Missoula, Montana Hospital Launches Medical Detox Program

A new local option is available for adults in Western Montana who need medical detox. Community Medical Center in Missoula launched a supervised withdrawal management program on September 9 through StepOne Service. The program addresses a treatment gap that has significantly affected the area for years.

Why Medical Detox Matters

Alcohol and opioid withdrawal can pose serious risks especially when people manage it alone. According to local reporting from KPAX Western Montana has had few medically supervised options.

Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick expressed that the need has been around for a long time and is grateful that a new option has opened.

Medical detox provides around the clock clinical monitoring. Medical teams can also use medication to ease withdrawal symptoms, and create a secure setting during the acute withdrawal period.

Alcohol withdrawal deserves caution. Severe cases can cause seizures and other life threatening complications.

Opioid withdrawal rarely causes death on its own. The discomfort can push people back toward opioid use before the end of withdrawal. Tolerance can also fall after someone stops using opioids. Returning to previous amounts after that decline can increase the risk of overdose.

How the StepOne Program Works

StepOne Service at Community Medical Center offers a three to five day detox program for adults. Patients must choose admission voluntarily and they must also be at least 18 years old.

The program accepts the insurance plans that Community Medical Center generally accepts, which includes commercial insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.

Brian Jensen serves as founder and CEO of Evergreen Healthcare Partners which operates the program with the hospital.

Matt Robinson completed the program after he returned to alcohol use. He now reports more than one month of sobriety.

Robinson described withdrawal as the most difficult part of the experience. “Your head pounds, your heartbeat feels like it’s going to pound out of its chest. You shake you get clammy. You’re nauseous dry heaves” he told KPAX. He remained in the program for five or six days.

“It’s a lifelong disease” he said. “It’s never going to go away. You have to treat it every day.”

Finding Medical Detox in Montana

If you or someone you love depends on alcohol or opioids do not attempt withdrawal alone.

Search Detox.com’s listing to find accredited detox centers and medical detox programs throughout Montana and across the country.

Check insurance coverage and look for programs that have immediate openings. Call 800-996-6135Sponsored to find medically supervised detox near you.