Breaking free from prescription drug dependence takes courage, and you don’t have to do it alone. If you or someone you love is stuck in a cycle with medications that once helped but now control your life, know that safe, compassionate help is available. At Spring Grove Recovery in Colorado Springs, Colorado, we understand the unique challenges of prescription addiction. Our medically supervised prescription drug detox prioritizes your safety, comfort, and dignity.
What is prescription drug detox?
Prescription drug detox is a medically supervised process that helps safely remove addictive medications from your body while easing withdrawal symptoms and preparing you for the next phase of care. Because these medications are often used for legitimate medical needs, detox requires treatment tailored to your health.
The primary goals of prescription drug detox include:
- Safety first: Preventing serious complications like seizures, heart problems, or severe dehydration
- Comfort care: Reducing withdrawal symptoms with non-addictive medications and supportive treatment
- Stabilization: Achieving balance so you’re ready for continued recovery
- Preparation: Creating a smooth transition into residential, outpatient, or other treatment programs
Our program includes 24/7 medical monitoring and individualized plans. Licensed providers review your medication history, health needs, and risks to create a personalized detox process. Round-the-clock nursing staff monitor your vitals, provide comfort medications when appropriate, and offer emotional support throughout your stay.
Who needs prescription medication detox?
Dependence can develop even when medications are used as prescribed. Over time, you may need higher doses, use medications more often, or find it difficult to stop even after your original condition improves.
You may benefit from prescription drug detox if you have:
- Increased doses or frequency beyond what’s prescribed
- Tried to stop but couldn’t
- Experienced withdrawal when missing doses
- Visited multiple doctors for prescriptions
- Used medications for non-medical reasons (sleep, stress, coping)
- Continued use after your medical need ended
Physical warning signs
Different medications create different physical signs of dependence:
- Opioids: Small pupils, constipation, slowed breathing, sweating
- Benzodiazepines: Memory issues, tremors, slurred speech
- Stimulants: Rapid heartbeat, insomnia, agitation, weight loss
- Sleep aids: Daytime grogginess, coordination problems, memory gaps
Risks of prescription drug misuse
Continuing to misuse prescription medications can be dangerous—even life-threatening. Opioids may slow breathing, benzodiazepines can trigger seizures, stimulants strain the heart, and mixing drugs with alcohol increases overdose risk.
You may need professional detox if you’ve had:
- Multiple unsuccessful attempts to quit
- Withdrawal symptoms disrupting daily life
- Mental health conditions like depression or anxiety
- Chronic medical conditions complicating withdrawal
- A history of seizures or medical emergencies
24/7 detox admissions in Colorado Springs, CO.
Types of prescription drug detox by substance
Opioid detox (oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl)
Detoxing from opioids can be tough due to intense withdrawal symptoms and high relapse risk. Opioids create physical dependence by binding to brain receptors, making it difficult to quit without medical support.
That’s why we use medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with FDA-approved options. Methadone, Suboxone, and Subutex can be used before you're fully detoxed. Vivitrol can help control cravings after you've detoxed. These medications can make it easier for you to focus on recovery.
Benzodiazepine detox (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan)
Stopping benzodiazepines too quickly can be dangerous and may lead to seizures. These medications strongly affect your brain chemistry, so gradual tapering is safer than sudden discontinuation.
Our approach focuses on reducing doses slowly, giving your body time to adjust. For short-acting medications like Xanax, we may transition you to a longer-acting option such as Valium to make the process smoother.
Stimulant detox (Adderall, Concerta)
Detoxing from stimulants centers on managing the “crash” and restoring emotional balance. While stimulant withdrawal isn’t usually life-threatening, the psychological effects can be intense. With no FDA-approved medications for stimulant withdrawal, we emphasize supportive care—restoring sleep, nutrition, and emotional stability.
Other prescription medications (sleep aids, muscle relaxants, gabapentinoids)
Sleep aids like Ambien can trigger rebound insomnia, while muscle relaxants and gabapentinoids may lead to withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety or seizures. Our detox process includes gradual tapering, medical monitoring, and supportive therapies to ease symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms & timelines
Opioid detox timeline: Short- vs. long-acting
Short-acting opioids usually cause withdrawal symptoms within six to 12 hours, while long-acting opioids may take up to 30 hours. Our medical team will closely monitor your withdrawal symptoms and provide medication-assisted treatment to ease discomfort.
Our comfort measures include:
- Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs)
- Monitoring for anxiety and blood pressure
- Anti-nausea medications and IV fluids
- Sleep aids (when appropriate)
- Nutritional support
Benzodiazepine detox timeline: Gradual tapering
Benzo withdrawal requires careful tapering to avoid seizures. Acute symptoms may last 10–14 days for short-acting benzos and several weeks for longer-acting ones. Post-acute withdrawal (PAWS) can continue for months with lingering symptoms like cognitive fog and emotional instability. Our team provides ongoing monitoring and outpatient recommendations when needed.
Stimulant detox timeline: Crash, mood changes, and sleep disturbances
Withdrawal from stimulants often causes fatigue, depression, and excessive sleep in the first few days. Days three through seven are marked by mood changes, severe anxiety, and/or depression. Our approach includes monitoring mental health, restoring healthy sleep and nutrition, and counseling to support recovery.
