Opiate addiction, whether to heroin or prescription pain killers, is like being trapped in a nightmare. Without help, it is almost impossible to get free. Sadly, the necessary medical help a patient needs to get clean is hard to find and, for many, completely out of reach. The Detox Program at the Master Center for Addiction Medicine was designed to help those who need it most – to provide a flexible alternative that breaks the physical chains of addiction while connecting patients with the emotional and psychological tools they need to achieve lasting recovery.


What patients often notice first about Master Center is the compassion of the professionals and staff, many of whom openly share their own recovery stories with patients in need of encouragement. Just as important is the medical expertise, vast experience, and innovative approach of our addiction medicine team. Dr. Thompson, the co-founder, designer, and Chief Medical Officer at Master Center spent years in community-based programs helping patients that others were unwilling to accept and, in the process, developing effective, practical, and inexpensive approaches to drug and alcohol dependence. Patients at Master Center now benefit from those years of work through the Master Center Detox Program – safe, reliable, flexible, and effective treatment for addiction to opiates and every other class of addictive drug.

Our Process

The Ambulatory Detox Program is a 30-day experience that begins with a focus on physical comfort and patient safety.  Our medical providers use the simplest and most effective medicines to treat and prevent opioid withdrawal symptoms while the patient adjusts to being drug-free. We primarily use buprenorphine to treat opiate withdrawal symptoms but are also skilled with non-buprenorphine approaches involving non-opioid medications and deep nerve stimulation technology when requested.  

Our patients experience minimal physical discomfort and usually, within a week or so, are free of illicit opiates and ready to begin life again.  

While the physical process of getting clean is critical, it’s the emotional, psychological, and spiritual journey that leads to lasting recovery.  Our Detox program integrates education, counseling, and coaching while as soon as a patient feels physically ready, often within the first week of treatment.  The last 20 days of the Detox program are focused on the inner-journey and introduce the patient to all the effective treatment tools:  Addiction education, Recovery Coaching, individual and group therapy, addiction psychiatry, practical skill-building, counseling, and accountability.  

At the end of our 30-day process, we invite each patient to continue in an ongoing program of treatment at Master Center – Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), or other multidisciplinary programs.  Most patients do indeed choose to stay with us after Detox.

Why Choose Master Center

The Master Center stands out as an addiction treatment program that addresses the heart, mind, and body of the patient struggling with addiction. Each treatment plan draws on evidence-based, multi-disciplinary approaches but is individually tailored for individual needs.  Our clinical and medical expertise is first-rate but is often overshadowed by the very real sense of empathy that every patient feels when they enter our doors.  

Getting clean through a Medically Managed Withdrawal (Detox) program is a crucial first step and the quest to recover from opiate addiction.  

Do not go through this process alone or make the mistake of underestimating the power of addiction.  Attempting to quit on your own is extremely difficult.  Even more frustrating is that the physical withdrawal symptoms are the easy part compared to the challenge of staying away from opiates and avoiding the mistake of switching to a new drug.  ‘Detox’ is much safer, easier, and likely to succeed with help from an expert team, especially one that can help you with the rest of your journey.

Our Locations in Virginia

Find an addiction treatment center near you throughout central Virginia. Reach us at any of our convenient locations below and receive your initial assessment:

Begin Your Recovery Process With Us Today

Starting the path from drug addiction to treatment and recovery takes bravery. We understand the fear associated with taking the first step. That’s why everyone who picks up the phone at each center is trained to help you get on the right path as soon as possible. Once you make that first call, every step is easier, so do not be afraid.

Get your assessment today, and remember, you don’t have to start a new life alone — The Master Center is here.