“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” – Anthony Robbins. Soba Recovery would like to offer you a heartfelt congratulations for taking the first step towards sobriety. It does not matter what type of journey you have taken to get you here, but rest assured that you are where you’re supposed to be. It takes courage, clarity, and determination to make the decision to take back ownership of your life, so you should be proud of yourself. In honor of your determination, we will use this moment to explain the process of medical detox, which is commonly known as “detox”, and what you should be expecting. This next step might be one of the most challenging times of your journey that you have ever experienced, however, do not be afraid because you are not alone. There are tools, resources, and a support system to assist you during this path to beat substance addiction. Consequently, we would like you to keep in mind that deep down you have what it takes to complete this journey, and recognizing the need to change then aspiring to manifest that change is one of the most challenging parts of the process, and you did it!

Detox: First Step in the Recovery Process

Detoxification, also more commonly known as “detox,” is the process of eliminating a certain substance from the body. There are different routes for introducing a substance into the body: ingestion, inhalation, absorption through the skin, or injection. Once that substance is in the bloodstream, your kidneys and liver are the two major organs that perform the tasks of breaking it down and eliminating the substance from your body. You might have heard from your co-worker or a neighbor that they are on a “detox diet.” The main goal is to eliminate the toxins from things we eat or drink from our bodies.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, a drug or alcohol detox is essentially the same concept. The end goal is to remove the harmful toxins from the body. For a certain type of opiate addiction, a “substitute” drug such as methadone or suboxone might be prescribed at the beginning of the medical detox process; the idea is for clients to lose their dependence of the substance through the use of the less potent substitute medication, and eventually, remove the substitute medication altogether. However, certain clients might be required to remain on a low maintenance dose of these medications for the rest of their lives.

Why Choose Soba Recovery for Detox

There are thousands of facilities in the US that treat substance abuse. So, you might ask yourself, why Soba? The main reason that treatments offered at Soba Recovery are one of the best is that clients are treated holistically. Substance abuse, unfortunately, still carries a bad stigma among the community. On top of that, withdrawal symptoms, sometimes, can make the detox process seem impossible. Nevertheless, our staff understands how hard your journey has been and what we can do to make this experience as positive as possible for you physically and mentally. At Soba, we know addiction treatment is not easy, but we don’t see why it should not be fun. The even better news is that you don’t have to do it alone. At Soba Recovery, you are catered to 24/7 by a professional medical staff. Being monitored by medical staff also ensures compliance with the program. After all, who wouldn’t want an accountability buddy? The goal is for you to experience an enjoyable, safe, and comfortable detox process.

What’s the Plan for Drug Detoxification?

Like mentioned above, drug detoxification is the first step in the recovery process. During this time you’ll be monitored closely, while administered medicine to help ease withdrawal symptoms. Detox can look a little different for everyone, so it’s hard to pinpoint what your exact experience will be. Needless to say, we’ll make you as comfortable as possible during this time.

After you complete detox, we recommend two different treatment strategies with the goal of tailoring to your lifestyle and needs; residential inpatient treatment and partial hospitalization. Residential inpatient offers a 90-day stay in order to achieve the most optimal outcome of addiction treatment. On the other hand, partial hospitalization is an alternative for those who are not able to attend the 90-day inpatient treatment due to job/family responsibilities. The goal here is to tailor the plan that fits YOU the best.

Reach Out to Soba Recovery Today

Soba Recovery currently has two locations, one in Mesa, Arizona, and one in Texas. Both locations offer truly individualized addiction treatment. We know getting help with addiction can be scary, and detoxification can be a hard first step to take. Please reach out to us today if you’re struggling with addiction, and we’ll let you know all of the ways we can help you overcome your substance abuse!

Soba Recovery offers Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) in adjunction to our other holistic modalities such as behavioral therapies, yoga, massage therapy and acupuncture. The goal is to treat substance abuse disorder by providing a “holistic” approach. Medication Assisted Therapy or MAT, is highly individualized based on the clients physiology and medical history, along with the type and duration of the abused substance. The main goal is for you to experience the safest, most comfortable detox process with the least amount of side effects. Your long-term recovery is our number one priority!

What Is MAT?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the long-term follow-up of recovery addicts who were on Medication Assisted Treatment, indicated that 61% of people reported being abstinent from drugs and alcohol after three and a half years, and fewer than 10% meet diagnostic criteria for dependence on the drugs. MAT has been proven to be effective in overcoming addiction and substance abuse, and improve addicts’ survival and retention in treatment, increase their ability to maintain employment, and improve birth outcomes for pregnant women. These results and the science behind them are some of the reasons why Soba incorporates MAT into our treatment program at all of our facilities.

Medically assisted therapy is used primarily to treat the addictions of opioids, such as heroin, and other opiate-containing prescription pain relievers, like Percocet, Norco, and Oxycodone. So, you may wonder how does it work? MAT works by restoring the chemistry in the brain that has been “thrown off,”. It also helps relieve the intense physical craving that you will experience during the detox process. In addition to that, MAT helps alleviate some of the physiological effects, which helps make the detox process more tolerable.

Medication Assisted Therapy Approved Drugs

At Soba, the medications we utilize for the MAT approach are approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The three medications that are indicated to treat opioid addictions are methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.

• Methadone: This is a synthetic opioid that is a designated schedule II drug. Methadone is indicated to treat severe pain. However, at a lower controlled dose, methadone can be used to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and relieve intense craving in opioid addiction, especially heroin. This synthetic drug works by binding to the same target as heroin, morphine, and other opiate prescription pain medications. Once these “targets” are occupied with opiates, they become activated. When the activation of these targets takes place by the abused substance, the end effect is euphoria – the hallmark of drug addiction. With Methadone, even though the target is the same, methadone works at a slow, controlled rate. Therefore, at the treatment dose, methadone alleviates withdrawal symptoms without producing the euphoric effects.

