The abuse of heroin and other opioids is a major and growing concern in the United States.

 

Some estimates claim that the leading cause of death under age 55 is from drug overdoses. With the growing market for pharmaceuticals, the opioid crisis is among the worst drug epidemic in history.

If you or your loved one is suffering from the disease of addiction please know there is hope and help is available. In this article, we will be going over detoxing from these damaging drugs, but if you are new to this journey and you may also want to check out our videos:

 

How do I know if I have a Drug or Alcohol problem?

What are symptoms of Drug Addiction?

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So what are opioids?

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Opioids are a class of narcotic drugs primarily used for the treatment and management of pain. Opioids include opiates which are derived from the poppy plant. Opiates include heroin, morphine, codeine, opium, etc. There are also synthetic opioids and these include oxycodone, hydrocodone, Dilaudid, methadone, etc. The synthetic class of opioids is actually broken up into two groups, semi-synthetic and synthetic, but for the purpose of this article, this should be sufficient. Because of the way the drug interacts with the body, a common side-effect is a state of extreme euphoria. This euphoria can be so intense that it allows the drug user to forget about any other life issue and makes it easier to ignore the obvious consequences of the drug abuse. Opiates are incredibly addictive and suddenly stopping their usage commonly results in withdrawal symptoms.

 

Detox and Treatment

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Detoxing from heroin or other opioids is definitely not easy. Symptoms of withdrawal are incredibly uncomfortable, to say the least. Depending on the opioid used, withdrawal symptoms can start anywhere from 6 to 24 hours after stopping the drug and last anywhere from 7 to 45 days. Some of the symptoms of withdrawal include,

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• Diarrhea

• Nausea

• Pain

• Anxiety

• Restlessness

• Depression

• Irritability

• Insomnia

• Sweating

• Drug Cravings

• Other Flu-Like Symptoms​

 

Medically Assisted Treatment

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Because these symptoms can be so intense for the patient, medical treatment to at least some degree is often advisable so that the patient's physical and emotional state can be monitored and treated. Thanks to the advances in medical technology, there are medications that can help treat opioid withdrawal and assist in the long-term treatment of the addiction.

Located in Anaheim, California, Coastal Addiction Center is one of Southern California’s premier drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers and specializes in treating heroin and other opioid addiction. There are specific medications that can be used to greatly increase the patient’s chances for success. Each patient receives an individual assessment by a physician that will dictate that specific patient’s course of treatment. Here are some of the medications that can be used for detox and treatment.

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• Zubsolv: Used for detoxification and sometimes maintenance treatment for people struggling with opioid dependence​

• Suboxone: A medication used for clients detoxing from opiates (heroin and painkillers are some more common opiates used).

• Suboxone is also used for clients withdrawing from alcohol.

• Subutex: An opioid (narcotic) partial agonist-antagonist. It works by binding to receptors in the brain and nervous system to help prevent withdrawal symptoms in someone who has stopped taking narcotics

• Narcan: Used for treatment of opioid emergencies such as an overdose or possible signs opioid overdose with signs of breathing problems

• Vivitrol: An extended-release injection used for the treatment of alcoholism and opioid addiction

 

 

Medication alone is not enough to treat drug addiction. At Coastal Addiction Center, we provide an individually tailored treatment plan for each patient. We combine proven medical treatments with clinical therapy, along with a long-term plan, to give every patient the best opportunity for success.

 

If you have any questions or need treatment contact us today

 

Coastal Addiction Center

1(844) 627-3268

www.CoastalAddictionCenter.com