Veterans Drug and Alcohol Medical Detox Programs near me in Las Vegas

Withdrawal symptoms from substance abuse refer to the physical and mental effects that occur when a person who is dependent on a particular substance stops using it abruptly or reduces its use significantly. These symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe, life-threatening conditions, depending on the substance involved and the individual’s level of dependency.

Withdrawal symptoms are a result of the body’s reaction to the absence of a substance it has become accustomed to. They arise because the body, over time, adjusts to the presence of the substance, altering its normal functioning. When the substance is suddenly removed, the body needs time to return to its original state, leading to the manifestation of withdrawal symptoms.

The specific symptoms and their severity can vary widely, depending on several factors. These include the type of substance used, the duration of use, the degree of addiction, the method of intake, and the individual’s overall health. Common withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, and physical issues such as sweating, rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting, and tremors.

In some cases, withdrawal can lead to severe complications. For example, alcohol withdrawal can result in delirium tremens, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by confusion, hallucinations, and seizures. Opioid withdrawal, while not typically life-threatening, can be extremely uncomfortable and can lead to relapse if not properly managed.

It’s important to note that withdrawal should be managed under medical supervision. Detoxification programs at facilities like Desert Winds Recovery Center provide safe and controlled environments for managing withdrawal symptoms, reducing discomfort, and minimizing the risk of complications.

Medical Detoxification is a process that helps individuals safely withdraw from drugs or alcohol under medical supervision. It’s often the first step in the addiction recovery journey, treating the physical aspects of addiction and preparing the individual for further therapeutic interventions.

Medical detox involves the use of certain medications to manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. This process can be crucial for individuals who have become physically dependent on a substance, as abrupt discontinuation can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms. Medical detox ensures that these symptoms are managed in a safe and controlled environment.

During medical detox, healthcare professionals monitor vital signs and administer medications as needed to alleviate discomfort and prevent complications and is often the first step in a recovery treatment plan. The type and duration of detox can vary depending on the substance used, the degree of dependence, and the individual’s overall health.

One of the main hurdles that often keep people from starting their recovery journey is the fear of going through withdrawal. Medical detox addresses this fear by providing a structured, supportive environment where individuals can safely navigate withdrawal under the care of a medical team.

Certain addictions require detox due to the severe withdrawal symptoms that can occur when the substance is discontinued. The most common addictions that often necessitate a medically-assisted detox include alcohol, prescription opioids, heroin, and benzodiazepines.

Alcohol addiction is one of the most common types of addiction that requires detox. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous, and in some cases, life-threatening, leading to conditions like delirium tremens characterized by confusion, hallucinations, and seizures. Therefore, it’s crucial for alcohol detox to be supervised by medical professionals.

Opioid addiction, including prescription opioids and heroin, is another type of addiction that typically requires medical detox. Opioid withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable, causing severe flu-like symptoms. While not typically life-threatening, opioid withdrawal can lead to relapse if not properly managed.

Benzodiazepines, another commonly abused class of prescription drugs usually prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders, also require medical detox due to the risk of severe and potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Discontinuing benzodiazepines abruptly can lead to seizures, psychosis, and other serious health problems.

Regardless of the substance, medical detox provides a safe and controlled environment for managing withdrawal symptoms. It’s an essential first step in the recovery process, preparing individuals for further therapeutic interventions.

Before starting a treatment plan, a thorough assessment is conducted to understand the extent of the person’s substance use disorder. This involves reviewing the individual’s medical history, mental health status, patterns of drug or alcohol use, and the impact of substance use on their life. The assessment helps tailor the treatment plan to suit the individual’s needs.

Following detox, many individuals transition into residential treatment, where they live at the treatment facility for a period of time. This allows for 24-hour medical care and support, and provides a structured environment that fosters recovery. Individual and group therapy sessions form a significant part of residential treatment to address the root causes of addiction.

In partial hospitalization programs, individuals receive intensive treatment during the day but return home in the evenings. These programs are typically recommended for those who have a stable living environment and have made significant progress in their recovery. They offer a higher level of care than outpatient programs but allow for more flexibility than residential treatment and serve as a step down from residential treatment.

Despite the name, intensive outpatient programs are less intensive than partial hospitalization and are suitable for individuals who need ongoing support but can manage their daily lives. They typically involve attending treatment sessions for a few hours a day, several days a week. Therapy, skill-building, and relapse prevention are key components of these programs.

As a final step in the recovery journey, sober living homes provide a drug-free environment that supports continued sobriety. Residents are expected to follow certain rules, contribute to the community, and often attend mutual support groups, like 12-step programs. Sober living homes serve as a bridge between intensive treatment and return to everyday life, helping individuals strengthen their recovery skills.

