Expertise & Knowledge Ensure Comfort & Safety

Medically managed withdrawal - also known as detoxification or detox - is only the beginning of the recovery process. Las Vegas Recovery Center (LVRC) provides this level of care in a safe, confidential, clinical environment with around-the-clock supervision by nursing and medical staff. LVRC can accommodate the most complex and difficult cases, including dependence on all types of opioids (narcotic painkillers), sedatives (sleeping pills), anti-anxiety drugs (nerve pills), stimulants (cocaine and methamphetamine), alcohol, and marijuana. Our program offers individualized detoxification protocols that can include a variety of medications, including the short-term use of methadone or buprenorphine (Subutex) for opioid detoxification when indicated. We are Nevada's only private treatment facility fully licensed by the DEA and equipped for medically managed withdrawal from methadone.

The key to successful detoxification is personalized assessment. This is accomplished by a multidisciplinary clinical treatment team and closely monitored by our expert medical and nursing staff under the supervision of our Medical Director, Mel Pohl, MD, FASAM.

A Closer Look at Withdrawal

Withdrawal consists of the development of physical and psychological symptoms when a physically addicting drug is stopped abruptly in a person who is physically dependent on the drug(s). The symptoms are usually the opposite of the effects of that drug. For example, withdrawal from sedative or anti-anxiety drugs, (which are used to induce sleep or relaxation) and alcohol will consist of anxiety, insomnia, increased breathing rate, elevated blood pressure, and increased body temperature. Seizures can occur during withdrawal from these drugs. Withdrawal from stimulants such as "meth" or cocaine results in fatigue, irritability, and depression. Finally, withdrawal symptoms from opioid pain relievers include increased pain, anxiety, sleep disturbance, agitation, muscle cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Medical treatment begins with a thorough evaluation by our medical staff. Blood will be drawn and analyzed for drug-induced medical complications, such as liver problems, blood count abnormalities, and other potential health issues. Individuals who are experiencing withdrawal need rest, nutrition, and especially fluid replacement.

Medications are used to manage withdrawal in order to minimize symptoms and physical suffering while keeping the client safe. Typically, treatment involves administering enough medication to decrease the symptoms of withdrawal and gradually decreasing the dose of these medications over the next three to ten days. Some drug withdrawal may last longer if the drugs are those that stay in the system longer, for example, Oxycontin or methadone.

Decisions and protocols for detoxification are made by the medical staff and will be adjusted daily or more frequently depending on the symptoms experienced by the client. Since clients react differently to the process dose adjustments are individualized based on each client's experience.

After Detox

After the client is stabilized, the treatment team will make a recommendation for ongoing treatment. Simply eliminating the substance from the body is not treatment. It is necessary to be free of all reward-inducing drugs in order to begin the recovery process from the disease of addiction. But addiction treatment requires intense life-changing actions that will lead to a change in thinking and circumstances.

Many clients and families are not fully educated about addiction and believe that detox in and of itself is the solution to their problems. At LVRC we are convinced, from our years of experience, that to be successful requires ongoing treatment and involvement with a mutual support network.

We admit clients to detox only if the family is willing to participate in our family programming  and if the client has agreed to follow up with treatment  after detoxification. LVRC is committed to helping you find a long-term solution that will last a lifetime.