Opioids include prescription pain medications and illicit substances such as heroin and fentanyl. With repeated use, the body can develop physical dependence, meaning withdrawal symptoms may occur when opioid use is reduced or stopped.
Opioid withdrawal can include muscle aches, restlessness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, insomnia, and strong cravings. While opioid withdrawal is not typically life-threatening on its own, the experience can be intense and may increase the risk of returning to opioid use.
For individuals who have developed opioid dependence, medically supervised detox can provide structure, monitoring, symptom management, and a safer beginning to the recovery process.
Opioid detox focuses on helping the individual safely navigate the acute physical effects of stopping or reducing opioid use while the clinical team monitors symptoms and overall stability.
Treatment may include medications and supportive interventions when clinically appropriate. For individuals with opioid use disorder, medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone may be considered as part of a broader treatment plan when appropriate and available through the individual’s ongoing care team.
At Four Pillars, treatment begins with an individualized assessment. The medical and clinical team considers the substance being used, pattern and duration of use, physical health, mental health, previous withdrawal experiences, medications, and other factors that may influence the course of treatment.
Our goal is not simply to help someone stop using opioids. It is to provide a clinically supported starting point for continued recovery.
Opioid withdrawal is assessed and monitored by the Four Pillars medical and clinical team throughout the individual's stay.
Withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and vary from person to person. Clinical interventions and medications may be used when appropriate to help manage symptoms and support stabilization.
The course of opioid withdrawal can change over time. Ongoing monitoring allows the treatment team to assess changes in symptoms, medical status, emotional well-being, and treatment needs.
There is no single opioid detox experience. Each individual receives care based on their clinical presentation, history, current needs, and recovery goals.
Detoxification addresses the acute effects of withdrawal but is only the beginning of treatment. Before discharge, the Four Pillars team works with each individual to identify appropriate next steps and encourage continued engagement in treatment and recovery support.
Getting Started
Opoid Detox at Four Pillars is intended to be a clinical intervention, not a standalone treatment for addiction, and serves as the critical first step in treating substance use disorders within a comprehensive, outcome-focused model of care.
Licensed Residential Programs focus on the psychological, behavioral, and emotional aspects of addiction during the individual's first few weeks of treatment. These programs offer 24/7 clinical support to the individual while they remain vulnerable to the behaviors associated with addiction.
Also known as day treatment programs, partial hospitalization programs provide daily therapeutic services to individuals as they begin to reintegrate back into everyday life but require consistent structure. Here, you live independently and attend daily intensive group therapy.
As the individual continues to build their skills and social support, they begin to require less daily structure. Intensive Outpatient is designed to provide a level of therapeutic support that aligns with individuals responsibilities, such as employment, education, or caring for their family.
Licensed sober living communities are not therapeutic in nature but foster a sense of community of shared challenges and goals. Living in a sober living community combines independent living with accountability from peers with first-hand knowledge of what you are working through.
You may need medical detox if you:
If you are unsure whether or not detox is right for you, we are here to help. Contact us today to speak confidentially to one of our admissions counselors and let us help guide you in the right direction.
Withdrawal symptoms vary and depend on the substance and the individual but may include:
Four Pillars Recovery highly discourages detoxing without seeking medical care in advance. Our admissions coordinators are here to help. Contact us today, and let us help you navigate the first steps in a safe, comfortable environment.
Rehab is a widely used word that encompasses the entire continuum of care. However, the individual pathway to recovery is just as unique as the pathway that let to the addiction in the first place.
In general, detox focuses on stabilizing the physiological effects caused by stopping or reducing substance use. Whereas, rehab, in its many intensities, focuses on addressing the psychological, behavioral, and emotional features of addiction. Both are essential parts of the recovery process.
Addiction treatment programs, such as Four Pillars Recovery, are designed to help each individual identify treatment goals and establish a treatment plan that reinforces those goals.
In most cases, health insurance benefits will cover medical detox services, including private/commercial insurance plans, employer-sponsored plans, and medicaid plans, such as Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).
Contact us today, or complete our verification of benefits form, and let Four Pillars Recovery help you understand what your insurance plan will cover.
Detox alone is not treatment. It is simply the first step. Individuals who complete medical detox at Four Pillars work one on one with a case manager who is there to help coordinate next steps. It is highly encouraged that, upon completion, care is continued in a structured program such as:
These programs address the underlying causes of addiction and support long-term recovery through skills development and reintegration into everyday life.
