What Happens in the First 72 Hours of Residential Rehab?

 

When it’s time to check in, make sure you or your loved one knows what to expect.

While they share a common goal, residential rehabilitation centers, whether private or government-funded, are different in terms of experience, expertise, process, and results.

Before you begin a program, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the intake process for the center where you plan to start. Narconon Suncoast is a unique private drug rehabilitation center in Clearwater, Florida. It does not use the customary 12-step program or replacement drugs.

Arrival: Welcome to Narconon Suncoast

Students come from nearby, out of town, or out of state and head into the 7-acre, landscaped, gated retreat of Narconon Suncoast; first arriving at the curving horseshoe drive, then walking through the front doors to reception. At the desk, you will find a friendly member of the staff to welcome you inside and help get you started.

The Intake Process: Safety First

Soon after arriving, you will be greeted by our K-9 detection team, led by a handsome beagle named Bugsy. “Your belongings will be searched as well as your person,” says Tyler*, a Withdrawal Specialist and one of the first faces you see when starting the program.

Friendly yet meticulous, Bugsy and his handler will review your bags and clothing for any prohibited substances. A private room will be available for you to change out of the clothing you arrived in so it can be checked efficiently. Students will be informed of anything discovered. “No one gets in trouble; we just alert them to anything found and let them know we are disposing of it,” says Tyler.

Signing In: Doing the Paperwork

“Students will start with doing all admitting paperwork,” says Clare, the Senior Case Supervisor. Clare is a 30-year Narconon staff member and the most technically trained in overseeing all of Suncoast’s student cases from start to finish. “Next is a visit to the nurse for initial medical screening. Then to withdrawal, where they will have 24-hour care. They will get a full medical checkup with bloodwork, then steps to help them feel more comfortable in the space and able to confront what’s happening in the present time as they come through it. This is all one-on-one handling.”

The paperwork involves some forms you need to fill out. You don’t have to know how to fill everything out yourself. Staff will be there to assist. Some basic things you should have that will make the process easier include:

• Valid ID
• Insurance information as applicable
• Names and contact details of close family or guardians

The forms to be filled out relate to consent to receive treatment, privacy of your information, insurance, medical history, substance use, and safety. You can expect this to take from 30 to 60 minutes; someone will be there to guide you through each step to make it as easy as possible.

A Short Film: The Narconon Program & How It Works

Once the paperwork is completed, it’s time to watch a short film introducing you to Narconon Suncoast’s unique drug-free approach to rehabilitation, based on the works of humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard. The film is about 8 minutes long and is also available on our website.

Meet the Staff

“The staff caring for the student are listening and being attentive, which makes all the difference in creating a safe, comfortable environment," says Clare. This alone can change the experience from feeling like just a number to a human being that is given the respect and dignity they deserve. After your introductory film, you’ll start meeting staff, like Tyler, as you tour the property on your way to the Withdrawal area.

 

“I listen and don’t judge and try to be as thorough as possible so there aren't any surprises on the student’s part,” says Withdrawal Specialist Tyler about welcoming new students. He graduated the program himself in 2022 and has been giving back ever since. When there is family involved, “I will assure all parties that we will handle their loved one with the utmost care and professionalism.”

Staff at Narconon Suncoast consists of:

• Medical Director
• Nurses
• Withdrawal Specialists
• Administrators
• Supervisors
• Chefs & Services Staff
• Grounds Staff
• And much, much more

“I have done the program and now being staff here, I know what to expect,” says Daniel, a Withdrawal Specialist who also works one-on-one with new students. "Being able to answer any question and give reality to the person about the program is super helpful.”

You may also meet Caitlin, the Rehabilitation Services Supervisor, walking the halls and checking on her staff and residents. She is responsible for program implementation and making sure the students are winning all the way to graduation. Like many staff, she has an inspiring story of her own: “After graduating Narconon, I went back to college and got my BA in Addiction Studies.” Now she helps others win their fight against addiction to live drug-free for good.

Nurse Check-Up: Medical Screening & Blood Work

The next stop is Narconon’s in-house nurse. You will receive a preliminary medical checkup here. The nurse will then schedule you and later help you attend a doctor's appointment and a blood draw for a comprehensive health assessment as you enter the program. The doctor will give the final approval to start the program.

