Opioid detox and rehab
Opioid withdrawal rarely kills you. What kills is the crash. At Pines you detox under 24/7 medical supervision, with FDA-approved medications from the first day, then move into residential inpatient care. Call (855) 981-8935 and we will verify your plan first.
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Opioid withdrawal, what it looks like
Opioid withdrawal is not fatal for most people. It is brutal, and the crash drives relapse and overdose. Tolerance falls fast during withdrawal, so a return to use at pre-detox doses is a common overdose pathway. Medical detox with medication-assisted treatment (MAT) handles both.
Inpatient detox is the right level of care when use has been heavy, fentanyl has been in the picture, or other problems run alongside.
Every opioid detox at Pines runs on the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale.
Medication treatment (MAT), physician-directed
Every opioid detox begins with a full assessment: substances, last use, dose, prior medications, comorbidities. The plan is built from that.
First-line for most patients. Started once the withdrawal score reaches the safe induction threshold, then stabilized over 48 to 72 hours. A long-acting Sublocade injection is available.
Appropriate for patients with high opioid tolerance, prior buprenorphine non-response, or established methadone maintenance. We coordinate with federally certified Opioid Treatment Programs so care continues after discharge.
Vivitrol, a monthly opioid blocker given after full detox. It blocks opioid receptors. You must be 7 to 10 days fully opioid-free first. A solid choice for non-opioid maintenance.
Fentanyl’s long tissue half-life can trigger precipitated withdrawal if buprenorphine starts too early. We extend the induction window and use micro-dosing when indicated. Naloxone is accessible at every station.
Clonidine for autonomic symptoms, ondansetron for nausea, loperamide for diarrhea, non-habit-forming sleep aids, NSAIDs for muscle pain. Clonidine calms the body’s withdrawal symptoms, yet it does nothing for cravings, so what clonidine can and cannot do shapes the plan we build.
Depression, anxiety, PTSD and ADHD are common with opioid use disorder. Psychiatric assessment starts on day one, with medication adjustments and therapy running alongside detox.
Medication and therapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
The therapies below are evidence-based for opioid use.
Contingency Management
Structured reinforcement for attendance and negative drug screens, one of the strongest evidence bases in opioid use disorder.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone are the backbone of modern opioid addiction care.
EMDR trauma therapy
Trauma is common in opioid use disorder. EMDR targets the memories that fuel ongoing use.
Group Therapy
Peer-supported, clinician-led sessions built around the shared experience of opioid dependence.
Family programming
Education and sessions for family, when the patient consents.
First call to care
Admissions and assessment
Full clinical assessment, withdrawal-scale baseline on arrival, medical workup, insurance verification, intake logistics.
Medical Detox
How long detox runs is a medical decision based on the opioid, your tolerance and how you respond to medication. Buprenorphine induction is typically at 24 to 72 hours.
Residential Inpatient
CBT, contingency management, EMDR, group, psychiatric care, family work and medication stabilization, for as long as the clinical team decides is right for you. Step-down planning happens before discharge. The first weeks out are the hardest, and the risk in the weeks after detox explains why we plan support for them during your stay.
MAT is medically necessary care
Commercial plans cover medically necessary opioid detox and MAT at parity with medical benefits. We check your plan before you decide.
Verify CoverageQuestions families ask answered plainly.
Is opioid withdrawal dangerous?+
How long does opioid detox take?+
What are medications for opioid use disorder?+
What is the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale?+
Will I have to stay on opioid medication forever?+
Will my plan cover opioid detox?+
Opioid detox clinical content reviewed by Sergey Litvinov, MD (Medical Director and board-certified psychiatrist at Pines Recovery Life). Updated April 2026.
Authoritative references: NIDA: Opioids · SAMHSA medication for opioid use disorder · FDA: medication for opioid use disorder · CDC Overdose
Frequently Asked Questions
What are opioid withdrawal symptoms?
Muscle aches, runny nose, watery eyes, yawning, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and severe anxiety. It is rarely life-threatening for otherwise healthy adults, but it is intensely uncomfortable and frequently drives relapse without medical support.
How long does opioid detox take?
Short-acting opioids like heroin and oxycodone cause faster, more intense withdrawal; long-acting opioids like methadone and sustained-release oxycodone produce a longer, drawn-out course. How long your detox runs is what the medical team decides is right for you.
Will I be given Suboxone or methadone during detox?
Usually. Buprenorphine (Suboxone) or methadone suppresses withdrawal and stabilizes you, then may be tapered. Some patients continue medications for opioid use disorder after detox as part of long-term recovery. That is a clinical conversation you have with your physician.
Is opioid detox safe?
Medically supervised detox is much safer than detoxing at home. Opioid withdrawal is rarely fatal in healthy adults, but the intensity drives many people back to use. A medical team prevents that.
Can I detox if I am using fentanyl?
Fentanyl detox uses the same medication-based approach: buprenorphine or methadone induction, comfort medications, hydration, monitoring. Because fentanyl is more potent and stores in fat tissue, induction timing is calibrated carefully to avoid precipitated withdrawal.
Will my plan cover opioid detox?
Pines is in-network with Tricare, and major PPO plans with out-of-network benefits are accepted. We verify your opioid detox plan before you decide.
