Fast, Comfortable Hydrocodone Detox at the Coleman Institute in Richmond, VA

How Big a Problem are Prescription Opioids Like Hydrocodone in Virginia?

Opioid use has been a major public health issue in Virginia, and prescription opioids like Hydrocodone have played a big part in the escalation of the crisis.

Hydrocodone is an opioid medication used to treat severe pain. It’s very useful for that purpose, but forming an addiction or dependence to Hydrocodone can be surprisingly easy. Hydrocodone can hijack the brain and cause it to stop producing endorphins naturally, which is a major problem. Endorphins make us feel better, increase pleasure, minimize pain, and improve our overall mood. If the brain stops making these hormones naturally, any pain relief or pleasure a person might feel will have to come from an outside source like Hydrocodone, so users become dependent. Detoxing can help endorphin levels return to normal, but it is a very difficult process without proper medical help.

In 2019, the Stamford Institute for Economic Policy Research published a policy paper that contains data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that shows a strong correlation between a rise in prescriptions for opioid medications like Hydrocodone between the years 2000 and 2010 and a concurrent 300 percent increase in deaths involving opioid overdose.

Doctors have reduced the number of opioid prescriptions they give out to try to reverse this trend. The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) shared data that shows a decline in the number of opioid prescriptions written in 2015 and 2016. But even with this decline, the danger of addiction remains for patients who still need these medications to manage their pain, and these medications can still be obtained on the street illegally.

In 2022, the Virginia Department of Health reported some startling facts that show how opioids are still affecting Virginians:

• 2,490 total deaths from drug overdose
• 79% of these deaths involved opioids
• 22,398 emergency department visits due to drug overdose
• 412 Virginia infants under 1 year old hospitalized with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) because of maternal opioid use

If prescription opioids like Hydrocodone have negatively impacted your life or the life of someone you know, you aren’t alone. We are here to help. Call us now at 877-773-3869 or schedule a callback with the button below to learn more about our outpatient Hydrocodone Detox.

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What To Expect From Our Hydrocodone Detox Program In Richmond, VA

Because of the way Hydrocodone can hijack your brain’s ability to produce endorphins, it can be a particularly difficult drug to detox from. Choosing the right detox program is a crucial first step on your journey toward freeing yourself from dependence and addiction. We’re here to help you every step of the way. Here’s what you can expect if you decide to try our Hydrocodone Detox program using the Coleman Method:

Getting Started:

Get started by calling us at 877-773-3869 or request a callback from one of our Care Advocates. During the initial call, we will answer any and all questions you have about the Coleman Method’s approach to Hydrocodone detox and can also help you choose the dates you want to schedule your treatment. We can typically schedule your treatment within a week – there is no waiting list.

Before Your Appointment:

We ask all of our Hydrocodone detox patients to stop using their Hydrocodone 16 to 48 hours before their first appointment, based on guidance from our physicians. We also ask you to bring a support person who can be present for the duration of the detox program and for 48 hours after detox has concluded. Patients in detox should not drive motor vehicles and should be monitored at all times to ensure safety and comfort.

Your 1st Appointment:

When you arrive at our Richmond, VA facility for your first appointment, you will be in mild withdrawal from stopping your Hydrocodone use. An experienced, licensed practitioner will give you tailored doses of comfort medications to help you manage your withdrawal symptoms. You will also be given micro-dose Naltrexone.

Intermediate Appointments:

The intermediate days of Hydrocodone Detox are very similar to the initial appointment. Your practitioner will continue to administer tailored doses of comfort medications according to your specific needs, and you will continue being treated with micro-dose Naltrexone.

Final Appointment:

By the time of your final appointment, you will have made significant progress. On the last day, you can rest comfortably in your own private room in our Richmond, VA detox center while the remaining Hydrocodone is gently removed from your brain. This process typically takes about 6 to 8 hours, during which time you will be closely monitored to ensure that you are safe and that detox is proceeding as it should. After this process has ended, detox is complete. You will be given long-acting Naltrexone in one of two formulations – an implant or an injection. Both formulations allow Naltrexone to be slowly released into your system over the course of several weeks to help curb cravings for opioids. This will give you the support you need to start living your new, addiction-free life.

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Why The Coleman Institute’s Hydrocodone Detox Program – The Fast And Comfortable Option

The endorphin hijacking properties of Hydrocodone make it an especially difficult opioid to stop using without help. Most people who try to quit without medical assistance go through severe withdrawal symptoms and quickly realize that they will most likely need the assistance of a medical detox program to stop using the drug and get into recovery. Here are some common detox options available in the Richmond, VA area:

Self-Detox:

Trying to stop using Hydrocodone without help can be extremely uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. “Going cold turkey” and trying to stop use suddenly can result in severe physical and mental distress, and these symptoms could end up being life-threatening. Some people attempt to stop using Hydrocodone by tapering off their dose gradually in an attempt to wean themselves off of it. This almost never works. Self-detox attempts usually result in relapse as the user seeks relief from their withdrawal symptoms. Because of the possible health risks and high probability of relapse, we do not recommend attempting to self-detox.

Inpatient Detox:

Inpatient detox from Hydrocodone involves a lengthy stay in a hospital or rehab facility where addiction specialists monitor the patient’s condition and prescribe medications to alleviate any withdrawal symptoms they may experience. The length of a stay in inpatient rehab can vary depending on the patient’s condition, but it can last upwards of 30 days in some cases. A long stay like that can be very disruptive to a patient’s life and can also end up being very expensive.

Ultra Rapid Opioid Detoxification (URD or UROD):

This inpatient detox method involves putting a hospitalized patient under general anesthesia and giving them large doses of opioid antagonists like Naltrexone intravenously. This can fully flush the Hydrocodone out of a person’s system in as little as five minutes, but the procedure is extremely expensive and can come with significant health risks. There have been some fatalities reported following this treatment. The Coleman Institute has not performed an ultra rapid detox since 2001 because of these risks.

Methadone or Buprenorphine:

Methadone and Buprenorphine can be very useful medications for people suffering from addiction to opioids like Hydrocodone. When administered properly by a medical professional, they can help people transition away from more dangerous opioids to a safer legal (when prescribed) alternative. But it’s important to keep in mind that Methadone and Buprenorphine are both opioids themselves. They are also addictive substances, and stopping their use can still cause serious withdrawal symptoms. Patients will likely have to go through a medical detox program if they want to stop using them. Most of our patients who have used Methadone or Buprenorphine have told us that they can be harder to detox from than other opioids.

Our Outpatient Hydrocodone Detox Program:

Our outpatient Hydrocodone Detox program in Richmond, VA uses a tailored regimen of comfort medications to manage withdrawal alongside Naltrexone Therapy to help patients to detox from Hydrocodone quickly and safely without the costs or risks of other methods and with as little disruption to daily life as possible. We’ve treated over 8,500 patients for opioid use, and our program has a 98% completion rate.

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