Connections Withdrawal Management Center opens it’s doors

In Central and Lower Delaware,  the Connections Withdrawal Management Center is a one-of-its-kind facility. It’s fully-equipped to help those suffering from addiction get clean.

Prior to Monday, the only option for a Delawarean who wanted in-state addiction treatment was to travel to New Castle county; but not anymore.

Adam Taylor, the public information officer for Connections Community Support Programs says, “Even though it’s probably going to be the five to seven most unpleasant days of their life, the hope is this is where their active addiction is going to end, and the best area of their life and their recovery is going to start.”

There are sixteen inpatient beds where people can stay for five to seven days depending on their drug of choice. There are also lounges featuring twelve recliners where patients can be observed for up to 23 hours.

The observation period allows medical experts to figure out if a person needs an inpatient detox, or if they can go home and receive another type of treatment.

Taylor continues, “If you’re snorting one or two bags of Heroin everyday you may not need five to seven days. We would assess you at the detox. You could maybe detox from that on an outpatient basis. However, if you were injecting fifteen bags a day, we would probably check you in.” 

We’re told that’s where the tough part begins which is why there’s a bathroom for every two inpatient rooms.     

Taylor continues, “Obviously for detox purposes we have a lot of bathrooms and showers.” 

Projectile vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes simultaneously are some of the unfortunate symptoms of withdrawal. However, it’s beyond physical.

Recovery is also a mental process. The facility has a peer support specialist on hand at all times every one of them is in recovery.

Daphne Chaniz-Rico, the heath service administrator says, “We have the medical piece of it, but we also have the piece of it that helps with the supportive system. We have groups for counseling, we have peer specialists, we have just a great team that’s able to apply a holistic approach to the client.”

Now although the state of Delaware is in the midsts of an opioid addictions crisis like the rest of the country.

Officials tell 47 ABC alcohol is the number one abused drug in the country. They expect that will be the drug of choice for the majority of their patients.

The Connections Withdraw Management Center is for people ages eighteen and up.