There are two types of patients at Novus Medical Detox Center. The first type is the patient who has become addicted to prescription drugs or illegal substances like heroin or alcohol. (They crave the feeling they get from the drug but have unpleasant or even lethal withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking or using the drug or substance.) The second type of patient has developed a . (They will have unpleasant or even potentially lethal withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking the drugs.)

Both types of patients generally express concerns about what they should do when they leave Novus Medical Detox Center after their and either go to another treatment facility to address and handle the reasons that they became addicted or return to their homes.

PATIENTS GOING TO TREATMENT FACILITIES

Generally, our addicted patients will go directly from Novus to a treatment facility. Many treatment facilities provide meals and vitamins. Unfortunately, few of these facilities provide vitamin IV's, like we do at Novus, and many require that the patient provide their own vitamins. Some even require the patients to purchase and prepare their own meals.

The patient should always check with the treatment facility to confirm that the facility will allow all of these steps, but here are some things that we recommend that the patient do to help ensure that they continue the health and nutritional gains made at Novus and to make their rehab treatment easier:

?Order Vibe and have it delivered to the treatment facility.

?Order sufficient quantities of Emergen-C and Electromix packets so that you can have at least three of these drinks each day.

?Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks like sodas and don't drink more than one cup of caffeinated coffee or tea each day.

?Try to keep your room, or your part of a shared room, clean and neat.

?Be sure you have educated yourself on what the drug or alcohol has been doing to your body and the importance of proper hydration.

?Try to get some exercise each day to help your body start producing more endorphins.

?If you start craving the drug or alcohol from which you have detoxed, get outside and walk or shoot baskets or run on a treadmill, but don't just sit there. The longer you are off the drug, the less your body will crave the drug. Remember, the drug was performing an action for the body. As the body performs the action without the drug or alcohol, the cravings will become less and the duration of the cravings less and less.

?Try to focus on the present and plan your future. Try not to let your thoughts drift back to the past. You are creating a new drug-free life and everything that happened before is no longer you.

?In all groups of people, there are some who seem to most enjoy belittling or criticizing others. To these people the glass is always half empty. There are other people who are more positive and seldom are critical of others. To them the glass is half full. Try to spend time with people at the treatment center who are positive and you will find it easier not only to handle any cravings but to feel good about yourself and your future.

?Above all, remember that no one ever handled an addiction problem that hadn't made a conscious decision to handle it.

?If you have any problems or questions, please email or call Novus. We will try to help.

?When you complete your rehab treatment and return home:

?Find a doctor who will examine you thoroughly and ensure that there are no physical problems that were creating situations like depression or fatigue that you were addressing, at least in part, with the drug or alcohol. These doctors are normally called ?holistic? doctors, ?Functional Medicine? doctors or ?Integrative Medicine? doctors.

?While it is difficult to end relationships that you may have had for years, it is important that you not associate with people who are abusing substances. All of us have bad days and for someone who was once an addict, the body and the mind may crave relief from a substance. If you are around people who are abusing substances, then they are very available. However, if you have a new group of friends they will be available to help you through your tough times without resorting to substances.

?Spend time with people who are positive and not always negative.

?Keep up the use of Vibe or other liquid multi-vitamins, continue to avoid caffeinated drinks, use Emergen-C and Electromix, unless advised differently by your new doctor.

?Get some exercise each day. Even if it is just walking for a few minutes, you will feel better.

?Eat as healthy as you can. Ask your new doctor if there are foods that you should eat and foods that you should avoid.

?Contact Novus if you have any questions.

PATIENTS NOT GOING TO TREATMENT FACILITIES

Patients who came to Novus because they had a prescription drug addiction will normally return to their home after they complete their medical detox program.

Here are some things that we recommend that the patient do to help ensure that that they continue the health and nutrition gains made at Novus:

?Be sure you have educated yourself on what the drug or alcohol has been doing to your body and the importance of proper hydration.

?Order Vibe and have it delivered to your home.

?Order sufficient quantities of Emergen-C and Electromix packets so that you can take at least three of these drinks each day.

?Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks like sodas and don't drink more than one cup of caffeinated coffee or tea each day.

?Find a doctor who will examine you thoroughly and ensure that there are no physical problems that were creating situations like depression or fatigue that you were addressing, at least in part, with the drug or alcohol. These doctors are normally called ?holistic? doctors, ?Functional Medicine? doctors and ?Integrative Medicine? doctors.

?In all groups of people, there are some who seem to most enjoy belittling or criticizing others. To these people the glass is always one-half empty. There are other people who are more positive and seldom are critical of others. To them the glass is always one-half full. While it is difficult to end relationships that you may have had for years, it is important that you not associate with people who are negative. Try to spend time with people who are positive and you will find it easier to feel good about yourself and your future.

?Try to focus on the present and planning your future. Try not to let your thoughts drift back to the past. You are creating a new drug free life and everything before is not you.

?Get some exercise each day. Even if it is just walking for a few minutes, you will feel better.

?Eat as healthy as you can. Ask your new doctor if there are foods that you should eat and foods that you should avoid.

?If you have any problems or questions please email or call Novus. We will try to help.

CONCLUSION

It has been said that the start of a thousand mile journey is the first step. At Novus Medical Detox Center, we know that going through drug detox at Novus is only the first step on their journey to being free from drugs and/or alcohol. We do everything that we can to make this first step more comfortable. However, this is a journey that our patients must complete on their own. We just want to be sure that they have everything that we can provide them to make the journey easier.