Urine testing is practically always done.... it's routinely done on admission!
Even though patients come on their own and are very serious about getting detoxed & treatment,
they are usually not truthful about the amount of substance they've been using/abusing.
Patients using alcohol almost always minimize the amount & how often they drank.
This is because they are embarassed that their tolerance allowed them to drink so much.
Drug users usually maximize their usage because they are afraid of the depression and discomfort
they'll have if not given enough detox meds.
Because it's known that alcohol users minimize their use, it is very important that their vital signs be checked frequently.
Alcohol is the most dangerous of detoxes. Patients can have seizures and they may die during detox, if not given the correct
dosages of detox meds or if patient stops drinking "cold turkey".
There are tests given to opioid users to determine their actual usage. A drug will be given to them,
a dosage based on what they've told us. Then staff observes patient to see what their tolerance is...
do they fall right off to sleep, are they unsteady on their feet, or are they functioning as "normal"?
Detox meds are then ordered according to the outcome of the tolerance test.
Opioid detox is not dangerous, but is extremely uncomfortable.
All they want to do is curl up in a ball... flu like symptoms, bone aches, chills, vomiting, shakes, etc.