Kirk Burness of Novus Medical Detox Center Explains Risks Associated With Rapid Detox and Advantages of Gradual Withdrawal Programs in Medically Supervised Inpatient Setting
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla., June 18, 2012 — While detox programs can help opiate abusers overcome their addiction, Novus Medical Detox Director Kirk Burness warns rapid detox has risks of its own. In light of the dangers associated with both opiate use and rapid detox, Burness advises those seeking detox treatments to opt for a medically supervised inpatient program.
Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that 13.5 million people take opioids(1); and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioid analgesics are involved in more than 40% of drug poisoning deaths in the United States(2). Individuals seeking treatment for opiate abuse have several options, including anesthesia-assisted rapid detox and gradual-withdrawal detox programs.
However, a clinical study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that rapid detox programs are not pain-free and offer no advantage over other treatment methods in relation to withdrawal symptoms. In addition, the findings showed that rapid detox can be more costly than other alternatives and can produce serious adverse reactions in some patients. The researchers concluded that the randomized trial “demonstrates no benefit of anesthesia over a safer, cheaper and potentially outpatient alternative,” and asserted that general anesthesia “does not currently have a meaningful role to play in the treatment of opioid dependence"(3).
“Rapid detox clinics claim that patients can avoid the most severe withdrawal symptoms by going under anesthesia for six to eight hours. However, recuperation from the strong drug injected during rapid detox often takes from a few days to several weeks,” said Burness. “On top of that, anesthesia has its own risks, which can include permanent damage to the brain, heart or other major organs as well as memory dysfunction or memory loss. That’s why most experts agree that the best and safest approach is a medically supervised detox program in an inpatient setting.”
Burness asserts that gradual-withdrawal methods offer a safer alternative to rapid detox, and cites the advantages of inpatient drug treatment programs. “At Novus, our patients are treated in a comfortable, residential setting and remain conscious and alert – many can even continue handling family and business matters remotely during their stay. We use medications only as needed, and our patients receive nutritious meals and natural supplements, which help fortify the body and aid in faster recovery.”
While many individuals who undergo rapid detox programs are subsequently prescribed additional drugs to manage the discomforts associated with detox, Burness notes that Novus patients won’t be on new medications when they leave since gradual-withdrawal programs place minimum stress on the body. He also emphasizes that patients at Novus have the benefit of medical supervision 24 hours a day during their detox. “The average stay at our facility is between five days and a week, which is often far less than the time required to recover from the effects of rapid detox,” he added. “When our patients complete their detox program, they are ready to resume their lives or, if needed, take the next step in their recovery.”
To learn more about Novus Medical Detox Center and why it offers a safer alternative to rapid detox, visit .
About Novus Medical Detox Center
Novus Medical Detox Center offers safe, effective alcohol and drug treatment programs in a home-like residential setting. Located on 3.25 tree-lined acres in New Port Richey, Fla., Novus is licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families as an inpatient medical detox facility. Novus is known for minimizing the discomfort of withdrawal from prescription medication, drugs or alcohol by creating a customized detox program for each patient, incorporating medication, natural supplements and fluid replenishment – putting the dignity and humanity back into drug detoxification. Patients have 24/7 medical supervision, including round-the-clock nursing care and access to a withdrawal specialist, and enjoy comfortable private or shared rooms with a telephone, television, DVD player and high-speed Internet access. For more information on Novus Medical Detox Center, please visit .
(1) World Health Organization. “Management of Substance Abuse: Opiates.” Published online; accessed May 28, 2012. <http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/facts/opiates/en>
(2) Warner, Margaret et al. Drug Poisoning Deaths in the United States, 1980-2008. December 2011. <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db81.pdf>
(3) Collins, Eric D. et al. “Anesthesia-Assisted vs Buprenorphine- or Clonidine-Assisted Heroin Detoxification and Naltrexone Induction: A Randomized Trial.” The Journal of the American Medical Association. August 24/31, 2005. <http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?volume=294&issue=8&page=903>
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