Opioid Detox
Written By: Brandon Scarboro, LCSW, CMAC
Medically Reviewed By: Ryan Wade, FNP-C
Summary: Southern Pines Recovery provides outpatient opioid detox in Georgia, suitable for people with mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms.
At Southern Pines Recovery, our opioid detox program and withdrawal treatment in Evans, GA is built around safety, compassion, and lasting change. Opioids like oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and fentanyl can take over fast. What starts as pain relief can lead to daily use, then addiction. We’re here to help you take your life back—without shame, without judgment.
Our program offers medical detox in a peaceful and supportive setting. We use evidence-based treatment to ease withdrawal symptoms while providing emotional support that feels human and real. Every person who comes through our doors gets a treatment plan designed just for them. Your story matters, and so does your future.
Types of Opioid Drugs
There are different types of opioid drugs. Opioid use disorder (OUD) can involve the use of prescription opioids, like oxycodone, fentanyl, morphine, and hydrocodone, or illegal drugs, like heroin. Outpatient opioid detox at Southern Pines Recovery helps people get off all types of opioid drugs.
How is Opioid Use Disorder Diagnosed?
Opioid use disorder is diagnosed using the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). You do not have to have every sign of OUD to have a problem. When diagnosing opioid use disorder, physicians look for at least two of the following symptoms occurring within 12 months.
- Cravings or a strong desire to use opioids
- Taking opioids in larger amounts or for longer than you intended
- Persistent desire or unsuccessful attempts to control or cut down on opioid use
- Recurrent opioid use affecting your ability to fulfill responsibilities at work, home, or school
- Giving up or reducing important occupational, social, or recreational activities because of opioid use
- Spending a significant amount of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the effects of opioids
- Continuing to use opioids despite persistent social or interpersonal issues caused or exacerbated by opioid use
- Continuing to use opioids even if you know that a physical or psychological problem you have is likely caused or worsened by opioid use
- Tolerance, marked by either experiencing diminished effects from the same amount of an opioid drug you used before or by needing to use more to achieve the desired effects
- Withdrawal, marked by either experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms when stopping or reducing the amount of an opioid drug you use or by using an opioid drug (or closely related substances) to avoid withdrawal symptoms
- Recurrent use of opioid drugs in physically hazardous situations (e.g., before driving or operating heavy machinery)
Looking at these signs and symptoms can sometimes help people identify the need for opioid detox.
What are the Signs of Opioid Addiction?
Opioid addiction often hides behind prescriptions or casual use. But over time, the need grows stronger, and stopping feels impossible. If you’re using just to feel normal or finding that opioids have taken over your thoughts and routines, it’s time to reach out for help.
Common signs of opioid addiction include:
- Taking higher doses or using more often than prescribed
- Cravings or obsessive thoughts about opioids
- Feeling anxious, sick, or shaky without them
- Nodding off or falling asleep in odd places
- Isolation from family, friends, or work
- Visiting multiple doctors for prescriptions
- Trying to stop but always returning to use
Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal
Opioid withdrawal can feel like the flu—but with added anxiety, restlessness, and emotional pain. It usually begins within hours of your last dose and can last for several days. The physical symptoms are hard, but it’s often the mental exhaustion that hits the hardest. That’s where professional detox can make a real difference.
At Southern Pines Recovery, we help manage every part of the withdrawal process. We keep you hydrated, rested, and emotionally supported while using medications to ease the worst of the symptoms. Over time, your body starts to feel stronger and your mind begins to clear. That first step—getting through withdrawal—is where real healing begins.
Common symptoms of opioid withdrawal include:
- Muscle aches and joint pain
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Sweating and chills
- Insomnia or restlessness
- Anxiety or depression
- Runny nose and teary eyes
- Intense drug cravings
- Irritability or mood swings
What Causes Opioid Use Disorder?
There’s no single cause of opioid use disorder. However, there are factors that can increase your risk of developing it:
- Exposure and access to opioid drugs. Sometimes, OUD starts with a prescription after an illness, injury, or surgery. Other times, people are exposed to opioid drugs in another way. For example, social situations.
- Family history. If you have a loved one who has struggled with addiction, you are more likely to develop a substance use disorder yourself.
- Personal history. Those with a personal history of substance abuse are more vulnerable to opioid use disorder.
- Co-occurring conditions. Other disorders, like untreated depression, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder, can increase your risk of developing a substance use disorder like OUD.
While we will never pressure you and are simply here to help you through opioid detox, group and family therapy are strongly recommended to address the underlying causes of opioid use.
