Opiate addiction is a difficult life journey you can end. But making the decision to do so is one of your hardest life choices. To help you understand why you need treatment, consider the common side effects of opiates and the toll these drugs take on your life.
But the side effects of opiates are only one reason why you need help through quality opiate addiction treatment programs. You also need this help to learn why you started abusing drugs, in the first place. Your program teaches you how to avoid repeating the same patterns and puts old problems to rest.
Common Side Effects of Opiates
Abusing opiates changes how your brain functions. This, in turn, changes your behaviors and how the rest of your body functions. You experience psychological and physical changes. Other people, like your loved ones, see these changes in you.
Common physical side effects of opiates include:
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Lightheaded feelings
- Poor coordination
- Tiny pupils
- Oversleeping
- Nausea and vomiting
If you use too much of your drug or it builds up in your system, you experience overdose side effects of opiates. Overdose symptoms include slow heart rate, shallow breathing, dizziness, drowsiness, and low blood pressure.
Long-Term Opiate Side Effects
Long-term opiate side effects include physical health problems. HIV from injections, intestinal problems, bowel obstruction, liver disease, and overdose are some of these health concerns. Others include a weakened immune system, respiratory depression, blood infections, and blood-borne diseases. More concerns are vein collapse, skin abscesses, sexual dysfunction, dental problems, brain damage, and impotence.
Of course, addiction is the most common problem you face. Not only does addiction bring immediate risks, but it also brings the risk for long-term, life-changing patterns that make medical detox programs and rehabilitation very important. Only through rehab can you remove yourself from these destructive cycles of drug-seeking, using and recovery. In rehab, you also help your psychological health improve while reducing physical health risks.
What Happens in Rehab Treatment?
Going to rehab is the best decision you can make for yourself when you suffer addiction to opiates. Otherwise, you face a continued struggle that threatens your life on a daily basis.
In rehab, you learn how to live well without substance abuse. You also discover why you started abusing drugs in the first place. All of this learning comes together to help you forge a healthier path into the future, one you deserve.
Through various programs, you go through individual, group, and family therapies. Therapies provide the self-exploration, guidance, support, and learning you need to free yourself from the hold addiction has on you today. Programs you need to end your opioid abuse include:
Medical Detox
Medical detoxification, or “detox” for short, is the process of reducing or eliminating an individual’s dependence on drugs or alcohol. It involves a supervised program in which medications are used to ease symptoms and make withdrawal easier.
Inpatient Depression Treatment
Inpatient depression treatment typically begins with an evaluation to determine the severity of symptoms and to develop a personalized plan for recovery.
Day Treatment
Day treatment is an intensive, structured program that helps individuals with mental health or substance use disorders develop and practice skills to gain better control of their lives.
Intensive Outpatient Program
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are designed for individuals who need more intensive services than those provided in traditional outpatient treatment programs. IOPs involve more structured and intense therapy sessions.
Extended Care Program
Extended care is a form of specialized treatment for individuals with serious mental health or substance use disorders. It typically follows more intensive forms of treatment such as inpatient detoxification, residential therapy, or day treatment.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment is for individuals who have been diagnosed with both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder.
Get the Help You Need Today With Promises Behavioral Health
You can enjoy a better life, starting right now. All you need is to consider the gravity of the side effects of opiates and decide to put an end to these effects in your life. Call Promises Behavioral Health now at 844.875.5609 or reach out online for information about how to enjoy a physically and mentally better life in recovery.