Our Treatments

Addiction Treatment

Dr. Woodley Mardy-Davis is trained and board-certified in a wide range of evaluation, treatment and prevention modalities, addressing substance use and addiction. Additionally, she is trained to treat patients with unhealthy substance use who have co-occurring general medical and psychiatric conditions. Dr. Davis is a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), which is a professional society dedicated to increasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment; educating physicians, other medical professionals and the public; supporting research and prevention; and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction.

Addiction is often manifested through alcohol dependence, opioid dependence and/or behavioral disorders, including impulse control disorders such as kleptomania, compulsive gambling, trichotillomania and hypersexuality. Addiction services are provided through an initial consultation, followed by thorough testing, and if indicated, a discussion for a treatment plan. The treatment of addiction is majorly provided through counseling and the FDA-approved Naltrexone injectable depot or Naltrexone Implant. Confidential and regular follow-up visits are required for the recovery process.

What is Modified Rapid Opioid Detox?

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist used primarily in the management of alcohol dependence and opioid dependence. Naltrexone has been shown to reduce relapse rates after abstinence in multiple clinical studies. Additionally, there is evidence that Naltrexone helps reduce heavy drinking when used in people who continue drinking while taking Naltrexone.

Naltrexone helps patients overcome opioid addiction by blocking the drugs’ euphoric effects. Opiate dependence is a medical condition that has a limited success rate with current treatments. Naltrexone helps patients overcome opioid addiction by blocking opiate receptors. In turn, the euphoric effects of opiates and the craving for them are also inhibited.

Opiate dependence is a medical condition that has a limited success rate with current treatments. Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist that blocks the effects of all opiates including the potent heroin and the long acting methadone. Naltrexone helps to improve sobriety success rates; however, when it is taken orally it is often ineffective because patients either forget or refuse to take their medicine. In order to improve these results, we use a specially compounded formulation of Naltrexone in the form of pellets that is placed under the skin and slowly released over a 6-12 week period.

Naltrexone implants are compounded by licensed pharmacists in the United States and have been used by over 3,000 patients worldwide and no major problems encountered. The implantation of these pellets after detoxification is a very important part of the treatment for our patients. It guarantees success for the first 6-10 weeks and gives the patients an opportunity to start working towards their recovery program.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

As long as the Opioid Blocker is in place detoxification may only be required once. The Opioid Blocker can be placed as often as the dependent patient requires to remove cravings from harmful opiates.

What Are the Benefits of This Procedure?

1. Minimally Invasive
2. Comfortable and rapid Detoxification
3. 100% effective when other treatments fail
4. Opioid Detoxification with Dignity
5. The opportunity to regain control of your life

How Does This Procedure Work?

The patient is given IV anesthesia most commonly in the form of Propofol. While under anesthesia, the opiate blocker is either administered by injection or implanted into the fatty tissue under the skin. Vital organ function is monitored and supported prior to and following the detoxification process.

The critical detoxification period is bypassed while the patient is monitored under anesthesia and may last from ~2 to 8+ hours (depending on drug and time of last use). Residual and less uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms can last up to 2 days but will be less intense and shorter than withdrawals without modified opioid detoxification under anesthesia.

The period of sobriety is supported with the opioid blocker (oral, injected or implanted) and psychological counseling.

What is the Recovery time for this Procedure?

The procedure is performed in an ambulatory surgery setting while the patient is monitored under anesthesia and may last from ~2 to 8+ hours (depending on drug and time of last use). Residual and less uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms can last up to 2 days but will be less intense and shorter than withdrawals without modified opioid detoxification under anesthesia. Any regards for recovery may require 24 hours if anesthesia is used.

Alcohol & Opiate Detox With Naltrexone Implants

There are a number of medicines that can assist in achieving and maintaining abstinence. Naltrexone is probably the most effective of these medicines. Naltrexone is a drug that attaches to the opiate receptors in the brain and blocks them. Part of the pleasurable effect from alcohol happens through these opiate receptors. When these receptors are blocked, people get fewer cravings for alcohol and less pleasure if they do drink any alcohol. It becomes much easier for them to stay abstinent and continue with their recovery program.

Naltrexone is successful because it is a pure narcotic antagonist. That is, it attaches to the endorphin or opiate receptors in the brain and completely blocks them. This means that if someone tries to use any kind of opiate while they are on Naltrexone, they feel no effect because all of the receptors are completely blocked. While Naltrexone is in the body, it is virtually impossible to relapse. Naltrexone has been available as an oral tablet since the late 1970s: however, the oral tablet only has a duration of action of around 24 to 48 hours and in practice. It has been found that most patients either forget or purposefully choose not to take their medicine. Then in a short period of time they will likely relapse. For this reason, we strongly recommend the Naltrexone implant.

Why Implants? The simple answer is that the implants just work better. When patients get a steady dose of the Naltrexone every day for a prolonged period of time they have a much better outcome. They have fewer cravings. They are more likely to remain abstinent. It may be physical, because patients have a more steady blood level and they don’t forget their medicine. It may be partly psychological, because once they receive the implant they just feel more relaxed and more committed to staying with their recovery program.
We believe that Naltrexone therapy should be given for 12 months. This gives the patient a chance to have their brain physically recover from the damage from the narcotics. It also gives the patient an excellent chance to begin on the road to recovery.