Opiate addiction is a strong urge to use certain medicines called opioids. But what are these Opioids? It is a substance found in certain pain medications and illegal drugs such as heroin. Opiate Addiction occurs when dependence hinders daily life. More intake of opioids that is more than the prescribed amount may be fatal. The majority of people who are addicted to this opioid substance are contemplating getting rid of this misery via opiate addiction treatment centers.
Opioids are highly habit-forming drugs as they affect the brain’s neurotransmitters responsible for causing the feeling of delight. These neurotransmitters are endorphins that reduce the sense of pain and increase the awareness of pleasure. The reaction of opiates in the body creates a brief but strong sense of well-being. In addition to this, the body will be dependent on pain relief medication or opioids. Opioid dependence causes withdrawal symptoms when not taken, making it difficult to stop taking them.
The treatment procedure for opiate addiction varies among centers and most centers focus on discontinuation of the drug with the help of medications like methadone. Methadone is a drug that relieves drug abusers from withdrawal symptoms. The medications for drug abuse are paired with support programs that are constructed by the centers to handle the specific problems of the abusers. The integrated procedure works better than the individual programs. The support programs are built by considering the patients by the opiate addiction treatment centers.
Withdrawal symptoms
During this process of treatment, when you stop taking the drug impulsively, there is a possibility for you to experience the following withdrawal symptoms:
- Serious cravings
- big pupils
- belly pain
- goosebumps
- nausea and vomiting
- yawning
- body aches
- agitation
- Intense bad moods.
- Diarrhea
- depression
- chills
If someone has an opioid addiction, also known as narcotic addiction, that individual may experience the mentioned symptoms and the torture of bearing them. The symptoms are very distasteful, and the ones suffering from them will try to avoid them no matter what. The withdrawal symptoms may last for a few hours for some patients, and some may experience them for weeks. The intensity of the withdrawal symptoms depends on the time period of consuming the drugs and the amount of the drugs consumed by the addict.
Specific medications can alleviate the withdrawal symptoms and prevent them from returning. After the initial detoxing, the patient may face the threat of relapse as the risk gets higher after the detox phase. Experts believe that drug or prescribed drug addiction is a product of psychological distress. So, any stress-like situation can trigger the brain and persuade the patient to crave the drugs again. Long-term outcomes for opioid patients require a lifelong therapy sessions, including one-to-one counseling and group sessions.
There are a few effective prescribed medications that help detox the opioid abuse. Methadone acts as a substitute for opiates, and the individual consuming them will feel no discomfort or addiction. These medications are safe, and they may be substitutes for opiates, but they don’t cause a person to feel high. There is no harm to having these medicines every day, but only under the supervision of an expert or doctor. The doctor will prescribe an adequate amount of methadone to avoid unnecessary addiction.
Medications like Buprenorphine are also used extensively to reduce the withdrawal symptoms in the patients. It strikes the exact receptors in the brain but is not as strong as the drug the person used to deal with.
It comes in several forms:
- Tablet
- Shot
- Film test on the cheek
- Skin patch
- Implant under the skin
The opiate addiction treatment centers offer inpatient care to the neediest patients. They constantly monitor the patients and look for changes in their behavior to modify the doses of their medicines. They allow the patients to stay at the hospital and enjoy all the facilities offered at the hospital. They create an integrated schedule for the patients that include their medicines and counseling facilities. Yes, the treatment centers also offer counseling services to the patients. Through counseling, the experts get hold of the cause that led to opiate abuse in the patient. It is essential to know the reason to formulate a strategy so that the person doesn’t relapse into taking the drug.
The families also take part in the recovery of the patient, and the treatment facilities urge the family members to actively help the patients. Drug abuse can harm the psychology of the patients and make them lose self-esteem. The patients lose their self-confidence and will to continue living a comfortable life. So, the help of the loved ones can instill self-esteem and confidence in the patients, thus boosting their recovery. The will to recover plays a significant role in drug abusers. Therefore, the institutions build the strategy in such a way that enforces the will of the patients to recuperate and lead a comfortable life.
The treatment centers also offer outpatient care services. They appoint an expert to visit the patients’ homes regularly and provide counseling frequently. Even after coming clean out of treatment centers, many patients may feel discomfort at the home and even try consuming opiates again. Therefore, the treatment centers ensure that the patients don’t fall back to the addiction problem and monitor them for a few months as required. The duration of the outpatient services differs from patient to patient. If the doctor in charge of the patient feels that the patient needs a long time of outpatient services, they will direct the experts accordingly and form a schedule for the patient.
In this way, the patients are monitored by the doctors in the treatment centers. The experts decide the patient’s inpatient and outpatient schedule to help them recover faster by meeting them frequently. The treatment procedures work like magic for all types of patients, and individuals suffering from opiate dependence should take the help of these treatment and recovery centers to recover faster.