In 2017, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency related to opioid use and abuse. Beginning in the late 90s, the rate and consistency with which members of the medical community prescribed opioid medications grew rapidly, leading to widespread misuse of both prescription and non-prescription drugs. Each year, millions of American’s struggle with an addiction to opioid drugs, although few will ever seek potentially lifesaving treatment to overcome addiction.
Data from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates nearly 71,000 people died from an opioid-related drug overdose in 2019. IN the same year, 1.6 million people met the diagnostic criteria for an opioid use disorder, and more than 48,000 people lost their lives due to synthetic opioid (other than methadone) overdose.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are responsible for the loss of thousands of lives each year. Often referred to as narcotics or prescription painkillers, opioid drugs are frequently prescribed by doctors to relieve persistent or chronic pain. They can be beneficial for a wide range of purposes, including surgical recovery and pain related to cancer treatment. Although many opioid medications are legal, some are manmade or manufactured and therefore illegal.
Opioids are a specific class of drugs that includes illegal substances such as heroin, synthetically produced opioids like fentanyl, and prescription pain medications including oxycodone, morphine, and hydrocodone, among others. Regardless of “type” (prescription or illicit), opioid drugs work in the same way once they enter the body. Opioids attach themselves to the opioid receptors on the brain, spinal cord, and in other areas of the body, blocking pain messages sent from the body to the central nervous system. When someone uses an opioid, the condition or pain they struggle with becomes manageable or disappears entirely for a time. Unfortunately, once the drug wears off, discomfort quickly returns. This cycle quickly leads to dependency and addiction as the user needs higher and more frequent doses to achieve the same results they experienced with their first use.
What Is Opioid Detox Treatment?
Regular opioid use, even when used as prescribed, can lead to tolerance and dependence. Once you are dependent on a substance and try to stop or reduce use, painful and unpleasant effects called withdrawal symptoms can develop. In the case of opioid addiction, these symptoms, also called withdrawal symptoms, can sometimes be dangerous and even fatal. These more severe symptoms underline the need for opioid detox treatment in a professional, safe environment like Rise in Malibu.
During opioid detox treatment, a trained team of professionals will provide support and guidance during the detox process. As you focus on getting well, our team will monitor your vitals, including blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing, to ensure your safety throughout. In a medically supervised setting, medications may also be used to aid with symptoms management. Once you have fully detoxed, you can transition to the therapeutic portion of an opioid addiction treatment program.
Signs You Need Opioid Detox Treatment
Choosing to detox from opioids without medical support or “cold turkey” can be dangerous and often leads to relapse. In many cases, withdrawal symptoms experienced as part of opioid withdrawal become too challenging to manage, and people seek out another dose to find relief. If you stop using or reduce the amount you take, you will likely start to experience withdrawal. The intensity and severity of symptoms will depend on how long you have been using, how often you use, and the type of opioid you use. Regardless of their severity, however, the presence of withdrawal symptoms of any kind is a sign you need opioid detox treatment.
If you or a loved one are ready to overcome opioid addiction, it is vital to do so in a safe and supported environment where medically supervised detox is available. At Rise Recovery, our team of trained professionals is here to ensure you have the support you need during detox and treatment so you can focus on what matters most, getting well. To learn more about our programs, contact our Malibu, California rehab today.
