I went to a rapid detox center just outside of Detroit.
It was around $8 or $9000 for a total of 4 days, including the procedure and recovery. Though you are allowed to take opiates 12 hours before the procedure, I didn't bring any and was in pretty severe withdrawals by the time the nurse came to get me from the hotel the next morning. A torturous 45-minute car ride ensued, albeit in a nice town car. After you check in there are some forms to fill out and you have a brief meeting with the in-house psychologist, but I was so sick they saved some of the paperwork for later and I only talked to the therapist for about 30 seconds. You know how when you're going through withdrawals and you're always contorting your body into weird positions just trying to get comfortable...after lying halfway in a chair and halfway on the floor in the waiting room for awhile, they brought me to the back and I took a drug test and changed into a hospital gown. The nurse gave me a warm blanket, which I remember feeling amazing, and the doctor came out and started literally yelling at me about how I had cocaine in my system, which I had completely forgotten about, and how he could refuse to do the procedure if he wanted. I really should have read the intake instructions more closely, but it was still pretty harsh...he said something about junkies being liars and I think I was crying and apologizing. They went through with it anyway because it was a small amount and I'm relatively healthy. They miraculously found a vein, put me under anesthesia and proceeded to IV about 15 drugs into my system, the main one being Naltrexone. I have a rare genetic blood disorder so they couldn't give me the whole cocktail, but assured me it was just a few minor drugs that were missing. Woke up after 2 hours puking from anesthesia and totally incoherent, don't remember the ride back to the hotel or going into the room. I was puking a lot, mostly stomach acid and bile. A nurse visited me to give me meds (catapress, Zofran, Gabapentin, and an ambien at night because I couldn't have valium) 3 times a day and he was also on call. He was great. I started feeling better quickly, but was EXTREMELY weak, too weak to walk and they practically had to force me to eat. Three days later I was well enough to check out. They normally give you a shot of naltrexone that lasts 3 months, but did not want to give me such a big dose at once because of my condition, so I got daily pills to be sent monthly for a year. The therapist supposedly formulated a custom treatment plan and sessions were on skype or over the phone. I just couldn't get into it. Overall I would say it's better than enduring withdrawals, but don't expect any miracles; I still felt like crap, just in a different way.
I had to stop taking the naltrexone pills a couple weeks later because I could feel an attack coming on. If it progressed it would basically mean really intense stomach pain and eventually seizures, so I immediately stopped taking the naltrexone. It's only supposed to be a mild aggravator of my condition, but combined with the stress and the not-eating I believe it did bring on an attack.
I relapsed pretty quickly, but I blame it more on my continuing to associate with users (my boyfriend), not being able to bring myself to change my number, not getting any sort of therapy, and basically just being really depressed and despondent due to post-withdrawals. For the price though...you better get that 3-month shot. I would recommend rapid detox only for people who already have really strong support systems, including a good therapist, and obviously those who can safely take naltrexone because that was a key part of the follow-up treatment I couldn't do. Someone whose addiction was as severe as mine was really belongs in a longer-term, inpatient treatment center.