Yes, most veteran health insurance plans do cover substance abuse treatment, including medical detox. The extent of coverage can depend on the specific plan and the treatment provider. It’s recommended to check with your insurance provider to understand what services are covered and what out-of-pocket costs you might be responsible for. We know that dealing with health insurance companies can be a burden keeping you or your loved one from seeking treatment, so we are happy to verify your insurance benefits for you.  Call us today at (702) 903-9847 to take that crucial first step and start a recovery journey.

The Veterans Administration (VA) does offer benefits that can cover substance abuse treatment, including detox, for eligible veterans. Under the VA’s Community Care Network, veterans can receive care from a community provider if the VA cannot provide the necessary services directly. Veterans should check their eligibility and coverage with the VA. Our team is happy to assist in this process and are standing by to help.  Call (702) 903-9847 today.

Yes, it is possible to enter a detox program without health insurance. Some treatment facilities offer sliding scale fees based on income, while others might have charity care programs or offer financing options. However, the cost can be significant, so it’s advisable to explore all possible funding sources. At Desert Winds Recovery Center, we don’t want your financial situation to keep you or a loved from seeking treatment, contact us today to see how we can help.

If you don’t have health insurance, there are several options to consider for funding detox treatment. These might include personal savings, loans from family or friends, personal loans, or crowdfunding. Additionally, some non-profit organizations and state-funded programs provide financial assistance for substance abuse treatment.  Your employer may offer Employee Assistance Plans (EAPs) that can help cover treatment or you may have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Savings Account (FSA) through your work whose funds can be used for rehab services.

According to SAMHSA, substance use disorder significantly increases suicidality among veterans ages 18 and older.

The National Institute of Drug Abuse, NIDA, found that more than one in ten veterans have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, which is slightly higher than the general population

SAMSHA also found that alcohol is the most commonly abused substance by veterans, with 4 in 5 veterans with a SUD abusing alcohol

More than 2 out of 10 Veterans with PTSD also have a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) – The VA

The success rate for detox with medication-assisted treatment is up to 80%, compared to a 5-10% success rate without it (NIDA)

The average cost of outpatient detox varies widely, from $1,000 to $1,500, but most quality programs average around $600 per day (National Center for
Drug Abuse Statistics)

Nevada, located in the western United States, is renowned for a variety of unique attractions and features. Most famously, it’s known for its vibrant cities such as Las Vegas, Reno, and Carson City. Las Vegas, often referred to as ‘The Entertainment Capital of the World’, is globally recognized for its nightlife, casinos, and entertainment shows. It also boasts more hotel rooms than any other city on the planet.

Adding to Nevada’s appeal are its stunning natural landscapes. The state is home to picturesque locations like Lake Tahoe and the Black Rock Desert. The arid deserts surrounded by striking mountains make Nevada an ideal place for national and state parks.

Nevada also holds significant historical value. It joined the Union during the Civil War, earning the nickname ‘The Battle Born State’. Nevada’s rich history extends to its economy as well. Known officially as the ‘Silver State’, Nevada earned this title due to the importance of silver to its history and economy. This discovery of silver in 1859 led to a major population boom in the state.

All these factors combined make Nevada a state of diverse offerings, from bustling city life to serene natural beauty, and a rich historical past.

Withdrawal Symptoms

The physical symptoms related to the withdrawal process are often significant. They can include an irregular heartbeat, nausea, shaking, fatigue, sweating, increased body temperature or heart rate, and an increased risk of seizures. If untreated, one or more of these symptoms can cause death.

Meanwhile, emotional reactions to the withdrawal process can be quite significant as well. This can be shown in you entering a depressed or anxious state, being irritable and easily agitated, experiencing hallucinations, and being unable to sleep as regularly or as deeply as you had been before. In many cases, the impact that detox has on your brain will be more significant than the physical symptoms.

Although the process is generally not a pleasant one, medical detox will help these symptoms become more manageable and not be as dangerous as they otherwise would be. We will also ensure that you are kept in a comfortable environment as you push through this step and towards the other side.

What Is Medical Detoxification?

Medical detoxification refers to experiencing the sometimes severe side effects of the initial removal of toxic substances from your body while under medical oversight. This oversight usually involves one or more physicians who are accompanied by nurses, therapists, and clinical staff members.

