What are Opiates?
In more technical terms, “opiate” is used to describe drugs that are derived from opium, which in turn, are obtained from opium poppy seed. They are more popularly known as opioids and are prescribed to help patients deal with pain. Classified as what people call as “downers”, they work by suppressing the pain felt as the brain’s pleasure systems are controlled.
While prescribed opiates like morphine or hydrocodone can be perfectly safe in controlled doses for short periods of time, using it for too long and without the proper medical attention might put you at risk. It is not uncommon for addicts to start with legal, prescription drugs, and some even only take legal ones as their addiction gets worse. The main problem is how freely they can be prescribed in America, and how easily they can fall into the wrong hands because of that.
Other opiates besides prescription ones such as heroin are even more dangerous. For starters, when compared to morphine, heroin reaches the brain much faster and it is about three times more potent. And the fact that it is a synthetic drug makes its side effects less predictable, so taking any amount whatsoever could go horribly wrong.
Opiate Detox – Withdrawal Symptoms and What to Expect
No matter how you came about using opiates, opiate recovery is achievable, but it is not easy. Dependence of opioids is chemical and even physical, too. This means that, as you fight to get better, some of the symptoms you’ll experience through the process of opiate addiction treatment can make you feel physically worse. Some of the possible symptoms are:
- Muscle pain
- Abdominal pain
- Irregular heartbeats
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dilated pupils
- Sweats, chills, and tremors
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
It is hard to tell which symptoms each patient will have to deal with during their recovery from opiates: it all depends on the drug taken, the dose, the frequency, and even the person’s own system. Those symptoms can last up to a week or even more, and may start in just a few hours after the last dose is taken. Dealing with withdrawal on your own is possible, but there is a higher chance of relapse.
Just like it is with the symptoms, opiate addiction treatments will also vary from person to person. There is not just one right way of getting the help needed, and everyone responds differently to each method. It is important to know all of the options out there because if one of them does not work, there is no need to despair – and much less to give up.
Long-Term Healing from Opiate Addiction
While you can take medication to help with withdrawal symptoms (which should also be done through a health care provider or clinic and not be self-prescribed), that alone will not be a permanent solution to opiate addiction, and shouldn’t be considered a full treatment. Opiates recovery is also not a linear process, it is full of ups and downs, and that is something important to keep in mind.
Just because one type of treatment did not work, this does not make someone hopeless. Being honest with yourself when picking an opiate addiction treatment is also vital, because limits and triggers are all personal, and play a big role into what method should work better. Of course, each kind of treatment will have its pros and cons, and will not be perfect. So finally, another factor to consider would be what your priority is in terms of daily life, medical support, financial options, etc.
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment requires staying in the facility of the rehabilitation center chosen for opiate addiction treatment. This would mean 24-hour medical, psychological, and emotional support, which is quite recommended in worst case scenarios. Programs usually last at least around 28 days, but do not tend to prolong too much in most cases.
Outpatient Treatment
The outpatient programs for opiate addiction treatment gives the patient the possibility of keeping their routine as close to normal as possible, as they only have to go to the facility for treatment during the day for a few hours per week. However, this would mean that most support would come from social groups or would happen during the time the patient is in the clinic. Therefore, it is best for mild addicts, as more serious situations might require closer attention.
Recover Strong: How Granite Behavioral Health Retrains Your Brain
The Recover Strong program is part of the opiate addiction treatment and is offered as part of the transformational process at Granite Mountain Behavioral Healthcare. It is based on the neuroscience of physical exercise as a way to stimulate neuroregeneration by improving the capacity to handle stress, cognition, and reducing anxiety and/or depression symptoms. Additionally, this is done in a group setting, which also helps with social engagement and interaction, while also helping issues with self-esteem and self-image.
We Are Here to Help You With Your Opiate Addiction
We understand how it can be scary to go through all of this, but what is important is that there is an option to not go through it alone. It does not matter where you are in your journey with addiction, or even if you have relapsed. At Granite Mountain Behavioral Healthcare, you can get all the medically recommended aid needed for opiate recovery and get to work on even more than that, in order to make this improvement a permanent one. Our philosophy is not just based on becoming independent, but also, on becoming empowered.
If our Recover Strong program – a differential between ours and others opiate addiction treatments – seemed like a great fit for your needs, do not hesitate to contact us. We will give you all the details about this program as well as all the information you might want about how we can help you on your journey to recovery.
You can reach us online by visiting our website or get all the other contact information you need here. You could be just one click away from finally receiving the help you need and truly deserve.
