Opiate Detox Recovery: Process of Detoxification
If someone is addicted to opiates then an important step is to go for drug treatment is going through opiate detox recovery. Detoxification is when the body is cleansed of unhealthy toxins from heavy drug use. These toxins can be found in drugs such as heroin, morphine, oxycontin, percoset and vicodin. Both street drugs as well as some prescription drugs such as vicodin can be considered opiates. The detox process helps the drug user overcome their addiction and this lessens the chances of having a relapse. Furthermore, the detox process allows the addict to improve in the drug rehab clinic by involving making decisions for one’s future.
An opiate detox can take place at a rehab facility or with an outsider provider. Many people tend to experience withdrawal symptoms so a detox program is helpful. The withdrawal symptoms are strong drug cravings, chills, fevers, anxiety, depression, insomnia, mood swings and crankiness. Because the withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable they can be a reason for a relapse in some drug users which is why it’s important to be in a supportive environment for detoxing. This can be a drug rehab clinic, hospital with a specialized ward or in some cases an outpatient situation.
Many drug users that attend a drug treatment program are unable to absorb the information if the drug is still in their system. A person that’s addicted to drugs main focus is getting that next high and this could make it easy to give in to temptation. Moreover, most drug users will start to have withdrawal symptoms within 24 to 48 hours and it can last up to two weeks.
There are two types of opiates detox which are natural detox and medical detox. Natural detox is when the person completely stops using the drug while in the care of a counselor and medical doctors. Many vicodin and oxycontin addicts prefer to go through a natural detox program. In a medical detox, the use of small doses of methadone or another substance such as Clonidine or Buprenorphine is used to treat the addiction. The patient has to visit a clinic everyday to receive the methadone and may be on a different schedule for other substances.
The opiates detox program is for anyone that’s addicted to heroin, vicodin or something else in that family. This is important to prevent overdosage issues. Support is essential and an environment that can help someone get re-oriented with goals for their future and ways to combat the temptation to relapse.
One of the waitresses where I work looks like she is doing opiates. She has been to a 30 day inpatient rehab center but her eyes looked glossed over all the time and she says she takes meds for back pain. I am not sure if I should confront her or how to hint that she may be more addicted than she thinks.