Opiate drugs are highly addictive and impact the body and mind. Therefore, those who want to quit should enter a professional drug detox program that includes medical supervision. This type of program helps clients undergoing opiate detox to stay safe and avoid relapse. At Baltimore Detox Center, our opiate detox capabilities allow people to endure withdrawal as safely and comfortably as possible.
What Are Opiates?
Opiates are naturally occurring opioid drugs, including substances like codeine, morphine, and heroin. They fall into the larger category of opioids, consisting of synthetic and natural opioids. The drugs in the opioid group get their name because of the way they react with the body’s opioid receptors. What makes opiates and opioids so difficult to quit is the way they interact with the brain.
Withdrawal symptoms from opiates can occur when cutting back on the amount typically used. The effects are worse for those with a long-term history of opiate use.
Opiate detox can ease the withdrawal symptoms with medications. Plus, medical drug detox facilities offer supervision of clients in case they develop severe complications.
Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms
Opiates can create both psychological addiction and physical dependency. When someone becomes dependent on the drugs, their body’s functioning relies on having the drug in their system. Plus, many people who are dependent on opiates also have psychological addictions to the drugs. Addiction includes mental cravings and behaviors that promote finding and taking drugs over individual health and well-being.
When quitting opiates, clients who have addictions to them will have mental cravings. However, those with physical dependency will also develop side effects from withdrawal. How soon the symptoms start depends on the drug. For example, heroin withdrawal can begin only 12 hours following the most recent dose.
Common opiate withdrawal symptoms include the following:
- Anxiety and agitation
- Runny nose and eye tearing
- Muscle aches and pains
- Insomnia
- Stomach cramps
- Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
- Chills and goosebumps
Staying in an opiate drug detox center during this time of withdrawal gives clients access to support and medications to shorten the withdrawal timeline.
A Baltimore Opiate Detox Service Is Only Step One in Recovery
Even after completing opiate detox, recovery is not finished. Visiting a detox facility is the first step in overcoming opiate addiction. After detox, without support, some people may take opiates again. A relapse into opiate use after detox carries a high risk for overdose. To avoid overdosing, clients should get psychological support through a personalized opiate addiction treatment program.
In an addiction treatment program, therapies address the mental components of addiction. Additionally, with individualized care, each client has a treatment path designed for them. Recovery programs may include some of the following types of care:
- Extended residential addiction treatment
- Relapse prevention therapy program
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- 12-step program
Since each client has needs particular to their experience, they will require a unique set of therapies for their treatment. Following through with opiate addiction treatment after detox is vital for lasting recovery. By completing a treatment plan, clients have a lower chance of relapse. Plus, they can find ways to cope in healthy ways with their life stresses. Better coping skills can prevent future use of opiates or other drugs.
Connect with Baltimore Detox Center
Start the path toward a full recovery by reaching out to our Baltimore opiate detox facility today. Phone us at [Direct] or reach out to us through our contact form. We can help with insurance verification, provide information about our opiate detox services, assist with learning about our other treatments, and much more. Lasting recovery is possible—take the first step today.