Medical Drug and Alcohol Detox Center in Tampa, FL
Riverside Recovery of Tampa provides 24/7 medically supervised drug detox and alcohol detox on its Hillsborough River campus, with registered nurses on every shift. Detox leads straight into residential and outpatient care with the same clinical team, so recovery continues without a transfer.
What is medical detox?
Drug detox and alcohol detox are medically supervised processes that clear a substance from the body while doctors and nurses manage withdrawal. Medical detox is the first stage of addiction treatment for alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders, and it prepares a person for the therapy that follows.
Stopping alcohol or benzodiazepines suddenly can trigger seizures, so both are withdrawn under medical care. StatPearls (NCBI) places alcohol withdrawal seizures 6 to 48 hours after the last drink. Detoxification at Riverside Recovery of Tampa includes:
- 24/7 withdrawal monitoring by nurses and medical providers
- Medication to ease withdrawal, prescribed and adjusted by the medical team
- A nursing evaluation, psychiatric evaluation and medical history and physical
- Detox groups and daily structure, not medication alone
- A planned move into rehab or outpatient care when detox ends
Detox by substance: alcohol, prescription drugs, opioids and more
Drug detox looks different for every substance, so each detox plan starts with what a person uses, how much and for how long. Riverside's medical team provides detox for the substances below.
Alcohol detox
Alcohol withdrawal starts within hours of the last drink and brings a risk of seizures and delirium tremens. Common symptoms include shaking, sweating, anxiety, nausea and trouble sleeping, and nurses monitor them around the clock.
Alcohol withdrawal timeline →Benzodiazepine and Xanax detox
Xanax, Klonopin, Valium and Ativan are tapered slowly at Riverside, often over 30 days or more, because stopping suddenly triggers a risk of seizures. Common symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, tremor and muscle tension.
Benzodiazepine addiction →Opioid and fentanyl detox
Drug detox from heroin, fentanyl and prescription opioids eases withdrawal and plans ongoing care, including medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine or naltrexone when it fits the treatment plan. Common symptoms include muscle aches, sweating, diarrhea and strong cravings.
Opioid withdrawal and detox →Methadone detox
Methadone detox follows dose limits, and a dose taper before admission is often needed. Admissions reviews the current dose during the first phone call.
Meth and stimulant detox
Meth and cocaine withdrawal brings exhaustion, low mood and strong cravings. Drug detox for stimulants runs with 24/7 nursing and the psychiatric evaluation every client receives on the first day.
Meth withdrawal and detox →Kratom detox
Kratom and its derivative Seven act on opioid receptors, so stopping produces opioid-like withdrawal, with aches, restlessness, irritability and a runny nose. Riverside treats kratom dependence with the same 24/7 medical oversight.
Kratom addiction →Medical alcohol detox in Tampa
Alcohol detox at Riverside Recovery of Tampa treats alcohol withdrawal as a medical event, because alcohol use disorder brings a risk of seizures and delirium tremens when heavy drinking stops suddenly. Alcohol detox at Riverside includes:
- No blood alcohol cutoff, so a person who is still intoxicated can start detox safely
- Medical care for people with liver disease, including liver transplant referrals
- GI and hepatitis treatment during detox
- Naltrexone or acamprosate after detox to reduce the urge to drink
After alcohol detox, care continues in inpatient alcohol rehab in Tampa on the same campus, with relapse prevention groups twice a week and daily recovery meetings. Clients keep the same therapists they met in detox, so relapse prevention work starts with people who already know their history.
Veterans and military families can use TRICARE at Riverside, and the VALOR program for veterans covers the full continuum from medical detox through residential and outpatient treatment.
How long does detox take?
Drug and alcohol detox at Riverside is priced as a seven-day stay, and the actual length depends on the substance, how long it was used and the person's health. Withdrawal follows a different timeline for each substance:
- Alcohol: symptoms begin 6 to 24 hours after the last drink and peak around 72 hours, with delirium tremens possible at 48 to 72 hours
- Benzodiazepines: Riverside tapers over 30 days or longer to lower the risk of seizures
- Opioids and fentanyl: withdrawal eases within one to two weeks, with cravings that continue after detox
- Meth and cocaine: the crash comes first, followed by weeks of low mood and cravings
SAMHSA's TIP 45 on detoxification describes detox as the first step of treatment, not a substitute for it.
