Opiates are some of the most addictive substances that you can use. Whether your first exposure to opiates was from a prescription or an illegal product, you may have quickly developed a need for the product. Does an opiate addiction treatment work? Yes, but a monitored detox is crucial to your safety and success.
Research has proven that your opiate receptors, once triggered, can produce a powerful pull. If you have tried to stop using in the past and been unable to avoid the draw of the drug, you’re not alone. For many opiate addicts, using an opiate receptor blocking drug, such as methadone, can help reduce the discomfort of cravings while you detox from the drug and regain your health.
Opiate Detox and Rehab Take Time
Your opiate detox and rehab process will be specific to
- the length of time you’ve been using
- the drugs you’ve used
- your dosage methodology
- underlying medical conditions
If you have used opiates in pill form only, you will need help managing cravings and you will probably need help healing your gut, including a sluggish digestive tract. If you have been injecting opiates, you will need wound care as well as help managing your cravings. Detoxing from opiates will likely be uncomfortable and may be dangerous. If you’ve been using opiates to combat chronic pain, your pain may rebound intensely as the drugs leave your system. If you’ve been using opiates to manage the symptoms of mental illness or a mood disorder, those symptoms may rebound and leave you struggling with anxious thoughts or buried under the weight of depression.
Regardless of your initial exposure to opiates, your detox process will need the attention of skilled professionals. You may have loved ones who are willing to help you detox. Unfortunately, the challenges of detox may well lead to an unpleasant response. You may not mean the unkind things you ultimately say; you may not mean to become physically dangerous to those around you, but the cravings will likely have a negative impact on your personality. For the sake of your loved ones and the relationship, do not attempt an opiate detox in their presence. You will need community when you leave detox. In addition to safely detoxing in the company of skilled professionals for the sake of your loved ones, you may need more physical support than your loved ones can provide. Opiate detox symptoms can include
- extreme nausea and vomiting
- dehydration and muscle cramps
- agitation and irritability
You may need IV fluids, which your loved ones cannot provide. You may need to have your intake and output monitored, which you may not want to share with friends and family. A monitored detox is a critical first step in your treatment process. As your cravings diminish and you begin to move into the rehab process, you will have multiple opportunities to better understand how addiction has changed your brain. Opiates bathe the brain in dopamine, the “feel good” chemical. Unfortunately, when your dopamine receptors become overloaded, they shut down. Your ability to take pleasure in simple rewards will take time to come back online.
Your choices in the early days of rehab will need support and guidance, which you can receive both in group therapies and in private counseling. The more you understand about the illness of addiction, the more you will be able to share with your new community. As you feel better, are able to make healthier food choices, and begin to heal wounds from injections and oral intake, you will be able to support your fellow treatment attendees in group settings.
Your healing process and your learning will allow you to become a mentor and teacher in your own right. People choose to enter opiate addiction treatment for a variety of reasons. You may need to go due to legal problems. You may have made a promise to a loved one or been given an ultimatum by a spouse or other family member. You may simply be done watching your life spiral out of control. No matter the original reason, you can learn to thrive after detox and rehab as you move into recovery from opiate addiction. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day. Call us today at 833-497-3812.