Alcoholism is a serious condition that can have devastating consequences. With the right treatment and support, an individual living with alcoholism can find recovery. But in order to get help, it’s important to understand the signs and symptoms of alcoholism. In this blog post, we’ll cover some common indicators of alcoholism as well as how to seek out help if you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol abuse. Physical Symptoms of Alcoholism Physical signs and symptoms of alcoholism can range from minor to severe depending on how much and how often a person drinks. Some physical signs include red, bloodshot eyes, a flushed face, slurred speech, impaired coordination, nausea, vomiting, or shaking, changes in appetite, fatigue and insomnia. [...]

On March 16, 2023, Innovo Detox proudly celebrates our three-year anniversary! Three years ago, on March 16, 2020, we opened our doors to accept patients in need of detox that were suffering from addiction, substance use disorder, and co-occurring mental health disorders. Thursday, March 5th, 2020, was  the date we held our open house, to introduce Innovo Detox,  our program, and our staff to the community. Over 200 professionals and local members of the community came through that day, and we eagerly awaited being able to open and help those in need. However, as all will remember, early March of 2020 was a time of anxiousness, uneasy trepidation, and restless anticipation. Because between March 5th of 2020 and our opening [...]

Benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, are a class of drugs commonly used to treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and muscle spasms. While benzos can be beneficial when used in the short term or under medical supervision, they can be dangerous when misused. Benzo detox is a crucial step in treating this type of addiction. The process helps to get the powerful drugs safely out of users' systems, reducing harm to both the user and the community. Detox protocols involve gentle tapering under medical supervision to reduce withdrawal symptoms while allowing the body to readjust and reset itself naturally over time. As such, it is important to understand how benzo detox works and why it is so important for addiction treatment. What [...]

We are excited to announce the addition of Sarah Seibel, CPS, CRS, to the Innovo Detox staff! Sarah has joined Innovo Detox as a clinical counselor, and will provide direct patient care, including group, individual, and family counseling and case management services. Sarah graduated from the University of Arizona Global Campus with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavioral Science in 2021. She has held several positions in the behavioral healthcare and addiction treatment field. Beginning her career as a mental health worker at Hoffman Homes for Youth, she then moved on to working one-on-one with individuals with a mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis in the Franklin County and Fulton County areas of Pennsylvania. Most recently, she was [...]

It is a scary and sad fact in society that overdoses, both fatal and non-fatal, are becoming more and more common. Overdose deaths have risen steadily over the last decade during America’s opioid epidemic, and have risen sharply since 2019 due to the synthetic opioid fentanyl. In 2021, there were more than 106,000 fatal overdoses reported in the United States. With such staggering numbers, it is no surprise that more and more people are being faced with situations where they encounter someone overdosing. While years ago it was more common to hear that someone died via an overdose after their body was discovered, more recently overdoses are occurring more frequently in the everyday lives of Americans- while buying groceries, at [...]

Addiction is a complex disorder that affects the entire family system. Family dynamics play a critical role in addiction treatment, as family members can both support and hinder recovery. Understanding the impact of family dynamics during addiction recovery can help individual’s better support their loved one's recovery journey. One effective approach to addressing family dynamics and detox is promoting positive support for addiction recovery through family treatment, which can help address underlying issues and improve communication and relationships within the family unit. In this blog post we will discuss the impact of family dynamics on recovery and why it is so important to understand the role between the two in order to achieve successful recovery. The Impact of Family Dynamics [...]

Withdrawal is an unfortunate reality for individuals that are looking for help recovering from an addiction. The fear of withdrawal can be daunting and oftentimes, it can keep people from getting the help they need.  There are a number of steps that can be taken to make the transition from active addiction to successful recovery more successful, as well as beneficial. What is Withdrawal? Withdrawal is a set of physical and psychological symptoms that are associated with addiction. These symptoms typically occur when someone stops using drugs or alcohol after developing a physical dependence on them.  Withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on the substance being used, but some common withdrawal symptoms include intense cravings, nausea, headaches, fatigue, anxiety, and irritability.  [...]

Taking sleep medications is a common solution for people who have difficulty falling and staying asleep. But long-term use of certain sleep medications can cause serious side effects, including addiction.  Therefore, if you find that you need to take sleep medication regularly, it's important to understand the best way to properly detox from the drug. What is Sleep Medication Detox? Sleep medication detox is the process of gradually reducing your dependence on sleeping pills by tapering off the dosage over time.  This process should only be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional as it can be dangerous if not done correctly. The goal is to slowly wean yourself off the drug so that your body can adjust without [...]

One of the most difficult issues that arises for both individuals suffering from addiction and mental health, as well as the professionals who treat them, is getting adequate time to receive an accurate clinical diagnosis for what they are suffering from. Unfortunately, for many individuals dealing with substance use and/or mental health disorders, they often find themselves either in crisis situations or where the issue has become acute before they seek help. At that point in time, it is often difficult for a medical or therapeutic provider to have enough time with the patient to both get an accurate diagnosis, as well as the time to make sure a plan of action for both medication and therapeutic services is in [...]

In terms of addiction and addiction treatment, the term “intervention” probably became famous based on the A&E television show, appropriately titled “Intervention.” Starting in 2005, the reality show followed the stories of individuals in active addiction and their concerned loved ones, as a professional interventionist brought the family members together and intervened on the person in active addiction in an attempt to get them into rehab and find sobriety. To go broader or to take it a step further, outside of simply active addiction and looking at a larger health scope, an intervention (or more specifically, a clinical intervention) is described as any intentional action designed to result in an outcome, meaning an intention action is taken to change the [...]

Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are a class of drugs that can be highly effective in treating anxiety and panic disorders.  Unfortunately, these drugs have the potential to be easily abused and when used improperly, can oftentimes lead to addiction. That is why it is so important for those struggling with benzodiazepine abuse to seek professional help.  In this blog post we will explore why timely benzodiazepine prescription drug detox is essential to recovery. The Dangers of Long-Term Benzo Use Benzodiazepines work by slowing down the central nervous system, which can have an anxiolytic effect. However, long-term usage of benzos can lead to physical dependence and addiction which is why it is important not to stay on these drugs any longer than [...]

When people talk about alcoholism or someone having an alcohol use disorder (AUD), they most often think about someone who drinks every day, who drinks uncontrollably, who often gets blackout drunk, or that has little ability to control their drinking. When most people don’t think about when they think of an alcoholic or someone who needs detox or rehab for their drinking is a person who engages in binge drinking. Binge drinking is the act or behavior of consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), binge drinking is “the most common and costly pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States.” The National Institute [...]