Does alcohol detox take longer than drug detox?
Alcohol detox is not the longest detox at Riverside. Alcohol withdrawal peaks around 72 hours after the last drink, opioid withdrawal eases within one to two weeks, and benzodiazepine tapers run 30 days or longer, which makes a benzodiazepine taper the longest detox on campus.
Inpatient vs outpatient detox in Tampa
Riverside offers inpatient medical detox on its Tampa campus, with 24-hour nursing, and outpatient detox in Tampa for people with milder withdrawal and a stable, substance-free home. The admissions team recommends the safer setting after the phone assessment.
Is alcohol detox at home safe?
Detoxing at home is not safe for alcohol or benzodiazepines, because withdrawal seizures can start without warning. Quitting opioids at home also raises overdose risk, because tolerance drops within days and a return to the old dose can be fatal. A history of seizures or delirium tremens points to inpatient detox.
Is dual diagnosis support available during detox?
Yes. Every client receives a psychiatric evaluation and the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screens on the first day, and most of Riverside's medical providers hold psychiatric certifications. Depression, anxiety or PTSD is treated alongside withdrawal, and dual diagnosis treatment continues into rehab with the same clinical team.
Signs you need a detox program
You need medical detox if stopping or cutting down brings on withdrawal, or if your history makes withdrawal risky. These warning signs point to supervised detox instead of quitting alone:
- Shaking, sweating, nausea or anxiety when you stop or cut down
- Needing a drink or a drug in the morning to feel normal
- Past withdrawal seizures or delirium tremens
- Daily benzodiazepine use for weeks or months
- Daily opioid or fentanyl use
Other signs matter too:
- Two or more attempts to quit alone that ended in relapse
- Mixing alcohol with benzodiazepines or opioids
- Liver disease, heart disease or another serious medical condition
- Pregnancy, which needs a medically managed withdrawal plan
- Depression, anxiety or thoughts of self-harm alongside substance use
Not sure? A 15-minute call with admissions at 800-871-5440 sorts it out, at no cost.
Why choose Riverside for detox in Tampa
Three things set detox at Riverside Recovery of Tampa apart from other Tampa detox centers: slower benzodiazepine tapers, admission for medically complex patients and one clinical team from detox through recovery.
Extended benzodiazepine tapers
Riverside offers ASAM-compliant benzodiazepine tapers of 30 days or longer, compared with the 5 to 10 day tapers common at other detox centers. A slower taper lowers the risk of seizures for people dependent on Xanax, Klonopin or Valium.
Medically complex patients welcome
Riverside has no blood alcohol cutoff at admission: if a person can complete intake and walk to their room, they can be admitted. Riverside accepts medically complex patients, including liver transplant referrals, and treats GI and hepatitis complications.
One clinical team from admission to recovery
Clients keep the same therapists when they move from detox into residential care, so nobody starts over with a new team. Detox and every later level of care run on one Tampa campus.
What happens during detox at Riverside, step by step
Drug and alcohol detox at Riverside follows five steps, from the first phone call to the next level of care. Here is what happens at each one.
1. Phone pre-assessment (about 15 minutes)
An admissions coordinator asks about substance use, medical concerns and current medications, and checks your insurance on the same call. Same-day admission is possible, especially for morning callers. Riverside also keeps a packing list for rehab with the items to bring and the ones to leave at home.
2. Arrival and first-day assessment
A nurse completes the admission evaluation, and the medical team takes a full history and physical with a psychiatric evaluation. The biopsychosocial assessment includes the PHQ-9, the GAD-7 and the Brief Addiction Monitor (BAM), so mental health care begins during detox.
3. Withdrawal management and detox medications
Nurses check vital signs and symptoms around the clock, and the medical team adjusts medication as withdrawal eases. Registered nurses work every shift, with nursing leadership on call 24 hours a day.
4. A typical day in detox
Each day includes recovery reflections, gym time, a detox group or orientation and an afternoon detox activity, with an AA meeting on Saturdays. Phones are put away for the first three days so clients can rest.
