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For many people thinking about inpatient treatment, the fear of withdrawal is what keeps them from making the call. They may already know how withdrawal feels without help, but they do not know what changes when medical staff is involved or whether medication really helps. In programs that provide supervised rehabilitation services, medication can make detox safer, more stable, and more manageable for the person going through it.
That support depends on the substance involved, the person’s symptoms, and their overall medical condition. Medically supervised detox may use FDA-approved medications to ease withdrawal symptoms, reduce physical distress, and lower the risk of serious complications. The care team decides what to use based on the clinical picture in front of them rather than taking the same approach with everyone. This section explains how that works in practice.
Why Medications Are Used During Detox
Withdrawal from certain substances is not just uncomfortable. For alcohol and benzodiazepines, it can be medically dangerous. Alcohol withdrawal carries a risk of seizures that can appear within 24 to 96 hours of the last drink. Benzodiazepine withdrawal follows a similar pattern. Opioid withdrawal is rarely life-threatening, but the physical severity of symptoms is one of the primary drivers of relapse in the first days of detox.
Medications during detox serve two purposes. First, they manage the physical symptoms of withdrawal so the process is safer and more bearable. Second, for opioid and alcohol use disorder, specific medications reduce cravings and lower the biological pull toward relapse. This is what medication-assisted treatment refers to in a clinical context, and it has significant research support as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
Medications Used for Opioid Detox
Opioid withdrawal, whether from heroin, fentanyl, or prescription painkillers, is physically severe. Muscle aches, nausea, sweating, insomnia, and intense cravings are common within the first 24 to 72 hours. Our clinical team uses several medications to manage this phase:
Buprenorphine / Suboxone / Sublicaid Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings without producing the full euphoric effect of opioids. Suboxone combines buprenorphine with naloxone. Sublocade is another buprenorphine-based formulation. These are among the most widely used medications in opioid detox and are administered under physician oversight.
Methadone, a long-acting opioid agonist methadone reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It is used both in the detox phase and as a longer-term MAT medication for opioid use disorder when clinically appropriate.
Naltrexone / Vivitrol: Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids at the receptor level. Vivitrol is the extended-release injectable form of naltrexone. These are typically introduced after the acute withdrawal phase to reduce relapse risk during early recovery.
Clonidine is not an opioid but manages many of the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal, including anxiety, sweating, elevated blood pressure, and restlessness. It is often used alongside other MAT medications.
Medications Used for Alcohol Detox
Alcohol withdrawal is one of the most medically serious withdrawal syndromes. Symptoms can escalate from anxiety and tremors to seizures within 48 hours of the last drink, which is why alcohol detox always requires clinical supervision.
Our medical team monitors patients closely through this phase. Medications used may include:
Benzodiazepines (under physician supervision). Benzodiazepines are the primary medical treatment for alcohol withdrawal. They reduce seizure risk, manage anxiety, and stabilize the nervous system during the acute withdrawal phase. They are administered and monitored by our clinical team, not self-managed.
Disulfiram Disulfiram is used in alcohol use disorder treatment after the detox phase. It creates a physically aversive reaction if alcohol is consumed, which helps support abstinence during early recovery.
Naltrexone / Vivitrol Naltrexone is also used in alcohol use disorder treatment. It reduces the rewarding effects of alcohol and lowers craving intensity, making it a useful tool in both the detox and rehabilitation phases.
How Medications Fit Into a Full Treatment Plan
Medication during detox is one component of treatment, not the whole of it. Our medically supervised detox transitions directly into the 28-day inpatient rehabilitation program in the same facility. There is no transfer, no gap, and no period of waiting between phases.
MAT can continue into the rehabilitation phase when clinically appropriate. Whether a patient continues on buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone during inpatient rehab is a clinical decision made by our medical team based on the individual's needs, not a blanket policy.
Medications are used alongside individual counseling, group therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care. The medication manages the physiological dimension of withdrawal and early recovery. The therapy addresses the psychological and behavioral patterns that medication alone cannot reach.
What Our Medical Team Determines
Not every patient needs every medication. Our clinical team conducts a full medical and psychiatric evaluation within the first 24 hours of admission. That evaluation determines which medications, if any, are clinically appropriate for a given patient based on the substances involved, their medical history, and their withdrawal risk.
MAT is not offered categorically. It is prescribed when it is the right clinical choice for that individual.
Starting Treatment
If you have questions about what detox will involve for your situation, or if you want to confirm whether your insurance covers inpatient treatment, call us at (347) 727-4800. Our admissions team is available 24/7 and can walk you through the process before you commit to anything. Free insurance verification is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is medication-assisted treatment (MAT)? MAT combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorder. It reduces cravings, manages withdrawal symptoms, and lowers the risk of relapse. Our medical team determines whether MAT is appropriate as part of each patient's individualized treatment plan.
Does your facility offer medication during detox? Yes. When clinically appropriate, we administer FDA-approved medications to manage withdrawal symptoms. These include Suboxone, buprenorphine, Vivitrol, Sublicaid, methadone, naltrexone, disulfiram, and clonidine, depending on the substance and each patient's clinical needs.
Will my loved one be safe during detox? We provide 24/7 medical supervision throughout detox. Nursing and clinical staff monitor vital signs, manage withdrawal symptoms, and administer medications when needed. Patients are not left to go through withdrawal without clinical oversight at any point.
Contact Us
At Surfpoint Recovery, we're here to support you on your journey to recovery. Whether you're ready to begin the admission process or have questions about our services, our team is available to assist you.
Phone Number: (347) 727-4800
Email for Paperwork: paperwork@recoverywithheart.com
Facility Address: 2316 Surf Ave, Entrance on West 24th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11224
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday - Open 24 hours
Online Contact Form: Prefer to reach out online? Please fill out our contact form, and a member of our team will get back to you promptly.
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