Opiate Addiction and Why Detox is Important

0
1759
Sinusitis

If you or a loved one have ever struggled with opioid abuse, then you know that a detox followed by drug rehab near me is needed to get off these highly addictive drugs. Opioid dependency affects a person physically the same way that addiction to opioids does. The physical withdrawal symptoms that opioid dependency or addiction causes are severe. Persons who have been taking opioid medications to manage pain or using opioid drugs like heroin will experience debilitating physical withdrawal symptoms. Since the onset of the opioid epidemic, medical communities now rely on medications that minimize opioid dependence or addiction withdrawal symptoms. 

Why Do People Become Addicted to Opioids?

It all comes down to euphoria and the feel-good endorphins that are released when people abuse opiates, also known as opioids. When it comes to opioids, they are some of the most addictive drugs on the planet. For individuals who must take prescription pain killers to manage their pain, they are never expected to stop taking their pain medications suddenly. Doctors are very aware of how their patient’s bodies will react if their opioid medication stops or is reduced too quickly. Similarly, people who suffer from opioid use disorder, also known as addiction to opiates, have the attention of medical practitioners. Today, medical experts understand why their opioid-addicted patients suffer when they do not ingest drugs every day.

The physical dependence on opioids such as Dilaudid, Oxycontin, Opana, Fentanyl, and other common medications that manage chronic pain requires that the person either taper off their medications slowly or be admitted into a medically managed opioid detox center. A medically supervised detox for opioid dependency will prescribe safe and effective medicines that negate physical withdrawal symptoms. The physical withdrawal symptoms that opioid dependency cause includes:

  • Flu-like symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, fever)
  • Sweating and cold chills
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Body aches and muscle spasms
  • Inability to eat or drink water
  • Severe Insomnia
  • Anxiety and restless leg syndrome

For persons who are addicted to opioid drugs like heroin, prescription pain killers, morphine, Fentanyl, and others, their symptoms will look the same as the physical symptoms that opioid dependency causes, but emotionally and mentally these individuals suffer further. Opioid addiction emotional and mental withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Severe cravings for opioids
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Emotional instability (outbursts of anger and or crying)
  • Desperation and willingness to do anything to get more opioids
  • Suicidal thoughts

Mixing Opioids and Alcohol

Many people will also mix alcohol with opiates for a stronger high. This is called a co-occurring disorder because you become addicted to two substances at once. If this happens, then a dual diagnosis program is the best choice to achieve sobriety from this type of addiction. With the help of alcohol rehab near me you can get off alcohol and opiates safely while minimizing all of the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Regardless of how desperate the situation may seem, recovery is possible for everyone if you put in the time and effort to get clean and sober. It all starts with a willingness to change and a positive attitude geared towards defeating your substance use disorders.