Anyone who is physically dependent on opioids may already know how difficult it can be to stop using these drugs. Symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and insomnia can often make you feel as though continuing to use opioids is a better, safer alternative to quitting. However, continued opioid use can lead to serious problems such as addiction and overdose. An opioid drug detox can safely help you get through withdrawal and reduce your symptoms so you can experience a more comfortable recovery from opioid dependence.

Here’s a closer look at opioid withdrawal and how medical drug detox can help.

Statistics on Opioid Abuse

  • More than 130 people in the U.S. die every day after overdosing on opioids.
  • Between 21% and 29% of patients who are prescribed opioids end up misusing them. Of these patients, between 8% and 12% become physically and psychologically addicted.
  • An estimated 80% of heroin users initially started using prescription opioids.
  • An estimated 47,600 people in the U.S. died from an opioid overdose in 2017. This is nearly a six-fold increase from the 8,048 deaths that occurred in 1999.
  • There were 15,482 heroin-related deaths in 2017, which is nearly an eight-fold increase from the 1,960 heroin deaths in 1999.

What is Opioid Withdrawal?

Opioid withdrawal is a term used to describe the set of symptoms a person experiences when they’re physically dependent on these drugs and suddenly stops using them.

A person who uses opioids regularly for a period of time can develop a tolerance to these drugs. Tolerance is when a higher dose is needed to feel the drugs’ effects. A person who becomes tolerant to opioids and starts using higher amounts can face the risk of becoming physically dependent. Physical dependence is when a person can function normally only with drug use and experiences withdrawal symptoms when abruptly discontinuing the drug or using lower amounts.

Opioid withdrawal symptoms may include one or more of the following:

  • Runny nose
  • Tearing eyes
  • Dilated pupils
  • Goosebumps
  • Yawning
  • Sweating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Insomnia
  • Muscle aches
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Diarrhea
  • Agitation
  • Anxiety

Heroin and synthetic fentanyl are some of the most commonly used illicit opioids. Prescription opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, and hydromorphone. Popular brand names for opioids are OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet, Dilaudid, Norco, and Actiq.

What is Opioid Drug Detox?

Opioid detox is a treatment used at drug and alcohol detox centers to help people safely withdraw from opioids while facing a reduced risk for complications like dehydration and overdose. Many opioid detox centers use FDA-approved medications like buprenorphine and methadone to relieve and reduce withdrawal symptoms including insomnia and drug cravings. This type of medical detox is available at most drug and alcohol rehab centers that treat opioid dependence.

How to Recover Safely from Opioid Use Disorder

Opioid use disorder is usually a combination of opioid dependence and opioid addiction. Opioid dependence can be treated using opioid drug detox, while opioid addiction can be treated using therapies that address negative behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes surrounding drug use.

An inpatient treatment program at Indiana Inpatient Rehab will use medical detox and therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, and 12-step support groups to help you recover from opioid use disorder. Opioid detox is only the first stage of addiction treatment and must be combined with therapy for the best outcome and chance at achieving long-term abstinence from opioids.

America’s Rehab Campuses offers medical detox and a range of drug rehab programs to help you or your loved one safely recover from drug dependence and addiction. Contact us today at 765-345-8884 to begin the admissions and treatment process.

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