Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does rapid detox work effectively against all drug addictions?
Q: Does rapid detox work better for a painkiller addiction than it does for a methadone or heroin addiction?
Q: Does the amount of the opiate drug I am taking affect the rapid detox procedure?
Q: Are you able to detox patients from cocaine and/or alcohol?
Q: Is rapid detox covered by medical insurance?
Q: Is Rapid Detox safe?
Q: Why is it necessary for me to have a support person?
Q: Why should I select ODI?
Q: What are the chances of relapse?
Q: Does rapid detox work effectively against all drug addictions?
A: No, The rapid detoxification procedure is only successful with opiate drugs, such as heroin, methadone and pain killers such as Oxycontin, Vicodin, Percocet and their generics. (back to top)
Q: Does rapid detox work better for a painkiller addiction than it does for a methadone or heroin addiction?
A: The effectiveness of rapid detox is the same whether the drug is methadone, heroin or painkillers, such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet and their generics. (See list of opiate drugs) (back to top)
Q: Does the amount of the opiate drug I am taking affect the rapid detox procedure?
A: No, the rapid detox treatment program is the same. (back to top)
Q: Are you able to detox patients from cocaine and/or alcohol?
A: No, Alcohol and cocaine do not fall into the category of opiate drugs. Please consult the ODI Patient Resource Center for information about alcohol and cocaine addiction. (back to top)
Q: Is rapid detox covered by medical insurance?
A: No, at the present time, medical insurance does not cover rapid detox. (back to top)
Q: Is Rapid Detox safe?
A: Rapid detox is as safe as any other procedure done under general anesthesia. Unlike other rapid detox programs, ODI's program and Dr. Lipsky's patent pending General Anesthesia Assisted Opiate Detoxification (GAAOD) procedure minimizes this risk by limiting patient exposure under general anesthesia to less than half an hour. ODI patients have the added confidence in knowing that our rapid detox procedure is being done at the well-respected hospital (Bergen Regional Medical Center in Bergen County, NJ). During the rapid detox procedure, the highly-experienced physicians and nurses carefully monitor the patient to ensure a comfortable and safe detox. In addition, ODI’s program includes pre-procedure testing and an “Executive-level” physical examination by board certified physicians, so that any potential health problems can be diagnosed and addressed before the rapid detox procedure. (back to top)
Q: Why is it necessary for me to have a support person?
A: You will need someone to escort you home after discharge from the hospital and to monitor you and any short term medications prescribed for your post rapid detox condition. (back to top)
Q: Why should I select ODI?
A: ODI is one of the best rapid detox programs in America. We are the only state licensed rapid detox program in the nation. The ODI difference is our personal relationship with each of our patients. We are not a big “detox factory’; patients and staff are on first name basis. We know addiction is a serious illness that needs to be treated with understanding, clinical excellence and total confidentiality. At ODI, patient safety is a top priority. Prior to the rapid detox procedure being performed each patients receives a comprehensive “Executive-level physical to ensure that any issues are addressed and the patient fit to undergo the rapid detox procedure. All ODI rapid detox procedures are performed in a JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) accredited hospital to ensure that excellent medical care is immediately available to deal with any issues. Each patient works with ODI physicians and licensed therapists to create a personalized maintenance/rehabilitation program to achieve a stable drug-free life. In the weeks following the treatment, when the risk of relapse is the greatest, ODI doctors and the patient care coordinator monitor patient progress through frequent phone calls and provide recommendations for on-going support groups and counseling facilities. Our goal is to help our patients achieve a drug-free life.
Richard Lipsky, MD, ODI’s Medical Director, is highly acclaimed for having revolutionized the rapid detox field by developing the exclusive, patent pending General Anesthesia Assisted Opiate Detoxification (GAAOD) procedure which reduces the patient risk of over-exposure to general anesthesia to under half an hour. He has used the GAAOD procedure to successfully treat hundreds of people with opiate addiction. Dr. Lipsky is a leading expert on rapid detox, who is highly sought-out for his opinions. The GAAOD is a teaching module for the physicians at Abbott Laboratories. It has been featured on a National Geographic channel special on drug addiction as well as on episodes of NBC News “Dateline” and CNN.
Jacob H. Jacoby, MD, Ph.D, ODI’s Clinical Director, is a leading expert in psychopharmacology and addiction medicine with 40 years of experience. He is Board Certified by both the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
At ODI, patients receive highly personal care-an unusual commodity in today's times. Each individual person suffering with opiate addiction is treated with dignity and understanding. We realize that opiate addiction is a physical and emotional disease. We are here to help make a new beginning for our patients. (back to top)
Q: What are the chances of relapse?
A: Rapid detox for opiates is not a cure for opiate addiction. However, taking the opiate blocker and following through with the personalized maintenance/rehabilitation program will greatly diminish your chances of relapse. In addition, in the weeks following the procedure, when the risk of relapse is the greatest, ODI doctors and the patient care coordinator monitor patient progress through frequent phone calls and provide recommendations for on-going support groups and counseling facilities. (back to top)