5. Next level of care
Before detox ends, the clinical team plans the next step on the same campus, from residential treatment to Day/Night Treatment or intensive outpatient care, so there is no gap between detox and rehab.
Detox vs rehab: what comes next
Detox and rehab are two stages of the same treatment. Detox clears the substance and manages withdrawal over days, while rehab treats the substance use disorder itself over weeks or months with therapy, groups and relapse prevention. Detox without follow-up care leaves relapse risk high, which is why the recovery plan starts during detox.
Detox alone rarely keeps someone sober, so Riverside plans the next level of care before detox ends. Clients keep the same therapists from detox into residential care, on the same campus.
Next levels of care at Riverside
- Residential and inpatient drug rehab: 24/7 care on campus, usually 30 days and up to 60 to 90 days when clinically needed
- Day/Night Treatment (previously PHP), a partial hospitalization program: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm, for 4 to 6 weeks for most clients
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP): 3 to 5 days a week of therapy while living at home
How can families support a loved one in detox?
Riverside's family program for addiction treatment gives families their own support, with Family Therapist Chloe Andersson as the first contact. It includes family therapy sessions, a Sunday family support group on Zoom and a monthly in-person Family Weekend. Clients put their phones away for the first three days of detox, so contact is limited in that window.
Where is our Tampa detox campus?
Riverside Recovery's detox center sits on the Hillsborough River at 4004 N Riverside Dr in Tampa, easy to reach from Tampa International Airport. Detox and residential care share this campus, and outpatient services are directly across the street at 4001 N Riverside Dr. Admissions helps coordinate transportation to the campus.
People come to Riverside from across Tampa Bay, including Brandon, FL, Riverview, FL and St. Petersburg, FL.
Coverage & Cost
Drug detox cost and insurance in Tampa
Health plans cover medical detox when it is medically necessary, and the amount you pay depends on your plan's deductible, copay and coinsurance. Riverside Recovery accepts the 15 plans below and does not accept Medicare or Medicaid. Admissions checks your benefits on the first call, at no cost.
Riverside publishes the cost of rehab in Tampa for every level of care: self-pay detox costs $1,500 a day, or $10,500 for a seven-day stay, and outpatient detox costs $5,250. Call 800-871-5440 for a free benefits check.
Free & Confidential
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Medical detoxification team led by Dr. Michael Sore
Detox is overseen by Dr. Michael Sore, MD, Medical Director, with a medical team of physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, most of whom hold psychiatric certifications and all of whom have a medical background in detox care.
Registered nurses every shift
Nursing averages 1 nurse to 8 clients, with no more than 15 clients per nurse in detox and leadership backup 24/7.
Psychiatrically certified providers
Most of Riverside’s five medical providers hold psychiatric certifications, and detox work requires a medical background.
University teaching facility
Fellows from the University of South Florida rotate through the detox unit, under the oversight of Dr. Ryan Wagoner.
Clinical ratio of 1 to 8
Clinical staffing runs at 1 staff member to 8 clients, well under Florida’s cap of 15 clients per primary counselor.
Patient stories from Riverside Recovery of Tampa
Patients and alumni from Riverside Recovery of Tampa share their experiences in their own words, including people who started their recovery in our Tampa detox.
Inside Riverside Recovery: A Comprehensive Approach to Addiction Treatment
Patient Recovery Story at Riverside Recovery of Tampa
Alumni Speak: Recovery at Riverside
Riverside Recovery of Tampa reviews: 4.5 stars on Google
Riverside Recovery of Tampa holds a 4.5-star rating on Google, and these reviews come from former clients and a referring provider who know the program and the people behind it firsthand.
"This treatment center truly saved my life and helped ease me into recovery. I will be 4 years sober this year, thanks to the help of the technicians, therapists, and groups provided by Riverside. The food is great, the facility is clean, and they keep you busy with fun activities. Would highly recommend to anyone who is struggling!"
Emily Crews, Google Review
"Riverside Recovery and its staff gave me the tools I needed to face a life of recovery. It's been a journey for sure so far but I was prepared. They helped to change my life. Thank you for all the care and compassion you show each day to each client. Thank you for helping to save my life."
