Medical Detox for Drugs or Alcohol

Making the road to recovery a little bit smoother.

"I need help." These three words can be difficult to say, especially for someone dealing with a substance use disorder. But at Alta Vista Regional Hospital, we understand, and we're here to make things a little easier.

Our voluntary Medical Detox program offers individuals a more comfortable way to detox — right here in a secure, medically supervised environment. At Alta Vista Regional Hospital, you'll be cared for 24/7 by expert doctors and nurses who understand the detox process and are specially trained to help ease you through it.

Our program offers

• Assessment by specialized detox professionals
• Voluntary admission to our inpatient unit
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Personalized treatment plans
• Medically supervised detoxification and medical stabilization
• 3-day average length of stay
• Covered by many insurances
• Patient confidentiality
• Discharge/referral planning and "next step" support

Through it all, you'll receive compassionate care and round-the-clock monitoring by medical professionals. And for added peace of mind, the full resources of the hospital are available, should any medical needs arise.

Note: The detox process should never be attempted alone, and the sudden withdrawal of drugs or alcohol can be dangerous. For this reason, a managed stay in a hospital or detox center may be preferable to going "cold turkey" at home.

Substances we treat

Remember, substance dependence is not a sign of weakness or failure. It's a disease that can be treated, just like diabetes or asthma. And recovery is possible — with proper support and a strong commitment from the individual. Here at Alta Vista Regional Hospital, we treat those dependent on a wide range of substances, including:

• Alcohol
• Benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Librium)
• Opioids (e.g., heroin, OxyContin, Vicodin)
• Stimulants (e.g., methamphetamine, cocaine)
• Prescription medications

When it's time to stop

Not sure you have a problem? It's time to get help when you experience:

• Personality changes, extreme mood swings or chronic anger that affects relationships
• Absenteeism and poor performance at work or school
• Overwhelming withdrawal symptoms when attempting to give up drugs or alcohol

What to expect

The first step in the treatment process is assessment. At Alta Vista Regional Hospital, the assessment consists of a medical history, a physical, complete blood work and a nursing assessment. From there, you'll receive your own personalized treatment plan and admission to the inpatient unit.*

The inpatient stay involves (on average) three days of medication-assisted treatment under the supervision of Alta Vista Regional Hospital doctors and nurses. When you're ready for discharge, you'll be given "next step" support to continue your recovery.

How will it feel?

While everyone's detox experience is different, you can take comfort in knowing this: The very purpose of medical detox is to lessen a patient's symptoms. Rather than abruptly withdrawing a substance, patients undergoing medical detox are eased into the process gradually through the use of prescription medications, which help to lessen the side effects of withdrawal.

Taking the first step

Of course, not everyone who needs help is ready to seek it, as family members know all too well. That's why the decision to seek treatment must be voluntary. At Alta Vista Regional Hospital, we cannot accept individuals brought to the hospital by the process of intervention.

But when you're ready to seek treatment, we're ready to help. No referral is necessary. To learn more, or to schedule an assessment, call 505-426-3771 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.** And take that important first step on the road to recovery.

* Those who do not meet the criteria for inpatient treatment will be given alternate recommendations.
** Individuals already in the process of withdrawal and/or those considered medically unstable may be admitted 24 hours a day through the Emergency Department.