They will be knowledgeable about and experienced with the different withdrawal symptoms of various drugs and alcohol as well as knowing how to handle situations where you are simultaneously withdrawing from a number of them. They will also understand how the detox experience will blend with any physical or mental ailments unrelated to alcohol or drug use that you may be suffering from.

Should You Undergo Medical Detoxification?

Although there are no hard-set rules for when medical detox is necessary, consider these questions and general guidelines.

Do you feel that you are physically or emotionally dependent on a substance? Have you been using it or several substances in considerable amounts for an extended period of time? Have you noticed that you must use significantly more of it now to achieve the same effect as compared to before? Have you tried to undergo detox on your own in the past before realizing that you are unable to without help?

Simply put, the greater you have built a tolerance to something, the more likely it that a medical detox will be necessary for your own safety and to increase the chances that you will otherwise be able to get past that step and towards the other ones that are necessary for a more lasting recovery.

Alcohol is a substance that is particularly susceptible to dangerous withdrawal symptoms if the user has had it be a significant part of their life for some time. This is partly because withdrawing from it puts the individual at significant risk of increased blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature. In addition, delirium tremens can result in an irregular heart rate, shaking, sweating, hallucinations and confusion. This possible side effect, which generally lasts two or three days, is a particularly dangerous one to experience alone.

Withdrawing from benzodiazepines, such as Xanax or Valium, can also cause symptoms similar to those experienced by individuals withdrawing from alcohol use. Also note that benzo users may experience prolonged withdrawal symptoms, sometimes even lasting years. However, the most severe ones tend to occur near the start of that time period, the initial several days after ceasing use. With that said, a medical detox, receiving professional help, will often limit those long-term effects as well.

Opioids, such as heroin, can cause severe withdrawal symptoms although they are usually not fatal. However, they can be severe enough that it can prove to be especially challenging for the individual to not relapse into reusing the substance so that they put a temporary end to these symptoms and, as a result, continuously delay any sort of recovery until long into the future, if ever. Withdrawal symptoms related to opioid use include flu-like ones, nausea, muscle aches, and anxiety.

Meanwhile, stimulants, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, can cause severe depression-like symptoms to those experiencing withdrawal from them, which may require professional assistance.

Of course, other substances will also cause a variety of withdrawal symptoms that should be accounted for. Some of them may not be severe, but many will be.

The Medical Detoxification Experience

One of the first steps that you would experience when undergoing a medical detox is a thorough evaluation. This is when the alcohol or drugs that you are or would be withdrawing from would be determined. However, the process is much more thorough than that. It would also look for any medical conditions, co-occurring disorders, such as mental illness, any other psychologically related factors, and the overall risks for experiencing differing withdrawal symptoms.

Simply put, the big picture will be assessed as well as the specifics of your drug or alcohol use.

Once you start undergoing the detox experience, you may be issued some medications to assist the process, to ease your experience some, both from a comfort standpoint and from a safety one.

Some of the more commonly prescribed medications are naltrexone, suboxone, and Vivitrol. They limit opioid withdrawal symptoms. Vivitrol is also commonly used for those adjusting to a cessation of alcohol use.

Regardless of if you are prescribed any medications or not, you will experience close medical supervision, regular monitoring of your vital signs, and a constant assessment of your withdrawal symptoms to ensure that they are all being responded to in the safest way possible. Your nutrition and hydration needs will also be carefully watched and determined.

The length of a medical detox experience will vary, depending on what substances were used, how much of them were used and the physical makeup of the individual, including as it relates to their body chemistry, genetic makeup, and body weight. However, it will generally last between a few days to a couple of weeks with most detoxes lasting about a week.

What Comes After Medical Detox?

It is important to keep in mind that detox will not treat the core issues that caused drug or alcohol dependency or alter your condition’s long-term course. You should also keep in mind that “detox” is a misnomer. A considerable percentage of the toxic substances that are in your body from extended alcohol or drug use will still be there after a medical detox has been completed.

So, this initial detox experience is a necessary first step, but much more needs to also occur for dependency on these substances to be significantly affected. A comprehensive treatment program that addresses the causes of any addictions, as well as their long-term physiological effects, will help changes become more long-lasting.

Generally, patients should transition immediately from medical detox to residential or hospitalized treatment. This is partly because relapsing is still a high risk at the vulnerable time that occurs in the days and weeks after a medical detox has been completed.

Taking Advantage of a Medical Detox

If you or a loved one is about to or is currently experiencing a detox situation, it is important to secure medical assistance to ensure that the experience is as safe as possible. Our compassionate, supportive, and knowledgeable team will do that for you. We will also work with you to look towards the future, to beyond this detox experience, as you look to get to the other side of this time in your life.