“I’ve been here for 7 years,” says Molly, RN. “I’ve seen a lot of people coming through the program. I can usually tell what is most needed and wanted for individual students.” She consistently works to provide whatever that is, so they can complete successfully.

Drug-Free Withdrawal: One-On-One Care

Once the necessary steps are completed with the nurse, it’s time to start in earnest. “The first 72 hours the student will be in withdrawal,” says Caitlan. “This can be a difficult process for many, depending on what they are coming off of.” She urges families to be “prepared with support and motivation to help get them through.”

Each student is assigned a personal Withdrawal Specialist who will be present with them 24 hours a day. Nutrition and special techniques are used to ease discomfort or pain.

“They will be given nourishing meals, vitamins, and various supplements to help with withdrawal symptoms,” says Senior Case Supervisor Clare.

One of these special techniques is called a Locational Assist. “If someone comes in and is stuck in their head, this process gets them to look outward and get them to experience the world around them,” says Withdrawal Specialist Daniel, who has provided countless assists to his students. From his experience, Daniel says he has seen how assists he is trained to deliver “put students in better communication with their body and even ease them through withdrawal and calm their nerves.”

FAQs: Drug-Free Withdrawal at Narconon Suncoast

How Long Does Drug-Free Withdrawal Last?

“It can be tough right away—or may not become tough for a day or two. The withdrawals can last a day or as long as a week,” says Senior Case Supervisor Clare. Each person is different and may be withdrawing from different substances.

When is Drug-Free Withdrawal Considered Complete?

Once you are able to “eat well and sleep on a regular schedule at night,” Registered Nurse Molly says, you will be given approval to move on with the next step of the program.

What Feelings Can I Expect When Starting Drug-Free Withdrawal?

“I mostly come across scared, anxious, and mad, which are typically all a part of the same reasoning,” says Withdrawal Specialist Tyler. “Usually within the first 24-36 hours it tends to subside, and you can see the students are more comfortable.”

“It is just a matter of persisting, and they will get through,” adds Clare. “By not giving up, they will have a great feeling of accomplishment.”

Are Prescription Drugs Allowed on Campus at Narconon Suncoast?

Narconon Suncoast’s Medical Director and nurses will ensure medically necessary prescriptions for physical conditions are not discontinued; however, “recreational” prescription drugs are not allowed.

What Do You Tell Students Who Want to Give Up During Withdrawal?

“They arrived here for a reason. They wanted to change that condition. We just remind them of this,” says Clare. “What they are going through for the next few days or hours is worth it for their future: to be what they envisioned, whatever that is for them.”

Tyler explains from his perspective, working one-on-one with students in withdrawal: “As with any major life or physical change, the first few days are always difficult. But for the majority of individuals, the first 3 days are the hardest, and it will only get better and easier after that.”

Is Drug-Free Withdrawal Tough?

“Absolutely, it’s tough,” says Tyler. “I will never tell a student that withdrawal will be easy. I tell them, though, if you follow the instructions and be completely transparent with the staff, you will get through it. It is worth it because it gives you a safe place with loads of support to get through it, and it's one step closer to sobriety. The best way out is through!”

The Program Ahead

Withdrawal is just the first step in a series that makes up the complete Narconon program. After you successfully complete it, there is so much to look forward to, including:

• New Life Detox: A carefully monitored regimen combining exercise, time in a dry-heat sauna, hydration, and nutrition to help participants feel refreshed, flush out drugs and toxins, and assist them in regaining their energy and vitality.
• The Objectives: A series of exercises designed to help students shift their attention from being stuck in past moments into the present, preparing them to face life without drugs in the here and now.
• Life Skills: Practical coursework that helps students address the original reasons they turned to drugs in the first place and develop the self-control, personal values, and everyday skills needed to maintain a drug-free life.

You Can Live Drug-Free, For Good: Narconon Suncoast is Here to Help

Our staff have been through it and are committed to ensuring you make it, too. “Coming from being a client to becoming a staff member helping other people, the help I received was tremendous,” says Withdrawal Specialist Daniel, “So I strive to give the same in return to the new people that come here for help.”

Every moment matters. If you or a loved one is considering taking the first step towards a drug-free life, please reach out to Narconon Suncoast via phone or through our website today. We are here to help.

* Out of consideration, only first names are used in this article.