The first step towards breaking an opiate addiction problem requires putting a stop to drug-using behaviors. While some people can do this through sheer force of will, the overwhelming withdrawal effects that develop once drug use stops often proves too much to bear.
If you’re struggling with opiate addiction and want to take the necessary steps towards getting well, knowing what types of supports you’ll need to overcome the opiate detox withdrawal phase greatly increases your chances of a successful recovery process.
Opiate detox withdrawal treatment offers a person the type of physical and emotional supports needed to make it all the way through the opiate withdrawal stage. For those who require this level of support, opiate detox withdrawal treatment can make this seemingly impossible task possible.
How Opiate Detox Withdrawal Works
Opiate detox withdrawal can cause vomiting, headaches, insomnia, and anxiety.
According to the U. S. National Library of Medicine, opiate detox withdrawal brings on a host of uncomfortable symptoms, some of which include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Chills/hot flashes
- Insomnia
- Profuse sweating
- Body aches
- Exhaustion
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Drug cravings
In general, the opiate detox withdrawal stage can take anywhere from one to four weeks to pass. These symptoms develop out of the overall state of dysfunction opiates create within the brain’s chemical system.
While the physical symptoms typically come and go within the expected time frame, the emotional effects from opiate detox withdrawal can persist long after the physical discomfort goes away. In effect, it’s the emotional aftereffects of addiction that stay with a person well into the recovery process.
Questions to Ask
How Long Have I Been Abusing Opiates?
Opiate withdrawal effects can vary in intensity depending on the severity of the addiction problem, so someone who’s abused opiates for years stands to experience the worst of withdrawal compared to someone who’s only used opiates for a couple months, according to the Journal of Addiction Science & Clinical Practice. Withdrawal severity can have a tremendous influence on whether a person will be able to make it through the opiate detox withdrawal stage. This means, if you’re coming off a chronic or long-term addiction problem, entering an opiate detox withdrawal treatment program offers you the very best chance of progressing through this stage of recovery.
Can I Go a Couple Days Without Using?
For those more inclined to try opiate detox withdrawal on their own, knowing whether you can go a couple days without using drugs may give you an idea as to whether you’ll be able to handle the detox stage. If you’re struggling with a full-blown addiction problem, it will likely be extremely difficult to withstand the intense drug cravings that develop.
Keep in mind, the drug cravings that result from the body’s physical need for the drug are different from the mind’s need for the drug, which is where addiction lives. Under these conditions, it’s best to seek out the type of support an opiate detox withdrawal program can offer.
Do I Have a Strong Support System in Place?
Having friends and loved one’s ready and willing to support your recovery efforts can make all the difference in the world during the opiate detox withdrawal stage. As withdrawal effects can get pretty rough, someone will need to stay with you for the duration. If friends and loved ones still engage in substance abuse practices, it’s best to remove yourself from this setting or else the urge to resume drug use will soon become too much to withstand.
Why It’s Better to Get Opiate Detox Treatment Than Go It Alone
Treatment Considerations
All in all, the need for opiate detox withdrawal treatment depends on the severity of the addiction and level of support available to see you through this stage of recovery. More often than not, someone struggling with a full-blown addiction problem will require the types of services available through an opiate detox withdrawal program.
If you or someone you know struggles with a drug abuse problem and are considering opiate detox withdrawal treatment, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 800-442-6158 Who Answers? to speak with one of our addictions specialists.
