How to Get Off Opiates
Opiates include vicodin, heroin, oxycontin, opium, morphine and codeine. The numbers of addicts in the United States alone is rising at alarming rates. Opiate addiction is much different than that of other substances that are abused and can cause addiction. Opiate addiction is in a class of its own and needs to be addressed as such. Opiate addiction is much different than that of other addictions. When a person attempts to stop using the opiate, they will go through withdrawal for about one week. Post acute withdrawal symptoms last much longer than that and include extreme sensitivity to pain as the natural pain receptors have vanished. The pain tolerance that a normal person has is no longer present in the opiate addict. They also experience a complete lack of motivation because the natural receptors are gone. Just getting out of bed can be a challenge. Finally, their mood is completely altered, they are sad, depressed, and feel like losers. Because of the way that they feel, 90 percent will relapse within one year. Read on to learn how to get off opiates.
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Things You'll Need
- Admission of problem
- Desire for help
- Appointment with substance abuse counselor
Instructions
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Understand that using opiates is becoming extremely popular, even among our youths. Most in patient or out patient therapies are abstinence based programs where no replacement therapy is used. The addict’s placement will depend on their insurance as well as how long they will be in the program.
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Entering a treatment facility is usually in vain because once the program is complete the addict is advised to join a 12-step program. If they relapse, as most do, they begin again at ground zero. This makes the addict feel worse about himself and is very discouraging for friends and family too.
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Replacing the opiate by embracing replacement therapy provides a harm reduction approach and is especially beneficial to high risk IV users. Replacement therapy uses methadone or Suboxone (buprenorphine). The purposes of these drugs are to regulate the neuro chemical agents in the brain. They provide no buzz affect, they are long lasting, and they stay at a consistent level in the brain, and do not hurt the brains chemistry.
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Moving to the forefront is a previously unrecognized opiate dependency, prescription painkillers. In fact, so addictive are these opiate-based pain medications that most don't fully understand the medications' addictive nature. This is just causing more and more addicts. It is absolutely necessary that people understand the ramifications prior to beginning treatment of any type.
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Going on methadone or Suboxone (buprenorphine) is the only hope. These are given under a doctor's care and are regularly monitored by clinics as well as the state. While many shun the idea because it forces the user to still be dependent on something, replacement therapy is safe and it works.
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Forget about what others have said about methadone and don't worry that many have not heard about Suboxone. The user is dosed on a daily basis, is able to return to a productive lifestyle including holding down a job. If methadone is the choice medication then the fee is paid on a weekly basis to the clinic, ranging anywhere from $75 weekly to $100. It is paid up front at the beginning of the week. Although some may feel that the price is high, it is much cheaper than the amount of money that it costs an addict to stay high.
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Tips & Warnings
Most of these programs will require the user to stay on them for a minimum of two years, sometimes, for the rest of their lives.
Because of this altered chemical state of the brain, the majority of opiate-addicted people who recover require medication in order to correct these changes.
Twelve- to 17-year-olds are the fastest growing group of people in the United States experimenting with such drugs.
Opiates are highly addictive--half of all people who use them for recreation will need formal substance abuse treatment related to this experimentation.
Opiate abuse can bring about significant and long-lasting chemical changes in the brain.
Resources
- Photo Credit Lushpix Royalty Free Photograph
