Serenity Foundation of Texas Serenity House Detox Unit Claimed

Our detox facility currently accommodates 20 patients. Detox patients are overseen 24/7 by our expert staff of nurses and physicians who help patients go through the initial stages of withdrawal in a way that is safe and as comfortable as possible.

Long-term drug and alcohol abuse takes a toll on both the mind and body. For someone addicted to drugs and alcohol, withdrawal can be quite severe; it can possibly even lead to seizures or death. We offer a medically-supervised detoxification process to ensure rehab is accomplished in the safest and easiest way.

The decision for someone to undergo detox is made by our medical professionals, as is the duration of their stay. If required, detoxification is medication-assisted with 24-hour professional nursing care. With standing orders, our nurses begin the process as soon as you are admitted to detox. Within 24 hours, every patient is seen by a staff physician who will establish and monitor physical care.

If the process is required to be medication-assisted, this means that medication is used to help reduce and control withdrawal symptoms and ensure a patient’s safety. There is no definite duration for detox; it is simply patient driven. For someone addicted to depressants (alcohol or benzos), a 4-5 days stay is typical. For opiate detox, or in cases with complicating medical factors, the process may take longer and be based on the needs of the patient, the discretion of the physicians, and medical necessity.

For opiate detoxification, patients are given buprenorphine, a drug that substitutes for opioids and prevents withdrawal. The patient is then gradually weaned off of buprenorphine, a partial agonist, meaning that it can interfere with withdrawal symptoms without producing the same side effects of the opiate it is replacing. The effects of the drug increase with the dosage, but only to a certain degree. Once this “ceiling” is reached, an increase in dosage does not increase the effects, which reduces the risk of abuse.

Substance detoxification should never be undertaken without medical supervision. Our detox facility in Abilene, Texas offers a safe, medically-supervised method for eliminating drugs from the body. When this happens, cognitive ability will gradually improve, and the patient will be ready to enter residential treatment.