052 7441166
info@aiseiri.ie
info@aiseiri.ie
A medical detox, for many people, is an essential starting point in the treatment journey. Detoxing involves the elimination of substances from the body in a safe way. In Aiséirí, this is carried out in a medically monitored residential centre with a 24/7 multi-disciplinary support team and led by the nursing team.
Detox is generally required if you have been using alcohol or drugs daily or most days in significant amounts or for an extended period.
Depending on the needs presented at the initial assessment, we provide a 24/7 medically monitored detoxification programme. Medical personnel are on-call to manage withdrawal needs in addition to a Consultant Psychiatrist. We offer auricular acupuncture which is a powerful intervention for detoxing and for coping with withdrawal symptoms.
We do not provide standalone detox. Aiséirí ’s ethos firmly believes that addiction requires treatment as well as detox, where necessary.
The main substances treated within the detox residential centre are alcohol, benzodiazepines and opioids. However, stimulants and psychoactive drugs are also considered to require detox from time to time. We use recognised pharmaceutical interventions such as librium and benzodiazepines, using a titration method (which means slowly reducing the dose) to manage withdrawal symptoms.
This is not an exhaustive list, which is why we urge you to contact the nursing team in Aiséirí for more information.
During the detox process, there are medical personnel on-call to manage withdrawal symptoms as well as a Consultant Psychiatrist, where necessary. The holistic programme ranges from but is not limited to nutrition, sleep hygiene, psychosocial engagement, symptom management and education, long-term health condition management and compassionate support during this time.
Aiséirí is a medically monitored facility, in other words there is medical personnel on site daily. If the level of substance misuse is too significant for Aiséirí to manage, the person will be advised to attend an acute setting for a more in-depth assessment and medically managed care.
Aiséiri offers other holistic therapies to assist in withdrawal management such as yoga, art therapy, auricular acupuncture and meditation.
When the human body has completed the detox process, this is vulnerable time for relapse and overdose if the person does not engage in therapeutic treatment to include addiction counselling, family therapy, 1:1 therapy and group support.
Generally, a person detoxing from alcohol, psychoactive substances and/or stimulants is in the detox programme for 1 week.
Heroin and opioid detox can range from 7 to 18 days. Aiseiri provides a codeine, suboxone or methadone detox depending on the persons needs and substance misuse history.
Benzodiazepine detox will typically take 15 days.
It is important to note that each person has a devised individual care plan depending on their needs and presentation. The length of detox may be shorter or longer depending on this need.
Some people will complete a symptomatic detox – where little or no pharmacological intervention is required.
During detox, the nurse on duty will monitor vital signs (blood Pressure, pulse etc) as well as monitor for potential withdrawals that may emerge using objective and subjective internationally recognised withdrawal scales.
The body and the brain become dependent on the substance you are taking.
Did you ever hear yourself say you need the substance to function normally? This means your body is dependent on the substance and without it you will experience withdrawal symptoms.
In Aiséirí, we use a titration method to slowly reduce the amounts of the substance from your body. This specifically applies to alcohol, benzodiazepines and opioids.
Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can result in withdrawal seizures. Undergoing a medically monitored detox programme can reduce the risk of seizures occurring.
Along with this alcohol withdrawal can result in a physical tremor, anxiety, sweating, cravings and restlessness.
A person experiencing alcohol withdrawal can also experience visual, tactile or auditory hallucinations.
Delirium Tremors or the “DT’s” is another alcohol withdrawal risk. This condition can worsen and result in alcohol withdrawal related psychosis.
All these symptoms and the risk of seizures, DT’s or psychosis can be significantly reduced by participating in a controlled, monitored and safe detox process in Aiséirí.
The first couple of days is about settling in. During this time, you may need to rest more and concentrate on feeling physically better.
You will meet with the nursing team, and they will assess your condition, your withdrawal symptoms and your general wellbeing.
The team will be preparing you for joining group therapy and therapeutic interventions by:
Providing programmes such as 'introduction to self-care' – including meditation, and gratitude lists.
Providing you with educational workshops about various substances.
Providing you with information to prepare you for transitioning into the Primary Treatment Programme.
You will be assigned a key counsellor and begin 1 -1 counselling. You will not take part in group therapy until your Detox Programme has finished.
You will take part in all other aspects of the programme.
“Clients present with not only addiction related needs but also complex medical needs such as insulin dependent diabetes, HIV and Hepatitis C just to name a few. As a team, we ensure that none of these aspects of a person’s life act as barrier to treatment. Our level 2 GP is experienced in prescribing anti-virals and is open to carrying on their treatment plan for HIV or Hepatitis C while they reside in Aiséirí. We also provide the clients with education around their medication, their insulin and inhaler administration technique as well as general health information on many topics such as Blood pressure, heart health and sexual health.
When someone is initially admitted to Aiséirí, generally their self-care has been so poor due to addiction. The care that anyone would generally give themselves has really been affected. People would generally be open enough to say they don’t feel worthy of caring for themselves; their rock bottom moment is really event at this stage. Being in detox is a really gruelling time and a vulnerable state.
As a nursing team, we treat each person with kindness and compassion and support them until they are feeling better, from preparing special meals, to offering encouragement and reassurance – This is what we do in Aiséirí.”
