Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need Palm Beach Outpatient Detox?

You need a drug or alcohol detox program if the drugs/alcohol you've been taking:

1.  Have become addictive;
2.  Are not handling the problem for which they were originally prescribed;
3.  Are causing unwanted and unsafe side effects.

Simply discontinuing medication, alcohol or other drugs can be dangerous and create other potentially severe medical problems. The solution is a medical detoxification program designed specifically for you that will enable your safe detoxification from drugs. At Palm Beach Outpatient Detox, your drug detox program is designed for you by Dr. Scanlan after an extensive intake interview and analysis of your medical information and drug use. Once designed, each step of your drug detox is carefully monitored by Dr. Scanlan. Unlike at some facilities, during the monitoring of your program, we listen to you and value your input. When a drug detoxification is properly done, most people experience little discomfort. Our goal is that not only is your detoxification successful but also that it is as comfortable as possible.



Drug detox is a serious matter, which is why most prescription labels carry the warning to not stop taking the medication without consulting your physician. It is very dangerous to just stop taking most types of prescription drugs and it can be just as dangerous for alcoholics to stop using alcohol without a medically supervised detoxification program.

Palm Beach Outpatient Detox  vs. Rehab?

Drug detox programs are not the same as rehab programs. There is an important distinction between medical detoxification and a full drug rehab. A medical detoxification can take between seven to 21 days to safely withdraw from a drug. Drug Rehab can take weeks or months, and is designed to handle drug abuse and the underlying issues associated with such abuse. Some candidates for medical detox will not need extended alcohol or drug rehab. If you complete your detoxification program and decide that you want to explore some options for further rehab, our staff will help educate you on the rehab programs that are available.

What makes Palm Beach Outpatient Detox different from other outpatient detox facilities?

Dr. Steven R. Scanlan, M.D. is board certified in general psychiatry and addiction medicine (ASAM) and practices in Boca Raton, Florida.  He specializes in office based detoxification from alcohol, opiates (heroin, methadone, vicodin, oxycontin, percocet, fentanyl, etc.), and other substances.  Dr. Scanlan has performed thousands of opiate detoxifications using subutex and suboxone to treat opiate addiction.  His professional interests include relapse prevention, dual diagnosis treatment (for example, patients with both bipolar disorder and heroin addiction), and psychopharmacology, which is the study of drug-induced changes in mood, sensation, thinking, and behavior.

Most importantly, Dr. Scanlan oversees your treatment personally from start to finish and not a general M.D., case manager, or nurse.

What kinds of drugs are used in the treatment processes?

Suboxone and Subutex are both medications approved for the treatment of opiate dependence. Both medications contain the active ingredient, buprenorphine hydrochloride, which works to reduce the symptoms of opiate dependence. Subutex contains only buprenorphine hydrochloride. Suboxone contains an additional ingredient called naloxone which is included to discourage people from dissolving the tablet and injecting it. Dr. Scanlan is a Certified Suboxone Provider.

Should my primary care physician attempt the detox process?

Physicians must be licensed to prescribe Suboxone. While there are many physicians that are licensed to prescribe Suboxone, there are very few that have the experience and the medical qualifications that Dr. Scanlan has at treating opiate addiction. He specializes in treating people dependent on pain medication, methadone or heroin. Additionally, Dr. Scanlan uses a variety of medications in addition to Suboxone to ensure your detox is safe, painless and effective.

If I'm from out of town, where do I stay?

We suggest a hotel that is close by. Please see our Contact Us page for a map of local hotels or contact us via phone/email and we will make help you find what you need for your stay.

What forms of payment does P.B.O.D. accept?

We accept Visa, Master Card, and American Express as well as cashier's checks and cash.

PBOD may accept your insurance...please call for insurance verification of benefits.

Are medications covered in the cost of treatment?

No, prescription medication is not covered in the cost of treatment. However, if you have an insurance plan that covers prescription medication we can assist you in ordering the medications using your insurance to minimize the cost.