What are opiates? They’re narcotics made from the poppy plant – like codeine, morphine, and opium. Opiates are very accessible and also highly addictive, which makes them some of the most dangerous drugs. When someone starts using an opiate, recreationally or otherwise, the chances are high that they will develop dependence and tolerance. Because of this, opiate addiction withdrawal treatment programs are essential. Professional help is often needed for people to quit using opiates and push through with lifelong sobriety.
Patients in opiate detox centers will typically be monitored by a medical team. No health scare goes unsupervised or untreated. They can provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opiate cravings and withdrawal symptoms. If you or someone you care about is looking for an opiate detox center in Florida with an opiate addiction withdrawal treatment program, call the detox center at United Recovery Project at 833.525.0166 or reach out to our team online.
What Are Common Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms?
After the last dose, withdrawal symptoms can have different onset and duration depending on the particular opiate used. The severity and intensity will be varied, too. However, signs and symptoms of withdrawal are similar for all opiates, including:
- Anxiety
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- High blood pressure
- Increased body temperature
- Insomnia
- Muscle and bone pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Racing heart
- Sweating
Why Medical Detox Is Safer and Healthier
Some people can go through drug detox by themselves at home. However, most people will need MAT and other treatments to deal with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms and help wean themselves off the opiate, making it necessary to be part of a medical detox program.
Some patients may have a personalized treatment plan that includes tapering, which means doses of opiate maintenance drugs – like buprenorphine or methadone – will be gradually reduced at intervals and provided with medical supervision and 24/7 monitoring.
Other medications may also be prescribed to treat withdrawal symptoms to take care of the patient’s health. For example, a patient can be given loperamide for diarrhea or clonidine for anxiety. IV therapy can also be used to take care of a patient’s nutrition.
It’s important to note that detox is simply the first step to recovery. Patients would still benefit from going through an opiate addiction treatment program even if signs of opiate addiction withdrawal aren’t as severe or no longer occur. In addition to medical detox, other treatments are important elements to a patient’s recovery. MAT alone should not be thought of as a cure.
What to Expect From an Opiate Addiction Treatment Program
Many substance abuse detox programs are composed of multiple techniques, tools, and therapies. An opiate addiction treatment program can include the following:
- Detox: Breaking a patient’s mental and physical dependence on opiates is often a prerequisite to attending addiction treatment programs, so going to an opiate detox center beforehand is necessary.
- Residential treatment: For some patients, inpatient treatment could be necessary for them to develop coping skills to help them maintain their sobriety. They can heal from addiction physically and mentally while in the company of other patients currently dealing with the same experiences.
- Outpatient treatment: Some patients may not go through inpatient treatment or may need further outpatient treatment after they’re done with residential treatment.
Patients can also be part of alumni programs, partial hospitalization programs, and sober living programs after initial opiate addiction treatment.
Learn About United Recovery Project’s Opiate Addiction Treatment Program
We provide our patients with the support and treatment they need to heal. Contact the luxury detox center United Recovery Project online or call 833.525.0166 to find out more about how our services and programs can help with opiate detox and addiction withdrawal.
