Drug & Alcohol Detox
Dr. Cromer and his staff provide one of the few places in the Tampa area where one can receive medical assistance for opiate and alcohol dependence. We call our program the Road to Recovery Medical Management Program. As outlined below, you can read about how our Program is carried out.
Opiate Dependence
Initial Evaluation– For anyone who is searching for help to get off opiates, we offer an Initial Evaluation for a prepaid amount of $175. This visit serves the purpose of evaluating the person’s drug history and outlining what our recommendations are for the patient. Due to some patient’s significant medical history, drug history, or other concomitant factors, we occasionally recommend an inpatient detox program. If, after your evaluation, we feel that we can effectively assist you in an outpatient setting, we then formulate your detox protocol. This will consist of setting up an Induction Visit for introducing Suboxone. No Suboxone or prescription will be given during the Initial Evaluation.
Suboxone Induction – During your Initial Evaluation we will set up an Induction visit. The Induction visit cost is $275 and must be pre-paid. We will set up a time where you will need to be in mild – moderate withdrawal for Suboxone to be safely administered. This visit can take up to two hours. Our goal is for you to leave comfortably, with a prescription for a week’s worth of Suboxone. We also prescribe additional medicine for sleep and anxiety if needed.
Week 1 – Follow up visit – The purpose of this visit is to assess the correct dosing of Suboxone and to start formulating a treatment plan. This plan will include setting up monthly “medication management” visits, discussing counseling and support group options, evaluating other mental health issues, and reviewing our urine drug screen policy. The cost of this visit is $85 and needs to be prepaid at the time of the visit.
Monthly Medical Management visits – These visits are all $85 and will consist of reviewing the benefits and possible side effects of Suboxone, being accountable for follow through on counseling and/or support groups, and reviewing any other mental health issues that are being treated. A prescription for one month of Suboxone will be given.
After an undetermined number of monthly visits, we may agree to start spreading out the visits. This will depend on compliance with medication and following through on the treatment plan which will include random urine drug screens. These drug screens will cost $40, payable at the day of the visit. If a confirmatory drug test needs to be sent out to determine more accurate levels, we will first attempt to get payment through any available insurance that the patient may have.
We do not have any predetermined length of time that we treat people with Suboxone. This usually is a mutual decision based upon the patient’s unique situation.
Alcohol Dependence
Initial Evaluation – For anyone who is searching for help to detox from alcohol, we offer an Initial Evaluation for a prepaid amount of $175. This visit serves the purpose of evaluating the person’s alcohol history and outlining what our recommendations are for the patient. Due to some patient’s significant medical history, alcohol history, or other concomitant factors, we occasionally recommend an inpatient detox program. If, after your evaluation, we feel that we can effectively assist you in an outpatient setting, we then formulate your detox protocol. This can involve writing a prescription for Librium and laying out a detox plan. A follow up visit will be scheduled 2-5 days later to assure that you have successfully made it through the detox period.
Follow up visits – These visits will require a pre-payment of $85. During the first follow up visit we will discuss appropriate counseling or support groups and evaluate the benefit of any additional medication that would assist in preventing a relapse. Subsequent follow up visits are set up at monthly intervals to assess treatment progress.
Occasionally, there will be variations to the protocols above. For instance, a patient may already be on Suboxone and wish to start or transfer their care to us. There will still be an Initial Evaluation and fee, but there will not be a need for Suboxone Induction. Monthly visits will be set up to establish a therapeutic relationship with the patient.
If a patient leaves our medical management care and relapses, they are welcome to return at the discretion of the Medical Director. However, there will be an Initial Evaluation first, then, the above processes will be followed again as appropriate for the situation.
For established patients, if the need arises, our staff will work with your insurance company to get Suboxone authorized. This will require payment of additional fee of $40.