Year One of Detox with RS EDEN's Withdrawal Management Program

In October 2023, RS EDEN launched its Withdrawal Management Program (WDM) with a mission to address the opioid epidemic in the Twin Cities. Today, with one year of being in operation, the program has become a beacon of hope for people struggling with substance use disorders, offering an innovative and compassionate approach to detoxification and recovery.

At the heart of the WDM Program is Lisa Black, RN, BSN, who oversees the day-to-day operations as the Nursing Manager. “As we are a new program,” says Lisa, “we continue to change processes for our service in addition to making policies that best serve our participants as well as our staff members. Having worked within the Allina healthcare system doing inpatient mental health services for 11 years, this opportunity has allowed me to assist our participants understand the connection between their mental health and substance use.”

The program’s unique design help participants safely navigate the challenging process of withdrawal. After a three-to-five-day detox period, people can transition seamlessly into RS EDEN’s residential treatment program at Eden House. This continuity of care is made possible through a collaboration with YourPath, which provides Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT) and trauma-responsive care in a calm, supportive environment.

“Our program has the capacity to serve 12 individuals and we are a 24/7 program,” shares Lisa. “During their initial time within our program, the majority of our participants are emotionally and physically exhausted, so along with receiving Suboxone and other monitored medications to assist them in their detox, they are resting. We then work to get them out of their rooms with other program participants to interact and to start on their path to recovery.”

One piece that sets the WDM program apart is our commitment to compassionate, personalized care. Many participants come to us after moving from crisis to crisis without receiving the kind of compassion and care that RS EDEN offers. With a 24/7 medical team and engagement of Peer Recovery Specialists, who have personal experience with recovery, the program creates a community of support. “Our Peer Recovery Specialists bring the unique opportunity to support our participants as individuals who have ‘walked the walk and talked the talk’ in recovery,” explains Lisa.

Looking to the future, Lisa envisions continued growth for the program. “I would love to see us at full capacity for our participants, build up our staff to support those men and women in our program, and continue to build our best practices to support those who come through our doors to make them feel seen, supported, and heard.”

As RS EDEN’s Withdrawal Management Program celebrates its first year, it stands as a testament to the power of compassionate, integrated care. By creating a space where people in crisis can not only detox but also begin the healing process, RS EDEN is helping to reshape the landscape of substance use treatment in Minneapolis and beyond.