The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that in Nevada:¹

217,000 adults met the criteria for a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year.
201,000 adults needed SUD treatment but did not get it.

If you or someone you know is struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, it’s never too late to seek help. There are many types of rehab treatment available, and detox can be a critical first step in recovery. Professional medical detox offers supportive services to both ensure your safety and ease you through withdrawal symptoms so that you are ready for the next stage of treatment.

What Is a Medical Detox Program?

Medical drug and alcohol detox is medically supervised drug and alcohol withdrawal.² During the withdrawal period, your care team closely watches your progress to ensure you’re as safe and comfortable as possible.² They may also give you prescription medicines to help reduce cravings and manage your withdrawal symptoms.²

Medical detox differs from social detox in that medical settings can offer more direct medical support than most social detox settings.² Many social detox programs also do not use prescription medicines, relying more on peer and counselor support.²

When Is Medical Detox Needed?

Medical detox is the process of helping you clear toxins from your body while reducing physical harm of substances that are causing problems in your life. This can include illegal drugs, alcohol, or even certain prescription medicines. Some common reasons your care team may advise medical detox include:^2.4,5,7

You have a history of severe withdrawal symptoms or relapse (return to drug or alcohol use after a period of not using).
You have a severe or long-term SUD.
You are at a higher risk of having severe mental health issues or harming yourself.
You have chronic health issues, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
You use more than one substance (polysubstance use).
You have an unsafe or unsupportive living environment.

Medical Detox Helps Manage Withdrawal Symptoms

Dependence happens when your body adapts to the regular use of drugs or alcohol, causing withdrawal symptoms when you stop or greatly reduce the amount you take.² In general, withdrawal symptoms are often opposite of the effects felt when using the substance.² Which symptoms you have, and whether or not they are mild, moderate, or severe, will depend on:²

The substance(s) you used.
How long you used.
How much you used.
Your overall physical and mental health.

Common withdrawal symptoms include, but are not limited to:²

Nausea.
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Fatigue.
Shakiness.
Chills or sweats.
Trouble sleeping (insomnia) or sleeping too much (hypersomnia).
Headache and other body, muscle, and bone pains.
Increased blood pressure (hypertension) or heart rate (tachycardia).
Drug or alcohol cravings.

What Are the Benefits of Medical Detox?

Two important benefits of medical detox are eliminating or reducing distressing withdrawal symptoms and ensuring your overall physical health and safety.² If you choose medical detox in an inpatient setting, you’ll also have the benefit of 24-hour care to address any medical needs you may have during this process.² Doctors and other care staff will check in on you to make sure you’re as safe and comfortable as possible. They can also help you move into the next stage of recovery, whether that’s at a hospital, a rehabilitation (rehab) center, sober living home, or other service.

What Is the Medical Detox Process?

The detox process varies depending on:

The drug(s) you are using.
How long you’ve been using.
Your treatment goals.
Your withdrawal symptoms, overall health, and medical history.
The treatment setting.

That said, most patients start medical detox with an assessment that includes a physical exam and routine lab work so your care team can get a full picture of your health and your treatment needs.² Doctors will also typically check vital signs, including heart rate and blood pressure, breathing rate, oxygen level, and body temperature. They may also ask questions about your thoughts and feelings, job, or school, living environment, and readiness for change.^2,3 All of this information helps you and your care team create a detailed treatment plan that is unique to you and your treatment needs.

Are Medicines Used in Medical Detox?

Your care team may give you prescription medicines to help manage withdrawal symptoms or cravings.^2,7

How Long Does Medical Detox Last?

Most people spend about 3 to 7 days in medical detox.¹¹ But exactly how long detox lasts depends on many factors, including:²

The substances you use.
How much you take.
How long you’ve been using them
Your withdrawal symptoms.
Your overall health.

What Happens after Medical Detox?

For many people, it is helpful to continue treatment of some form after detox. This is because while detox can clear your body of substances of misuse, it doesn’t always address the reasons that led to substance abuse.¹² Understanding what led to substance use and learning how to cope with triggers (the people, places, and things that lead to substance use) can help you maintain your abstinence (not using substances of abuse) in the long-term.¹² For some, this may include a residential drug treatment program, attending an intensive outpatient rehab program, or going to therapy. Others may attend 12-step support groups like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or another mutual help group, like SMART Recovery.²

Finding Medical Detox in Las Vegas, Nevada

As of 2020, there were 11 non-hospital inpatient, 9 hospital inpatient, and 28 outpatient detox centers in Las Vegas.¹⁰ American Addiction Centers (AAC) also offers medical detox services in Las Vegas. If you or someone you care about needs help finding treatment in Nevada or any other place in the United States, we can help. Our caring admissions navigators are standing by any time day or night to answer your questions and connect you with resources near you. Whether you need residential treatment, outpatient detox, or drug addiction rehab centers, AAC has helped countless people just like you get their lives back on track again after years of struggling under the weight of addiction. Ready to get started? Call our free and confidential helpline at , or get started online by filling out the form below.

Medical Drug and Alcohol Detox in Las Vegas, Nevada