Evaluating impact of opioid detoxification lengths of stay on withdrawal symptoms upon discharge

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine if a longer length of detoxification is more affective reducing withdrawal symptoms. Detoxification is the process in which toxic substances in an effort to excrete them from the body. Adequate detoxification treatment for opioid use disorder is essential. The length of stay as well as the pharmacological use for detoxification are the most important aspects in treatment. An adequately treated patient during detoxification may lead to better treatment outcomes. Method: This project compared COWS scores in the beginning and at the end of detoxification with the use of Subutex for a five-day and a seven-day length of stay. The data was evaluated and compared using independent and paired t-tests. This project took place at a 16-bed detoxification facility in northern New Jersey. The use of a tool to determine the level and severity of withdrawal is important to help determine if the treatment regimen is effective in the resolution of opioid withdrawal. The clinical opioid withdrawal scale (COWS) is the tool most commonly used during detoxification to assess withdrawal symptoms when treated with Subutex. Implications for practice: The findings from this project suggests that patients that detox from opioids do better after completing a seven-day detox. Based on the findings of this project the facility should consider collecting additional data to assess the relapse rate for a five-day length of stay to determine how many patients return for treatment after discharging due to opioid relapse.DNPIncludes bibliographical reference