What Is Opiate Addiction?
There are 2.1 million people in the United States suffering from opiate addiction, according to the National Institutes of Health. Opiates can be dangerous drugs, causing changes in the brain that have lingering effects. At Malibu Detox, we offer opiate addiction treatment services to help you get your life back.
Opioids are drugs derived from the opium poppy plant. They are highly addictive pain relief medications that doctors often prescribe after surgeries or for people battling cancer, though there are also illegal drugs like heroin that produce the same effects.
Opioids bind with pain receptors in the brain, causing the release of endorphins, feel-good neurotransmitters. Endorphins give you a boost of well-being, muffling pain and causing euphoria. Opioid abuse causes your brain to crave that flood of endorphins, leading to continued substance abuse.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the most common physical opiate addiction symptoms are:
- Flushed and itchy skin
- Constricted pupils
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Blurred vision
- Weight loss
- Slow and shallow breathing
- Nausea
There are also psycho-social signs of opiate addiction, including:
- Mood swings
- Engaging in risk-taking activities
- Isolation
- Visiting multiple doctors
- Lying about use
The long-term effects that an opioid use disorder can cause are:
- Insomnia
- Lack of concentration
- Severe constipation
- Liver damage
- Collapsed veins
- Depression
Opiates come in many forms, including tablets. The administration mode can impact the strength and speed of the effects, with snorting and intravenous use offering the fastest “high.”
If you or a loved one shows signs of an opiate addiction, getting help can be a life-saving choice. Opiate abuse can quickly lead to an overdose, as your body builds tolerance to the drug and requires higher doses to get the same effects. An opioid overdose can be fatal.
Symptoms of an opioid overdose include:
- Shallow breathing
- Low body temperature
- Blue tinge to the lips and fingertips
- Extreme drowsiness
- Extreme confusion
- Low blood pressure
- Slowed heart rate
- Unconsciousness
- Coma
Getting immediate medical attention is crucial if you or someone else experience overdose symptoms.
Although opioid addiction can happen to anyone, some factors can increase your risk of developing an addiction.
If you have family members with substance use disorders or have easy access to substances, you are likelier to develop an addiction. Co-occurring conditions can also factor in since you may try to alleviate the symptoms of mental illness by using drugs.
Other risk factors are having experienced trauma, abuse, or poverty.
Opiate Addiction Treatments
To break free from opioid addiction, our treatment center offers various opiate addiction treatment services.
Opiate Detox
The first step in ending opioid abuse is to go through the detox process. It is never a good idea to attempt this on your own because withdrawal symptoms can be powerful and can lead you to relapse.
Signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal are:
- Muscle aches
- Muscle spasms
- Constricted pupils
- Runny nose
- Sweating
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Fluctuating blood pressure
One of the biggest dangers associated with opioid withdrawal is dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea.
To help you manage these symptoms and to keep your electrolytes stabilized, we offer opiate detox programs. By providing medications and 24/7 monitoring, we can help you can begin your recovery journey safely.
The detox process begins with an intake assessment, where we will consider factors like your weight, history of substance abuse, the type of opioid drugs you take, and whether there are any medical concerns we need to address. With that information, we can decide on the medications and dosage best suited for your needs.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Even after going through the detox process, you can experience severe cravings that can interfere with your recovery process and can increase your risk of relapsing. To curb cravings, we offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
During treatment, we will monitor your comfort levels and make adjustments to the medications as needed.
Residential Opiate Addiction Treatment
For those who are just starting their recovery or who have a high risk of relapsing, we recommend residential treatment.
At Malibu Detox, we offer a safe and supportive environment where you receive careful monitoring. To help you understand the cause of opioid abuse, we rely on behavioral therapies. These include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Experiential therapy
Group therapy sessions are another cornerstone of our recovery program. They offer the chance to meet others who are dealing with substance abuse, letting you see that you are not alone in the challenges you face.
We can also help you rebuild relationships with family members by offering family counseling.
If you have a mental illness and a substance use disorder, professionals must treat them simultaneously. We determine whether you have co-occurring disorders during the intake process, which helps us create a comprehensive treatment plan.
Outpatient Treatment
After completing residential treatment, you can participate in outpatient programs like partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. These treatment options allow you to get therapy sessions without requiring you to stay at our facilities overnight.
Aftercare
Once you complete our residential program or outpatient treatment for opioid addiction, we recommend participating in our aftercare programs. We can help you transition out of treatment and back to your life in a way that still provides support and guidance.
Our aftercare programs offer the following:
- Career counseling
- Introduction to 12-step programs
- Adventure therapy
- Medication management
- Mental health treatment
- Family therapy
- Continuing care planning
Relapse prevention training is one of the most important aspects of aftercare. We can help you learn to recognize potentially triggering situations, showing you how to apply better coping skills when facing challenging circumstances.
Having a strong support system also impacts your chances of achieving long-term sobriety, so we encourage our patients to participate in 12-step programs and community services.
Our adventure therapy opportunities can also help you meet others while aiding you in reconnecting with the world.
Malibu Detox Can Help
You don’t have to live another day battling an opioid use disorder. With our team of experts and treatment options that offer the individualized care you need, we can help you go through detox and uncover the root causes of your addiction.
Begin your recovery today. Contact Malibu Detox to schedule an evaluation.
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