served to alleviate adverse physical or psychological effects incident to withdrawal from the continuous or substantial use of an opioid drug and as a method of bringing the person served to a medication-free state within such a period. A short-term detoxification is up to 30 days, and a long-term detoxification is from 31 to 180 days.
Based on current best practices in the field, the program's purpose is to provide a medically safe, professional and supportive withdrawal experience for the persons served while preparing and motivating them to continue treatment after discharge from the program and progress toward a full and complete recovery. The program is staffed to ensure adequate biomedical and psychosocial assessment, observation and care, and referrals to meet the individual needs of the persons served. Additionally, the program develops and maintains a rich network of treatment providers for referrals after completion of the program to ensure the best possible match for the persons served to ongoing treatment services.
Detoxification (detox) services are intended to help the persons served reduce or eliminate their use of illicit drugs while improving their quality of life and functioning. Opioid treatment programs follow rehabilitation stages of sufficient duration to meet the needs of the persons served. These stages include initial treatment of zero to seven days in duration, early stabilization lasting up to eight weeks, long-term treatment, medically-supervised withdrawal, detoxification, medical maintenance, and immediate emergency treatment when needed.
A detoxification program may be provided in the following settings:
- Inpatient: This setting is distinguished by services provided in a safe, secure facility-based setting with 24-hour nursing coverage and ready access to medical care. This is for persons served who need round-the-clock supervision in order to successfully manage withdrawal symptoms or when there are additional complications or risk factors that warrant medical supervision, such as co-occurring psychiatric or other medical conditions.
- Residenital: This setting is distinguished by services provided in a safe facility with 24-hour coverage by qualified personnel. Persons served need the supervision and structure provided by a 24-hour program but do not have risk factors present that warrant an inpatient setting. It may also be appropriate for persons who lack motivation or whose living situation is not conducive to remaining sober.
- Outpatient: This setting is distinguished by services provided in an outpatient environment with the persons served residing in their own homes, a sober living environment, or other supportive community settings. Persons served in outpatient settings typically have adequate social supports to remain sober, family involvement in care planning, the ability to maintain regular appointments for ongoing assessment and observation, and the ability to successfully self-manage prescription medications. Persons served in outpatient settings are concurrently enrolled in or actively linked to a treatment program.