Stephen Maloy, Google Review
"As someone who works in mental health and substance abuse, I can say Riverside Recovery does amazing work. We trust them with our clients and refer to them often. They are saving lives."
Lee D., Referring Provider
Tampa detox FAQs
The questions below are the ones people in Tampa ask most about drug and alcohol detox, from how many days detox takes to what it costs and whether insurance pays for it.
How many days is a detox program?
A drug detox or alcohol detox program at Riverside Recovery of Tampa is priced as a seven-day stay, and the real length depends on the substance and the person's health. Alcohol withdrawal begins 6 to 24 hours after the last drink and peaks around 72 hours. Opioid and stimulant withdrawal usually settles within one to two weeks, while benzodiazepine tapers at Riverside run 30 days or longer to lower the risk of seizures.
What happens when you go to a detox center?
When you arrive at Riverside's detox center, a nurse completes an admission evaluation and the medical team takes a full history and physical. Every client also receives a psychiatric evaluation and the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screens, so depression, anxiety or PTSD is treated alongside withdrawal. Nurses then monitor symptoms 24/7, the medical team adjusts medication as withdrawal eases, and daily detox groups give each day structure.
Does detox have to be inpatient?
No, detox does not always have to be inpatient. Riverside Recovery offers inpatient medical detox on its Tampa campus, with registered nurses on every shift, and outpatient detox for people with milder withdrawal and a stable, substance-free home. Alcohol or benzodiazepine dependence, a history of withdrawal seizures or a serious medical condition points to inpatient detox. Admissions recommends the safer setting after a 15-minute phone assessment.
Do I need a hospital or medical clearance before detox?
No, most people do not need a hospital visit before detox at Riverside Recovery. Riverside has no blood alcohol cutoff and no automatic hospital referral for medical clearance: if a person can complete intake and walk to their room, they can be admitted. The medical team accepts medically complex patients, including liver transplant referrals. Anyone with chest pain, confusion or a seizure needs to call 911 first.
How do you get drugs out of your system faster?
Detox drinks, pills and kits do not get drugs out of your system faster, and no safe shortcut exists. The liver and kidneys clear each substance on their own timeline. Stopping alcohol or benzodiazepines suddenly triggers a risk of seizures, so the safest way through withdrawal is medically supervised detox, where nurses manage symptoms and keep you hydrated, fed and rested.
Does insurance cover drug and alcohol detox in Tampa?
Health plans cover medical detox when it is medically necessary, and the amount you pay depends on your deductible, copay and coinsurance. Riverside Recovery accepts 15 plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Optum, TRICARE and UnitedHealthcare, and does not accept Medicare or Medicaid. Admissions verifies your benefits on the first call at no cost, so you know what detox costs before you arrive.
How much does detox cost?
Medical detox at Riverside Recovery of Tampa costs $1,500 a day without insurance, which is $10,500 for a seven-day stay, and outpatient detox costs $5,250. These rates cover 24/7 nursing, medical oversight, medication management and daily detox programming. With insurance, you pay your plan's share instead, and admissions confirms the total before admission so there are no surprises when detox begins.
Can I start detox in Tampa today?
Yes, same-day admission is possible at Riverside Recovery of Tampa, especially for people who call in the morning. A 15-minute phone pre-assessment covers substance use, medical concerns and current medications, and admissions checks insurance on the same call. Riverside has no blood alcohol cutoff, so a person who is still intoxicated can be admitted if they can complete intake and walk to their room. Call 800-871-5440 to start.
What medications are used during detox?
The medications used during detox depend on the substance and are prescribed and adjusted by Riverside's medical team. Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal is managed with a gradual, monitored taper to lower the risk of seizures. Opioid withdrawal is eased with medications that reduce cravings and symptoms, and buprenorphine or naltrexone can continue after detox to reduce cravings. Methadone detox follows dose limits, so a taper before admission is often needed.
Start your detox program at Riverside Recovery of Tampa
Admissions answers 24/7. One call covers a short phone assessment, a free insurance check and, when it fits, same-day admission to our Tampa detox center. In a medical emergency, call 911. In a mental health crisis, call or text 988.