Withdrawal management in new ways at Malibu Ranch detox program

Malibu Wellness Ranch has developed an addiction treatment program with a recently added three-pronged withdrawal management component. The three sequential dimensions include evaluation, stabilization and preparation for the next treatment phase.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines withdrawal management as “the reduction of the physiological and psychological features of withdrawal through short term medical and observation services on a 24 hour basis for the purpose of stabilizing intoxicated individuals, managing their withdrawal, and facilitating effective linkages to, and engagement in, other appropriate inpatient and outpatient services.”

Medically monitored inpatient withdrawal management, known as Level 3.7 WM, is a non-hospital intervention delivered by medical. nursing, and substance abuse professionals that provides 24-hour medically monitored evaluation under physician approved policies and procedures.

Malibu Wellness Ranch employs a physician with expertise in withdrawal management to direct and oversee all functions of the community based WM program. Malibu is licensed by the Division of Licensing, Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Harrisburg. The facility will also follow the ASAM National Practice Guidelines for withdrawal management programs.

At the core of the program will be the use of advance medications combined with behavioral therapies. Research has demonstrated that psychosocial and behavioral therapies combined with pharmacological treatments are key for improved outcomes in addiction treatment. Research also shows that the detox process serves as a first step to stabilizing patients medically and supports the transition from dependence to recovery.

Over the last decade, more effective medications have been developed, and pharmacotherapy has increasingly played an important role in addiction treatment. These newer pharmacological agents have three objectives:

1. Management of acute withdrawal syndromes through detoxification 2. Alienation of cravings and urges to use illicit drugs 3. Prevention of relapse to compulsive drug use

Medications such as Acamprosate, Campral, Clonidine for alcohol withdrawal, Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex), Vivitrol (Naltrexone) are just a few of the pharmacological agents that have revolutionized withdrawal management. Studies are currently looking at Buspirone and Dronabinol as potential agents to reduce cannabis dependence, Modafinol as being effective in reducing cocaine cravings, and TA-CD as possibly having the potential to nullify the effects of cocaine.

Administration of the withdrawal management program will be under the direction of a physician with expertise in the latest advances in withdrawal management medications and techniques, supported by licensed and certified medical and support staff. These pharmacological agents combined with behavioral therapies have proven effective in diminishing withdrawal problems.. The withdrawal management program will utilize the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) national practice guidelines that are the gold standard.

Having an onsite withdrawal management program will allow the program to do more efficient screening. Patients will be selected who do not present with complex behavioral issues or problems.