Therapists at our opiate detox center routinely work with good people who developed addictions to morphine, codeine, or heroin. These drugs are direct derivatives of the poppy plant. Some you’ll recognize as popular painkillers. Heroin’s an illegal street drug.
How Addiction Happens
Promises Behavioral Health operates dual diagnosis treatment center programs for people on opiates. That’s because many abuse these substances to self-medicate for underlying psychiatric problems. Examples might include anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Others struggle with memories of traumatic events and use opiates to numb themselves.
However, this is a dangerous practice. Opiate use quickly develops into a dependency. Even though you think you have things under control, you really don’t. The watershed moment comes when you wake up to withdrawal symptoms.
At our opiate detox center, we routinely work with people who an addiction blindsided. Their lives devolved into a chase after the high. Daily living began revolving around getting, using, and recovering from the opiate. For some, there’s the fear of withdrawal symptoms that keeps them using.
Typical Withdrawal Symptoms of Opiates
At our opiate detox center, therapists hear time and again that these drugs are difficult to quit. That’s because the withdrawal symptoms are so intense. If you’re on your own, you’ll first notice the muscle aches and flu-like symptoms that rapidly worsen. This takes place about eight to 12 hours after the last dose.
Over the next two days, you deal with worsening signs of withdrawal. There’s a deepening depression. That’s because opiates manipulate the brain’s reward center. Without the drug, there’s no natural dopamine release at this point.
You also suffer from intense gastrointestinal upset and sweating. It’s easy to dehydrate at this point. That’s why withdrawal outside of an opiate detox center is dangerous. Because of the pain that comes with quitting the drug, many people relapse at this point.
However, doing so is dangerous. That’s because you no longer have the same tolerance to the drug. An overdose is now possible. You’re at the highest risk for suffering an adverse physical reaction at this point.
How a Stay at Our Opiate Detox Center Protects You
Promises Behavioral Health therapists understand what you’re going through. They know that detox from opiates isn’t comfortable. Therefore, they’ll seek to be proactive. Opiate detox programs include:
- Medication-assisted treatment that focuses on the relief of pain and cravings
- IV therapy as a tool for preventing dehydration and allowing for the introduction of nutrients to keep you strong
- Massage therapy during detox from opiates to help muscles relax and encourage healthy sleep
- Acupuncture, which vitalizes your body’s energy points to boost your system’s return to equilibrium
- One-on-one talk therapy as a way to plan for long-term recovery from opiate dependency
- Group therapy that lets you connect with peers who’re in recovery from opiates and other drugs
Breaking the Psychological Hold that Opiates Have on You
Opiate detox programs are only the beginning of recovery. The good news is that you’ll make it through this part of the program in about a week. One morning, you wake up and won’t suffer from signs of withdrawal.
That’s when you know you’re ready for clinical care, which is rehab. After a seamless transition, you learn to break your perception of needing opiates. You also learn to manage stressors and triggers that you’d typically respond to with substance use. Please don’t consider this aspect of care optional.
It’s as essential as detox because it targets different aspects of the dependency. Learn more about our opiate detox center by contacting Promises Behavioral Health today. Dial 844.875.5609 and connect with an intake specialist now.