Opiates detox is needed for opiate addiction because opiates are physically addicting. As with any drug addiction, the body has adapted to the presence of the opiate and opiate withdrawal symptoms will occur if opiate use is abruptly discontinued. If you are opiate dependant or suffer from opiate addiction, it is not recommended you just “stop” taking opiates without consulting an addiction professional and entering an opiate detox program. A person can usually complete opiate detox between five and seven days, depending upon the severity of their opiate addiction and a variety of other factors such as; frequency of their opiate use, the amount of their opiate abuse, presenting medical or psychiatric problems and their motivation. The person with an opiate addiction and accompanying psychiatric disorder (dual diagnosis) may require additional time in opiate detox. This will be determined by the physician managing your opiate detox and attending psychiatrist.
Opiate detox can be a very challenging process physically and emotionally. In our opinion, anyone undergoing opiate detox should do so in a drug rehab program or addiction treatment program complete with its own medical detox unit. The opiate detox program should be located in a medically monitored unit, complete with 24 hour nursing, able to dispense medications as needed and directed by a physician trained in addiction medicine (addictionologist). In this way, not only can the withdrawal symptoms from opiate addiction be better managed, but any medical problems related to your opiate addiction can also be treated.
Opiate addiction or opiate abuse withdrawal may occur as early as a few hours after the last use. The withdrawal symptoms of opiate addiction include:
Major withdrawal symptoms of opiate addiction peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose and without a proper opiate detox program, can result in seizures or convulsions.
Some of the reasons we feel that opiate detox should take place within a drug rehab or addiction treatment program is due to the fact that after opiate detox is completed, many opiate addicts require ongoing inpatient addiction treatment. A drug rehab program with its own detox unit provides for the transition from an opiate detox program, which is medically driven, into a clinically driven level of care within the drug rehab. This provides for a smooth transition from detox to drug rehab.
Another reason we feel that opiate detox should be provided within the confines of a drug rehab program or opiate addiction treatment program is due to the structure that can be provided. Many people try to opiate detox on an outpatient basis. While outpatient opiate detox can work for some, most opiate addicts require the structure of an inpatient opiate detox program to deal with the cravings and keep them away from their old environment, old friends and access to opiates. As described, there is more to opiate detox than the medical component. Our goal is to get every patient through opiate detox in a safe and comfortable manner and into long term recovery, without relapse.
Lastly, while in the grips of opiate addiction, you may have been involved in many high risk activities. While in opiate detox, each patient will receive a comprehensive physical examination. This will help identify if any medical problems or sexually transmitted diseases are present and need to be addressed. Medical treatment can begin in detox and continued if the person transitions into the drug rehab or addiction treatment program.
What Drugs Can Create an Opiate Addiction?
The underlying problem of opiate addiction is not only the drug, but also the pain management specialists who often indiscriminately prescribe opiates without considering the long-term effects of opiate dependency. Focusing primarily on eliminating the symptom (pain), some physicians overlook the potential consequences of opiate addiction.
Research indicates that every year nearly two million Americans use prescription opiates as painkillers, and in some communities, abuse of prescription opiates has overtaken cocaine and marijuana use. The 2002 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) showed that approximately 9% of the U.S. population has used pain relievers illegally in their lifetime. An estimated 1.6 million Americans used prescription-type pain relievers non-medically for the first time in 1998. This represents a significant increase since the 1980s, when there were generally fewer than 500,000 new users per year.
Among youth ages 12-17, the incidence rate increased from 6.3 per 1,000 potential new users in 1990 to 32.4 per 1,000 potential new users in 1998. For young adults age 18-25, there was also an increase in the rate of first use between 1990 and 1998 (from 7.7 to 20.3 per 1,000 potential new users.
Whether you have developed an opiate addiction recreationally or from prescribed opiates, if you are looking to discontinue opiate use, please admit yourself to an inpatient opiate detox unit to manage the opiate withdrawal symptoms.
If you would like additional information about opiate and opiate addiction or for admission to Lakeview’s opiate rehab program or opiate detox, please call 1-800-884-1727.
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