Intermountain Health is offering specialized withdrawal management services to help individuals safely navigate the physical and psychological challenges of recovering from substance use disorder. The program provides medical supervision to manage symptoms related to alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates across multiple Utah facilities.
Clinical Approaches to Recovery
The medical program uses the term withdrawal management rather than detoxification to describe the process of helping patients stop using drugs or alcohol safely. According to Intermountain Health, this clinical approach is necessary for managing physical dependence, mitigating health complications like liver or cardiovascular damage, and addressing co-occurring mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Medical staff at the organization provide 24/7 monitoring to reduce the risk of fatal overdoses during the withdrawal process. The program's strategy includes medical detoxification, integrated care for concurrent mental health conditions, and long-term aftercare planning to help patients maintain sobriety through support groups and ongoing resources.
Regional Treatment Locations
Intermountain Health operates several specialized locations for withdrawal management throughout the region. The LDS Hospital Withdrawal Management Unit, accessible through the Behavioral Health Access Center in Salt Lake City, provides 24-hour care. Additionally, the Alta View location in Sandy offers 24-hour services.
Specific clinical resources are also available at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, which provides withdrawal management for patients undergoing labor and delivery. This ensures that pregnant individuals struggling with substance use disorder can receive necessary medical support during pregnancy.
Expanding Women's Behavioral Health
The healthcare system is expanding its behavioral health capabilities for women. Intermountain Health announced that a new women’s behavioral health unit at Alta View, which will include medical detox services during pregnancy, is scheduled to open in the summer of 2026.
This expansion aims to provide continuity of care by allowing patients to transition smoothly from initial detoxification to ongoing treatment programs within the Intermountain Health network.
Comprehensive Medical Services
Intermountain Health continues to manage a wide array of medical specialties beyond behavioral health, including oncology, pediatrics, neurology, and orthopedics. The organization's broader clinical focus encompasses preventative medicine, heart health, and emergency care services across its various Utah facilities.
