Detoxification, or detox, is the medically managed process we use to safely withdraw you from drugs or alcohol. We proactively manage your care with medications, comfort interventions, and support to help you to take the first step to stop using in a way that keeps you safe. We recognize that the body undergoes changes when a substance is initially stopped. Our goal is to medically monitor you in a comfortable environment while keeping you safe from medical complications.  

There are two primary reasons we use medications during the detox process. The first is to keep you medically safe and stable. Stopping drugs or alcohol may increase blood pressure and pulse, and can cause gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, headaches, sweating, and tremors. In more severe cases it can put you at risk for seizure or lead to hallucinations. Medications allow us to keep you as comfortable as possible as well as protect you from severe complications including seizures. The second reason is our belief that people do not need to suffer through the withdrawal process. While we can’t completely remove symptoms, we can make the symptoms easier to tolerate so you can successfully complete the detox process and move on to the next stage in recovery. 

When you arrive for admission at Midwest Detox, you will be greeted by a registered nurse and behavioral health technician that will help you get settled in. They will help ease any anxiety about the process, answer your questions, and provide initial consents and assessments, including gathering your medical history and substance use history. Your blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen status will be taken, and your blood may be drawn to assess how well your body is functioning and your nutrition and hydration status. All histories and assessments are administered to help us keep you safe during your time at Midwest Detox, and we will always explore these with you in a non-judgmental way.    

At Midwest Detox you will be cared for by a medical team that includes psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, therapists, and behavioral health techs. All of our staff members have specifically made the choice to work in mental health and addiction medicine because they hold the belief that people should be treated with dignity and respect. It is our goal to treat people in a humane way and support them through their process. 

During your stay at Midwest Detox, you can expect to have a private room and bathroom. Your activities are largely up to you and are dependent on how you are feeling. At all times you will be under the care of a registered nurse and a caring medical team. You will also meet with a medical provider, therapist, and discharge planner who will gather information and work with you to decide on your next steps in the recovery process. It is our priority to make you as comfortable as possible during the detox process. If you’re feeling up to it, you can access our dining room for meals and a client lounge to watch television, read, play a game, or do a puzzle or an art project. Oftentimes, clients gather in this area and talk with one another or staff. We additionally host weekly AA meetings in our community room, which is a great way to experience and attend a meeting during your stay. 

Detox is only the beginning of the recovery process. While you are with us, we will give our recommendation for what level of care we suggest following detox, but you ultimately have choices in your journey. Clients often move from detox directly onto residential care where they can participate in groups and individual and family therapy, as well as process trauma or grief if necessary. Other levels of care include partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, or individual therapy. We can also help connect you with meetings such as AA, Dharma Recovery, or SMART recovery.