We’re here to help—whenever you need it.
Prescription drug dependence vs. addiction
There is a difference between prescription drug dependence and addiction. Dependence refers to a physical tolerance to a medication, where the body needs increasingly larger doses to achieve the same effects. This can happen with legitimate medical use of prescription drugs, and often occurs over time. Withdrawal symptoms may also occur when use is suddenly stopped.
On the other hand, addiction involves both physical and psychological dependence on a substance or behavior. You might feel compelled to use despite harmful consequences and loss of control. Addiction can lead to destructive behaviors that impact not only you, but also your loved ones.
Evidence-based detox protocols & withdrawal management
Spring Grove Recovery uses evidence-based treatment during detox and residential treatment. When you start treatment, you'll get a personalized plan that meets you where you are on your journey.
Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder
We offer evidence-based MAT with Vivitrol, Suboxone, Subutex, and methadone to reduce cravings, prevent relapse, and support long-term recovery. Each option is tailored to your needs and reviewed by our medical team. Methadone can be started during detox for some. Other options require you to be fully clear of opioids before starting.
Benzodiazepine tapering protocols and cross-taper strategies
Safe benzo detox involves tapering schedules based on your dosage and length of use. We may cross-taper by moving from short-acting medications to longer-acting ones, offering more stability throughout the process.
Symptom-targeted medications
We use both prescription and over-the-counter medications to help with:
- Anxiety or depression
- Blood pressure
- Nausea and digestive issues
- Sleep disturbances
Trauma-informed, patient-centered care plans
We recognize that many people struggling with prescription dependence have histories of trauma or co-occurring conditions. Our care plans reflect your personal needs and goals, ensuring a safe and respectful recovery journey.
Inpatient detox vs. outpatient detox: Matching level of care to clinical need
Who benefits from inpatient medical detox?
Inpatient detox is recommended for individuals with:
- High-dose or long-term benzo use
- Multiple drug dependencies
- History of seizures or complications
- Mental health conditions or suicidal thoughts
- Lack of stable housing or support
- Previous unsuccessful outpatient attempts
At Spring Grove Recovery, inpatient detox provides 24/7 monitoring and a supportive environment free from drugs.
Criteria for safe outpatient detox and monitoring
Outpatient detox may be suitable for people with mild to moderate dependence, stable health, strong support, and reliable housing. It requires frequent check-ins but may be appropriate when risks are lower. While we do not offer outpatient detox on-site, we can connect you to trusted providers.
Transition planning from detox to rehab
Before leaving detox, we help you plan for continued care. Options may include residential treatment at our location, outpatient therapy, psychiatric support, and recovery groups. We ensure you have clear instructions and resources for the next steps in your recovery.
The prescription drug detox process
1.
Confidential assessment and medical history
Your journey begins with a thorough assessment of your health, medication history, mental health, and prior treatment experiences. Lab testing may include blood work, drug screens, and heart monitoring.
2.
Personalized care plan and tapering schedule
Our physicians design a care plan outlining tapering schedules, comfort medications, monitoring needs, mental health supports, and an estimated detox timeline.
3.
Stabilization, hydration, nutrition, and rest
The early phase focuses on stability and comfort, including IV fluids if needed, nutritional support, sleep regulation, gentle activity, and stress management techniques.
4.
Daily physician oversight and nursing support
Our medical team monitors progress daily, adjusting your plan as needed. Nurses provide 24/7 support, monitoring vitals and administering medications.
5.
Discharge planning and next steps
Before you leave, we provide aftercare planning, follow-up appointments, medication instructions, and emergency contacts. We also connect you to continued treatment options such as residential care at Spring Grove Recovery.
Dual diagnosis treatment: Managing co-occurring mental health conditions
We provide specialized mental health treatment for co-occurring ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, PTSD, and OCD. Here's how it works:
Screening for mental health conditions
Many people entering detox have co-occurring conditions. We screen for these before you start treatment. We'll use your initial screening to inform your treatment plan and reduce your relapse risk.
Psychiatric evaluation and medication management
Our psychiatric team provides evaluations and, when appropriate, non-addictive medications to support recovery. All medications are monitored by licensed psychiatrists with expertise in addiction care.
Therapy during residential care
Our residential program includes individual therapy sessions with a licensed therapist, as well as group therapy sessions. We utilize evidence-based therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing to address underlying issues and promote lasting recovery.
Get help now: Start prescription drug detox today
Recovery takes courage, but you don’t have to face it alone. At Spring Grove Recovery, we offer the expertise, compassion, and support you need for a safe and successful start to healing.
We accept all Colorado Medicaid plans to make treatment accessible. Our admissions team is available 24/7, so you don’t have to wait to take the first step. Call us now at 719.415.3460 or reach out online to begin your recovery journey today.
Frequently asked questions
Most people complete detox in about a week. Some people may need support for longer.
For many people, no. Ongoing treatment can improve the chances of long-term recovery. We offer a variety of treatment options that can be tailored to your specific needs for lasting recovery.
It is important to bring comfortable clothing, personal hygiene products, and any necessary medications. You can ask for a packing list from our admissions team. On day one, you will be medically evaluated, and a treatment plan will be created for you. You'll receive any necessary medications and find out where your bed is so you can get comfortable.
