When withdrawal symptoms begin, they can feel unpredictable, overwhelming, and even frightening. At Southeast Addiction Tennessee, our medical detox program provides continuous medical oversight, symptom-specific medications, and a compassionate treatment team to help you stabilize safely. You don’t have to face withdrawal alone — support is here whenever you’re ready to take the next step.

Medical detox is a clinically supervised process designed to help your body safely clear alcohol or drugs while managing the physical and emotional symptoms of withdrawal. Detoxing alone can be risky — blood pressure spikes, shaking, vomiting, hallucinations, or severe anxiety can worsen quickly without medical care.

In medical detox, your symptoms are monitored, your comfort is supported, and your care team adjusts your treatment plan based on real-time needs.

Withdrawal is different for everyone, but some symptoms can become dangerous fast, especially with substances like alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines. Medical supervision helps prevent complications and ensures that you receive timely care.

Withdrawal may require medical detox if you’re experiencing:

• Worsening symptoms between doses
• Shaking, sweating, nausea, or rapid heart rate
• Hallucinations or severe confusion
• Panic or emotional distress
• Sleep disruption or dehydration
• A history of complicated withdrawal

If you’re unsure whether your symptoms require clinical care, you can talk to someone about your withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal can lead to seizures, hallucinations, and delirium tremens (DTs), which require immediate medical attention.

Opioid Withdrawal

Opioid withdrawal can cause vomiting, dehydration, body aches, insomnia, and intense cravings that make detox difficult without support.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Benzodiazepine withdrawal is unpredictable and potentially life-threatening without medical tapering or symptom management.

Throughout detox, you’ll be supported by a professional, multidisciplinary team focused on your safety and stability:

Medical Providers

Nurse practitioners, physicians, or physician assistants who assess withdrawal risk, prescribe medications, and oversee your care plan.

Nursing Team

Nurses monitor vital signs, track symptom changes, administer medications, and help maintain physical comfort.

Therapists & Case Managers

These professionals support emotional stability, help you understand your needs, and coordinate your transition into ongoing treatment.

Support Staff

Care coordinators assist with logistical concerns, communication, insurance questions, and anything that helps reduce stress during withdrawal.

This team works together to ensure you feel safe, supported, and informed throughout detox.

Step 1 — Medical Assessment & Stabilization

Your detox begins with a health assessment, withdrawal scale scoring, and review of your substance use history. This helps determine the most appropriate medication and monitoring plan.

Step 2 — Symptom Management & Monitoring

As withdrawal progresses, our team keeps track of changes in your symptoms, hydration needs, sleep patterns, and emotional state to prevent complications and improve comfort.

Step 3 — Medication-Assisted Relief

Depending on your symptoms, medications may be used to:

• Reduce withdrawal discomfort
• Support mental and emotional stability
• Prevent seizures or dangerous symptoms
• Help your body safely adjust
  

Step 4 — Preparing for What Comes Next

Detox addresses the physical effects of addiction — but recovery continues through structured therapy and longer-term treatment planning.

Your medication plan is personalized and may include:

• Comfort medications: support for nausea, muscle aches, restlessness, or sleep

• Stabilization medications: regulate blood pressure, prevent seizures, or reduce severe symptoms

• Withdrawal-specific options: used for opioid dependence or other substance-specific needs

These medications help reduce fear, discomfort, and risk during withdrawal.

The length of detox varies based on substance use history, health factors, and symptom severity:

• Alcohol: 3–7 days
• Opioids: 5–10 days
• Benzodiazepines: individualized tapering
• Stimulants: emotional symptoms peak within 3–5 days

Your care team will track your progress and adjust your plan as needed.

Medical detox is considered the safest way to stop using alcohol or drugs. At-home detox can be unpredictable — symptoms may escalate quickly without support.

In a clinical environment, your care team can:

• Notice early warning signs
• Adjust medications
• Address medical concerns
• Provide emotional and psychological support

If you’re unsure whether detox is safe for you, you can talk to someone about your withdrawal symptoms.

You may benefit from medical detox if you experience:

• Needing substances to feel “normal”
• Shaking, sweating, nausea, or rapid heartbeat
• Using multiple substances
• Withdrawal symptoms worsening over time
• Difficulty sleeping without substances
• Hallucinations or confusion
• Prior detox attempts or complications

Detox is the first step. Once your body stabilizes, the next stage focuses on emotional healing, behavioral change, and relapse prevention.

Common step-down options include:

Residential Treatment

A structured environment with full-day support and therapy.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

A full-day treatment program where you return home or supportive housing in the evenings.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

A more flexible option that supports recovery while you resume daily responsibilities.

Therapy & Medication Support

Ongoing therapy helps you develop coping skills and address the root causes of addiction.

Most insurance plans offer coverage for medically necessary detox services, but every policy is different. If cost is one of your concerns, you can easily find out what your plan includes.

People from Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro, Clarksville, and surrounding communities come to Southeast Addiction Tennessee for safe, structured detox support. Whether this is your first withdrawal experience or you’ve been through detox before, our team provides steady guidance, medical care, and compassion as you take the first step toward healing.