How Opioid Drug Use Affects the Brain
Opioid drugs block pain signals and release large amounts of dopamine to your brain. When you use opioids continuously, it changes your brain. The reward center in your brain becomes less sensitive to dopamine from things that would usually bring you joy, like hobbies and social activities, after getting used to far more intense surges of it from drug use. However, prolonged sobriety allows the brain to heal. As your recovery continues, you will start to feel positive emotions from daily life pleasures again.
Some people experience concerns like depression during post-acute withdrawal. After detox, continued treatment for opioid use disorder is important. Addiction treatment programs for OUD should provide support for co-occurring concerns or post-acute withdrawal symptoms that people experience.
Opioids and Overdose Risk
Opioids are the most common drugs involved in fatal overdoses. In the US, they are involved in about 70 to 76 percent of drug overdose deaths. Some things increase the risk of drug overdose. These include, but are not limited to:
- Polysubstance use (using multiple drugs at the same time, whether intentionally or unintentionally).
- Decreased tolerance (due to using an opioid after periods of not using opioid drugs, such as during a relapse).
Naloxone (Narcan) reverses an opioid overdose. You can get free Narcan and training for its use in Georgia. Whether or not you know someone personally who has a substance use disorder, it’s a skill that can save a life.
Who is Outpatient Opioid Detox For?
Outpatient Detox makes it possible for people to get off of opioids and other drugs safely without inpatient hospitalization. Typically, outpatient opioid detox at Southern Pines Recovery is suitable for people with:
- Mild to moderate opioid withdrawal symptoms
- A stable living or home environment
- A strong support system
Our confidential yet thorough admissions process helps ensure you get the right level of care from the start. We’ll ask questions about your personal history, amount and frequency of opioid use, past detox attempts (if applicable), and other relevant information before you start treatment.
What Should I Expect From Outpatient Opioid Detox?
People usually stay in our outpatient opioid detox for about 1-3 weeks. You will come to our center for daily appointments, medical monitoring, and professional treatment for withdrawal symptoms. However, you will be able to sleep and live at home.
Your safety is our priority. On days one and two of detox at Southern Pines, you’ll have three-hour-long in-person assessments.
Who We Serve
Our outpatient opioid detox center in Georgia works with people from all walks of life.
Professionals
Outpatient opioid detox at Southern Pines Recovery lets you get withdrawal management without putting your career on hold. We’ll schedule appointments around your work hours if needed. That way, you can get help without stepping away from everything you’ve worked for.
College Students
College students can face specific concerns, like academic pressure and peer relationships or environments associated with substance use and availability. We provide safe, supportive detox and addiction recovery services with college students’ needs in mind.
Lawyers
We understand the unique stressors lawyers face and how they may intersect with addiction and recovery, such as a heavy workload or chronic stress and anxiety. Our team is here to provide confidential, discreet outpatient detox tailored to your personal needs.
Veterans
Veterans are at an increased risk of substance use disorders and other conditions, like post-traumatic stress disorder, that make addiction more likely. Southern Pines Recovery offers specialized outpatient detox for veterans, with resources and support available to help you through the recovery process.
Parents and Family
Opioid addiction affects loved ones as well as the person going through it themselves. Parents and family need access to support, education, and resources, too, which we are proud to offer to loved ones of those in our opioid detox program.
Employers
Outpatient detox services at Southern Pines Recovery are designed with working adults in mind. We work with employers to help their employees get the care they need.
Hospitals
Southern Pines Recovery works closely with hospitals to ensure that people receive appropriate care beyond the emergency room or an inpatient treatment stay.
We Work With You Through the Opioid Detox Process
Detoxing from opioids can be uncomfortable—even scary. That’s why we work with you from the moment you arrive. We start with a full evaluation to understand your needs, then create a detox plan that helps reduce the pain and risk of withdrawal. Our medical team is with you 24/7 to make sure you’re supported through every stage.
We use medication-assisted treatment when needed, which can ease cravings and stabilize your body as it adjusts. We also pay close attention to how you’re feeling mentally and emotionally. As your body heals, we guide you through the fog and help you reconnect with your own strength. You don’t have to do this alone—we’ll walk beside you.
Call Southern Pines Recovery for Outpatient Opioid Detox in Evans, GA
Southern Pines Recovery is the only outpatient detox center within 100 miles. Our team is passionate about the quality of care we provide. Call Southern Pines Recovery for outpatient opioid detox in Evans, GA, at 706-534-2567. Or, contact us online today.