As health professionals, law enforcement, and society at large struggle with the opioid epidemic, questions continue to arise. With such unrelenting speed, the epidemic has increased through many facets of life and society; the necessary adjustments are constant. One area majorly affected is the rehabilitation community. New strategies and programs are always in development. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, as each individual and addiction is unique. A common question for addicts and treatment counselors alike: do I need detox for opioid addiction? We will take a look at opioids, addiction, and what the eventual drug detox Costa Mesa process may entail.
What Is An Opioid?
The definition of an opioid, according to Wikipedia, is a substance that acts on opioid receptors to produce a morphine-like effect. Physicians primarily prescribe opioids for pain relief, including within a medical setting as anesthesia. Other medicinal uses include suppressing diarrhea, coughs and injections used to perform executions in the United States. Opioids are also frequently used non-medically/recreationally for their euphoric effects.
Side effects of opioid use can include itchiness, sedation, nausea, the interruption of respiratory function, and constipation. Long-term use of opioids can result in tolerance, meaning that increased doses are necessary to achieve the same effect. Another effect is the development of a physical dependence, where abruptly discontinuing the drug leads to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. The euphoria brought on by opioid use attracts recreational use, and as recreational use escalates, an addiction typically develops. An overdose of opioids can result in death. Also, concurrent use of opioids with other depressants like benzodiazepines depresses respiratory functions and commonly results in death. Types of opioids, according to drugabuse.gov, include heroin, morphine, codeine, OxyContin, fentanyl, and tramadol.
Opioid Use: A Look At The Numbers
The statistics on opioid use are both staggering and grim; use has reached epidemic proportions, and according to an article in The Washington Post, in America, there are 2.1 million people addicted to opioids. This is all over the country, as no state is unscathed by the epidemic. More than 400,000 Americans have died from opioid abuse since 1999. The death toll has reached an estimated 167 people per day in the United States alone. These numbers mean that 100,000 fewer people have died from HIV/AIDS over nearly three decades than have died from opioid addiction in just two decades. In only one year, from 2016 to 2017, emergency room visits for opioid overdoses increased across all demographics: 21 percent in the most rural areas and 54 percent in the bigger cities.
Types of Treatment for Opioid Addictions
There are many approaches to treating opioid addiction. Rehabilitation centers are a popular choice; inpatient and outpatient programs, talk therapy, and medications can all work together to help in the effort to get clean.
Many treatment facilities utilize medication-assisted treatment or MAT. The medicines most commonly administered during this type of treatment include buprenorphine, methadone, and extended-release naltrexone. Medications are usually used in conjunction with behavioral counseling for a “whole patient” approach. Because this approach tries to address as many issues as possible, it tends to have a better success rate. Methadone relieves withdrawal symptoms and helps with detox. Many people also use MAT as a long-term maintenance medicine for opioid dependence. After a maintenance period, the dose may decrease slowly over time. This helps reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms. Some people stay on methadone for years.
Symptoms of Withdrawal
Whenever an addict stops using, the body needs time to recover, and this time is when withdrawal symptoms occur. Withdrawal from opiates can occur when long-term use is stopped or cut back. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, sweating, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. While these symptoms are usually not life-threatening, they are extremely difficult and uncomfortable to tackle alone.
Do I Need Drug Detox Costa Mesa for Opioid Addiction?
Opioid addiction is very powerful, and as such, many people need drug detox Costa, Mesa. As touched on above, the withdrawal process of opioid addiction is very tough, and attempting this on your own is very dangerous. Treatment usually involves a combination of medicines, counseling, and support. The best bet is to use a facility set up to help people with the detox stage of treatment. If the symptoms are severe enough, some people find it a better idea to undergo the detoxification process in a hospital.
If you or someone you know suffers from opioid addiction and would like help, there are many options. You are not alone, and there is no shame in asking for assistance no matter what stage of addiction you are in. Give us a call or contact us online, and we will get you started on a new path to sobriety and healing.
Sources:
https://medlineplus.gov/opioidmisuseandaddictiontreatment.html
https://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/real-teens-ask-what-are-different-types-opioids
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/25/opioid-abuse-numbers-show-health-crisis-worsening/
