For many people, addiction treatment begins before they ever set foot in a therapy session. It begins with detox — the medically supervised process of clearing substances from the body safely.
Detox is not treatment on its own. But for people with physical dependence on alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines, it is the necessary first step that makes treatment possible.
At Trailhead, we help you understand what detox involves, connect you with the right detox program, and ensure you have a clear path into structured treatment the moment you are ready.
Medical detox is supervised withdrawal management in a clinical setting with 24-hour monitoring. A medical team oversees the process, administers medications to reduce withdrawal severity, and ensures complications are caught and treated immediately.
Detox is necessary when the body has become physically dependent on a substance — meaning it has adapted to the drug’s presence and cannot function normally without it. Stopping abruptly without medical supervision can be dangerous or life-threatening for certain substances.
Substances that typically require medical detox:
Trailhead Treatment Center does not currently provide on-site medical detox. We are an outpatient program — we provide PHP, IOP, medication-assisted treatment, and mental health services for adults in southern New Hampshire and the Massachusetts border region.
If you need medical detox before starting treatment, we will help you find it — and we will be ready for you when you are done.
Call 978-915-8317. The admissions team will assess whether you need detox first, identify the right program, and schedule your Trailhead intake so there is no gap between discharge and treatment start.
Trailhead works with several detox programs in the region. Call us first at 978-915-8317 and we will help connect you to the right program.
Live Free Recovery Services — Manchester, NH
livefreerecoverynh.com | (855) 229-4333
Mayflower Recovery — Wilmington, MA
The Process Recovery Center — Nashua, NH
theprocessrecoverycenter.com | (888) 649-1149
NH Doorways is the state’s 24/7 treatment access network. Call to be assessed and referred to a detox program regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
SAMHSA Treatment Locator lets you search for detox facilities by zip code and insurance type. SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 — free, confidential, 24/7.
When you call a detox facility, ask:
Completing detox is a critical milestone — and it is only the beginning. Research consistently shows that people who leave detox without entering a structured treatment program relapse at very high rates, often within days of discharge.
The goal of detox is physical stabilization. The work of recovery — understanding what drove the addiction, building new coping skills, repairing relationships, rebuilding daily structure — happens in treatment. Trailhead is that next step.
The moment you have a detox discharge date, call us at 978-915-8317. We will schedule your intake so you move directly from detox into treatment without a gap.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
The most intensive outpatient option. Five days per week, five to six hours per day. Ideal for people stepping directly out of detox who need significant daily structure and clinical support.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Three to five days per week. Appropriate for people who have stabilized medically and are ready to return to work or daily life while continuing structured treatment.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Starting MAT during or immediately after detox significantly improves outcomes for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. Trailhead offers injectable and oral MAT options integrated into PHP and IOP.
Trailhead Treatment Center is a recovery-owned outpatient program in Salem, NH founded by Caitlin and Mike DiBlasi — both in recovery themselves. We treat addiction not as a moral failure but as a medical condition that responds to evidence-based care.
We serve adults from Salem, Derry, Londonderry, Windham, Plaistow, and the Massachusetts border communities of Haverhill, Methuen, Lawrence, and Andover.
Call us the day before you are discharged from detox. We will be ready. 978-915-8317 — 103 Stiles Rd, Salem, NH 03079
Not always. Many people begin IOP or PHP without prior detox — especially those managing opioid or stimulant use disorders that do not require medical supervision. If you are drinking heavily and daily, or taking benzodiazepines regularly, speak with a medical provider before stopping. Call us and we will assess this together.
Alcohol and benzo detox typically takes 5 to 10 days. Opioid detox with medication support is usually 3 to 7 days. Duration depends on the substance, length of use, and individual physiology.
Most commercial plans and NH Medicaid cover medical detox under mental health parity law. Call your insurer directly or ask the detox facility’s admissions team. Trailhead can also help you verify coverage for the treatment phase that follows.
Yes. Many detox programs initiate Suboxone or methadone during the withdrawal management phase. Starting MAT in detox and continuing it at Trailhead is the most evidence-supported approach for opioid use disorder.
Relapse is common and does not mean treatment failed. Call Trailhead at 978-915-8317. Whether you are re-entering from a relapse or stepping down from a higher level of care, we will meet you where you are.
The moment you have a discharge date, call us. We will have a spot ready so you move directly from detox into treatment without a gap.
Call 978-915-8317 to speak with our admissions team. Your first call is confidential and pressure-free.
