How to Treat Opiate Addiction

A medically recognized central nervous system disorder, opiate addiction causes the brain's natural painkilling mechanisms to cease normal functioning. Coupled with physical addiction to opiate drugs, this often leads to a vicious abuse cycle that requires medical intervention.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Physician
• Addiction treatment specialist
• Behavioral therapist

Defeat Opiate Addiction

1. Recognize that you have a problem, or help the loved one you want to help treat that she has a problem. Opiates cause physical addiction, generally marked by intense craving for the drug shortly after discontinued use, and repeated indulgence in drug use despite being cognizant of the risks involved. If you want to help treat a loved one, talk to a mental health or addiction treatment professional about intervention strategies.

2. Check in to an addiction treatment center, or take your loved one to check in once he has recognized his problem and agrees that he needs treatment. Check with as many local facilities as possible if you encounter waiting lists.

3. Detoxify under the watchful supervision of medical staff. It is absolutely essential that opiate cessation be attempted only when qualified professionals are readily able to assist in case of an emergency. Opiate withdrawal is not only unpleasant, painful and difficult, but can trigger other serious medical conditions.

4. Receive behavioral therapy or individual or group counseling in an institutional setting once acute withdrawal has passed. After the initial withdrawal period is over, it will be followed by a lengthy period of general irritability and opiate craving. During this time, it is essential that you continue to treat both the physical symptoms and psychological consequences of opiate cessation.

5. Understand the underlying psychological drives that first led you (or your loved one) to opiate addiction. Most experts agree that this is an essential step in slaying your demons once and for all. Self-understanding is a very important weapon in a recovering addict's arsenal with which to fight the urge to relapse.

6. Continue your therapy even after your release from the care clinic by joining a support group. Narcotics Anonymous, for example, will welcome you. Addiction recovery experts universally agree that a post-treatment support structure helps immeasurably in long-term recovery from drug addiction.

Tips & Warnings

• Opiate withdrawal can lead to permanent cardiopulmonary damage, brain damage and even death in unhealthy users. However, continued reliance on opiates can be even more dangerous. Do not attempt to quit using opiate drugs without the supervision of qualified professionals.