• Buprenorphine: Like Methadone, Buprenorphine works by binding to the same receptors or “targets” as the abused substance. The difference is that Buprenorphine is a partial agonist, while methadone is a full agonist, meaning Buprenorphine would activate these “targets” less strongly than the full agonist – the abused substance. By doing so, Buprenorphine improves withdrawal symptoms and craving sensations.

• Naltrexone: Opposite of Methadone and Buprenorphine, Naltrexone works by blocking the activation of the opioid receptors or “targets.” Naltrexone works by preventing the abused substance from binding to these “targets;” therefore, it blocks the rewarding effect such as euphoria.

What to Expect With Medication Assisted Treatment

All of the medications mentioned above are available at Soba. You might wonder how do you know which one is the best fit for you? No worries! Our clinicians and staff are highly trained when it comes to opioid addiction treatment; therefore, the therapy will be highly individualized in addition to counseling psychological support to best suit your needs. As far as duration, there is no maximum or minimum recommended length of therapy. The need of staying on MAT should be reassessed by your provider and discussed with you periodically.

All of the above medications come in different dosage forms for easy use and convenience. They come in tablets and skin patches. Buprenorphine even comes in a once-a-month injection.

The most common side effects of these medications are similar to those of opioids, such as constipation, alterations in sexual functioning, weight gain, and sweating etc. These side effects will be discussed in great detail with you once you are enrolled in the MAT program. Ultimately, our goal is to come to a joint decision with you since you are a part of the team.

Your Success Is Our Success

The ultimate goal is your lifelong recovery. Sometimes, addiction and seeking treatment might seem so daunting, but please be assured that we are here for you. Reach out to us today if you or a loved one is seeking addiction treatment. Our staff will happily review all of our different treatment options for you. Call us now!

As a client at Soba, you are a part of the team. Decisions regarding your treatment plans will be made collaboratively between you and our staff. During the detoxification process, medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are utilized to de-intensify the physical effects of withdrawal. These FDA-approved agents have also been proven to increase the success rate of long-term sobriety. Medication therapy is important, but it is only a segment of our treatment strategy. At Soba, holistic medicine is one of our major focuses, which is why our treatment is one of the best. We don’t just treat the disease. Your mental, psychological and emotional health are also our priorities.

What is Holistic Medicine?

Holistic medicine is the type of medicine that not only treats the patient’s disease or condition but also tends to the patient’s psychological, mental, and emotional well-being. Holistic medicine is not a specific type of treatment, rather, it includes different treatment modalities.

The emphasis of holistic medicine relies on the underlying problems instead of treating the symptoms, which are superficial. Another important aspect of holistic medicine is the optimization of one’s health, which addresses properly balanced nutrition, in addition to a person’s emotional and psychological state.

As mentioned above, holistic medicine is an umbrella term for a variety of treatment modalities. They include (but are not limited to) acupuncture, yoga, meditation, reiki, and counseling. Even though holistic medicine is not a new scope of practice, the majority of people are unaware of the treatment strategies that holistic medicine offers along with its healing benefits. In this article, we will focus on one of the most well-known holistic methods, which is acupuncture.

What is Acupuncture

Acupuncture first originated from China more than 2500 years ago. Over time, acupuncture has become a well sought-after method of treatment and preventative medicine. It was not until the early sixteenth century that acupuncture reached European countries and America through merchant trading. The principle foundation of acupuncture is to balance the “flow of life”- known as “chi.” It results in a harmonious body, mind, and spirit. Most of the time, acupuncture is utilized in conjunction with either an exercise therapy or massage along with an herbal or other supplemental diet regimens.
The technique:
According to Chinese medicine, there are “trigger” points, or strategic points, throughout the body. The technique involves the insertion of a very thin needle that is the width of a hair through the skin at these strategic points.

What Is Acupuncture Treatment Used For?

As mentioned above, Oriental medicine believes that stimulating these trigger points in the body results in the balance of “chi.” Western medicine has done basic research to further study the mechanism of action of acupuncture. It has shown that acupuncture works by stimulating the nervous system. It has been understood to affect the regulation of insulin, growth-stimulating hormone, thyroid hormone, and more.

Oriental medicine focuses acupuncture on the treatment of pain and neuropathy. Nowadays, acupuncture is indicated to treat a wide range of conditions from chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting, dry mouth, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and smoking cessation.

The myth is that acupuncture is painful, but the truth is that everyone has different thresholds for sensing pain. It is reported by patients that they get very relaxed during the acupuncture sessions and they end up falling asleep or fall into a deep state of relaxation.

Case reports of side effects do exist, however, they are very rare. Allergic reactions to stainless-steel are rarely seen. If you have any type of metal allergy, please inform your practitioner. Bleeding complication is one of the side effects as well, though it is very minimal and does not commonly happen.

Acupuncture in Addiction Treatment

At this point, you might be thinking that acupuncture is a great treatment therapy but how does it help you with your recovery journey. Great question! As you are already aware, Soba’s philosophy is to focus on treating our patients as a whole. We are not just labeling you as a disease or disorder. We get to the root of the problem. As you are being detoxed, medication therapy will be used under stringent monitoring by our expert staff. We also tend your emotional, mental, and psychological health on top of that. Acupuncture has been proven by research to be beneficial in treating pain, anxiety, and depression, which are some of the more common side effects that are expected to be experienced during detox. This is why Soba offers the possibility of incorporating acupuncture into the treatment strategy. We also offer group/individual counseling therapy, stress management, and relationship coaching. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. We are here for you!