Most patients in detox or going through addiction treatment receive medication. Whether it is specific FDA-approved medication to help with drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms while in detox, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) medication like Suboxone or Vivitrol for opioid use disorder, or psychotropic medications for mental health conditions taken while in a short-term residential or long-term extended care addiction treatment program, most patients have some form of medication that they take regularly while in rehab. Under the watchful eye and management of a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner, medication prescribed by a professional can be a vital piece of the recovery puzzle for many patients. Unfortunately, medication non-compliance is a regular patient issue that happens while in drug treatment or rehab. [...]

Most of the time, individuals suffering from addiction and in need of a drug and alcohol detox are looking for one primary thing: Getting through withdrawals. Their primary goal is to not have to feel uncomfortable when withdrawing from drugs or alcohol. Fortunately, with the help of professional medical and clinical staff, and the use of approved FDA medications, it is certainly possible for a person to feel comfortable going through detox and dealing with withdrawals. That being said, any detox or rehab that tells a potential patient that they will never feel uncomfortable during a detox is lying to that patient. Drugs and alcohol do a number on the body, both physically and psychologically, and after months or years [...]

Penn Quarter is a booming area of Washington D.C. filled with numerous entertainment, educational, historical and cultural centers. It is common to find residents and tourists alike, visiting the well-known famer’s market, in addition to a wide variety of cultural parades and festivals. Sitting east of downtown Washington, D.C. and just north of Pennsylvania Avenue, the Penn Quarter district is brimming with restaurants, art museums and galleries, large and boutique retail shops, bars, cinemas, theaters and a number of different museums. The Capital One Arena opened in 1997 and is nestled in an easily accessible area of the Penn Quarter. It is now one of the most prevalent and well-known additions to the area that acts as a concert and [...]

As part of the Southern District of Baltimore, the neighborhood of South Baltimore borders the Middle Branch Patapsco River on the southwest. Nicknamed SoBo, South Baltimore is one of the nicest neighborhoods to live in the Baltimore area. The streets of South Baltimore are lined with townhomes with alternating brick and stone facades. While the neighborhood has a very city-like feel, it is surrounded by numerous parks that are blooming with beautiful, lush greenery. Swann Park is located on the west side of town and offers residents walking trails, a playground for kids, as well as various athletic fields that can be used for baseball, softball and kickball. On the southernmost tip of South Baltimore sits West Covington Park. This [...]

Many types of drugs can be dangerous, cause withdrawal symptoms, or even be fatal. Many more substances can make a person feel like they are dying, or at minimum, suffering from one of the worst physical illnesses ever. However, the withdrawal symptoms of few drugs (either legal or illicit) are as dangerous, uncomfortable, or potentially fatal to deal with or experience than are alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Because alcohol is both legal and also so widely socially accepted, many people do not realize how dangerous it can be. This also makes recognizing or admitting having a problem with alcohol, suffering from alcoholism, alcohol dependence, or alcohol use disorder that much more difficult. Many people actually deal with alcohol withdrawal symptoms more [...]

As one of the most historic neighborhoods in the country, Georgetown is also a major commercial and entertainment district in Washington, D.C. Georgetown is also home to the infamous Georgetown University which was founded in 1789. The Potomac River is a large body of water that surrounds the west side of Georgetown. One of the most famous landmarks in the town, Healy Hall, is located on Washington Harbour which sits on the Potomac River. As a huge entertainment hub, one of the most famous horror movies ever made, The Exorcist, shot a number of its scenes in the Georgetown area. ‘The HYPERLINK "https://georgetownmetropolitan.com/2015/10/30/in-celebration-of-the-exorcist-steps/" Exorcist HYPERLINK "https://georgetownmetropolitan.com/2015/10/30/in-celebration-of-the-exorcist-steps/" HYPERLINK "https://georgetownmetropolitan.com/2015/10/30/in-celebration-of-the-exorcist-steps/"steps’ in Georgetown, were built in 1895 and are a set of narrow, [...]

Known for being one of the largest residential neighborhoods in the Washington D.C. area, Capitol Hill has a population of around 35,000 people. It houses one of the most historic neighborhoods in Washington D.C. as well. The Capitol Hill Historic District is where a number of landmark buildings reside, most notably the Capitol building. Capitol Hill received its name from Thomas Jefferson in 1793 when he was working as George Washington’s Secretary of State. He named it and later designed Capitol Hill after the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus which sits on the Roman Capitoline Hill on the seven hills of Rome. The federal government is the biggest employer in the Capitol Hill area. Some of the biggest landmarks in [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]