There are two types of detox: medical and non-medical detox. Medical detoxification is the use of prescribed drugs in detoxification. From nutritional management to massage therapy and community detox; non-medical detoxification is different. It is a means of detoxification without the help of drugs.

Difference between medical and non-medical rehabilitation.
The biggest difference is in the use of medicines. Medical Detox uses medications to help clients get rid of substances. In contrast, non-medical detox does not use drugs. 

Medical detoxification takes place in a hospital. Non-medical detox takes place in our treatment center. Patients have a place to recover from usage behavior. In addition, they receive support from others who have similar experiences.

Medical Detox is a hospital treatment run by a professional doctor and nurses. Nurses are pure medical personnel. Their job is to monitor the detox and discharge the patient when clean.

Non-medical detox is a treatment center procedure administered by our own doctors. These include counsellors, recovery support coaches, interns and nursing staff. You feel that you are being taken care of as if they were your own family members. It is important to receive such care, especially for emotional problems.

Medical detoxification uses prescription drugs. It depends on what chemical is being detoxified. Examples of detox drugs include, but are not limited to:

• Benzodiazepines
• Opioid antagonists
• Non-opioid agonists
• Opioid agonists
• Antidepressants

Tapering is the process of reducing the dose of a medication over a certain schedule. Medicines help to eliminate withdrawal symptoms in the body. Its use focuses on relieving unpleasant sensations during detoxification. Therefore, medical supervision is essential. This is because tapering off without professional help either leads to greater drug addiction. Or severe withdrawal symptoms. Neither symptom is particularly beneficial for long-term recovery.

Non-medical detoxification may use nutritional supplements and herbal preparations in the detoxification process. We have our own nutritionist who guides clients to follow a proper diet. This diet consists of a meal plan and a tracking program. A nutritionist provides nutritional advice and support in detoxification. Proper nutrition helps cleanse the body of the damage caused by drug or alcohol addiction.

Depending on the symptoms, the duration of medical detoxification varies. This can take from a few days to about a week. But compared to the treatment time, it is usually shorter.

Non-medical detoxification is part of our center’s treatment program. Therefore, it is difficult to tell when one phase has ended and another one begins.

Full activity is the only indication for drug-free detoxification. The reason is that participation in rehabilitation activities is limited. This can cause excessive stress during the detoxification process.  For some, withdrawal may be longer because they are dependent on the prescribed medication.

Medical detoxification is done alone in a hospital bedroom/ward. The client does not interact with other addicts except those who come to him. Transfer clients and interns sometimes visit our new clients at the hospital.

Non-medical detoxification is a form of community detoxification. This means clients have peer support in recovery. We have discovered that socialization has tremendous power to become healing medicine. Customers feel accepted, loved and cared for. These experiences can be very rewarding because they lead to faster healing.

• Medically Monitored Inpatient Withdrawal Management Service Definition and Required Components Non-Hospital Medical Detoxification is an organized service delivered by medical and nursing professionals, that provides for 24-hour medically supervised evaluation and withdrawal management in a permanent facility affiliated with a hospital or in a freestanding facility of 16 beds or less.
• Services are delivered under a defined set of physician-approved policies and physician-monitored procedures and clinical protocols.
• A comprehensive clinical assessment is one mechanism to demonstrate medical necessity for a service and to assess and identify an individual’s needs.
• For state-funded services, a service order is recommended.
• Providers shall coordinate with the LME-MCO regarding their requirements for service orders. Provider Requirements Non-Hospital Medical Detoxification shall be delivered by practitioners employed by substance abuse provider organizations that meet the requirements of 10A NCAC 27G and the provider qualification policies, procedures, and standards established by DMH/DD/SAS.
• These policies and procedures set forth the administrative, financial, clinical, quality improvement, and information services infrastructure necessary to provide services.

• Non-Hospital Medical Detoxification is staffed by physicians, who are available 24 hours a day by telephone and who conducts an assessment within 24 hours of admission.
• Physician assessments may be conducted in-person or via telehealth.
• A registered nurse is available to conduct a nursing assessment on admission and oversee the monitoring of an individual’s progress and medication administration.
• The level of nursing care is appropriate to the severity of the individual’s needs, based on the clinical protocols of the program.
• Appropriately licensed and credentialed staff are available to administer medications in accordance with physician orders.
• Non-Hospital Medical Detoxification is staffed by physicians, who are available 24 hours a day by telephone and who conducts an assessment within 24 hours of admission.
• Physician assessments may be conducted in-person or via telehealth.
• A registered nurse is available to conduct a nursing assessment on admission and oversee the monitoring of an individual’s progress and medication administration.
• The level of nursing care is appropriate to the severity of the individual’s needs, based on the clinical protocols of the program.
• Appropriately licensed and credentialed staff are available to administer medications in accordance with physician orders.
• A registered nurse is available to conduct a nursing assessment on admission and oversee the monitoring of an individual’s progress and medication administration.
• The level of nursing care is appropriate to the severity of the individual’s needs, based on the clinical protocols of the program. Appropriately licensed and credentialed staff are available to administer medications in accordance with physician orders.
• Date Amended: August 1, 2022 98 State-Funded Enhanced MH/SA Services – August 1, 2022 24-hour evaluation, care and treatment services for individuals engaged in Non-Hospital Medical Detoxification.
• The planned regimen of 24-hour evaluation, care and treatment services must be under the clinical supervision of a CCS or LCAS who is available by phone 24 hours a day.
• The planned regimen of 24-hour evaluation, care and treatment services for individuals engaged in Non-Hospital Medical Detoxification must be provided by staff who meet the requirements specified for QP or AP status in Substance Abuse according to 10A NCAC 27G .0104, under the supervision of a LCAS or CCS.
• Paraprofessional level providers who meet the requirements for Paraprofessional status according to 10A NCAC 27G.0104 and who have the knowledge, skills, and abilities required by the population and age to be served may deliver the planned regimen of 24-hour evaluation, care and treatment services for individuals engaged in Medical Detoxification, under the supervision of a LCAS or CCS. Paraprofessional level providers may not provide services in lieu of on-site service provision to individuals by a QP, CCS, LCAS, LCAS-A, CSAC or CADC.