Opioid addiction is a serious problem, and it’s a disease that can destroy lives and tear families apart. And the opioid crisis is affecting not just the people who use these drugs but everyone around them.
Opioids are a family of drugs that includes heroin, morphine, and fentanyl. Doctors can prescribe opioids for chronic pain relief, but these medications also have a high risk of abuse and addiction. In fact, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse(NIDA), opioid overdose fatalities increased from 21,088 in 2010 to 47,600 in 2017 and remained constant in 2018 with 46,802 fatalities.
“In California alone, there were over 5,502 deaths caused by opioid overdose in 2016 alone—a number that has continued to increase since then, especially in Anaheim, Southern California.”
Opioid withdrawal syndrome is a serious, flu-like illness that results from stopping opioid use.
The syndrome is characterized by the following symptoms:
In addition to these symptoms, people who have been on long-term intravenous (IV) opioid use may experience infection problems.
IV use issues may include:
Opioid detoxification can seem scary, but you don’t have to do it alone.
If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid addiction, we’re here to help. Our team at Restorations Health Care, based in Anaheim, California, can provide you with the resources and support needed to get through this difficult time.
We’ll ensure that every step of your detox process goes smoothly so that you can focus on getting better without worrying about anything else.
Opioid detox is a step-wise process that helps people overcome their physical dependence on opioids. The opioid detox process varies depending on what type of opioid drug was used, how long it was used, and how much was used.
Most people start to feel withdrawal symptoms during the first three days of detoxification. The extent of these symptoms depends on how long the person has been using opioids and how much they have been taking. The most severe symptoms occur within the first 24 hours after quitting opioids and then taper off over the next few days.
The detox process can take anywhere from five days to a week, depending on how much time has passed since the last dose of opioids was taken and other factors such as other drugs being used simultaneously (like alcohol).
The timeline of the opioid detoxification treatment program is as follows:
On the first day of opioid use disorder treatment, detox is key. You’ll be admitted, complete paperwork, and experience withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, nausea, and chills. This initial phase lasts 1-3 days, depending on your drug use and how your body reacts.
Understanding your symptoms helps with better management during this time.
The next stage of treatment starts with a morning check-in where the patient meets the medical team, who provide medication to ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms. A full physical exam is done, and the patient joins their first group therapy session to discuss addiction and learn relapse prevention strategies.
Medications like clonidine, lorazepam, buprenorphine, or methadone may be prescribed. The team will also discuss aftercare options for post-detox support.
The final phase of detox lasts around two days, focusing on stabilizing the patient under close medical supervision. Daily visits with a psychiatrist or therapist provide support, counseling, and medication management for any coexisting conditions like anxiety or depression.
A 24/7 nurse is also available to administer medications as needed. Once inpatient detox is complete, patients are discharged with a care plan that may include medication to manage withdrawal symptoms, therapy sessions, and possible outpatient services for continued support.
Methadone: A long-acting synthetic opioid agonist used for maintenance therapy. It helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. Methadone has reduced relapse rates and improved retention in treatment programs. It works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, preventing other opioids from attaching to them, thus blocking the effects of heroin or prescription pain relievers with similar chemical structures (e.g., OxyContin).
Buprenorphine: A mu-opioid partial agonist that suppresses withdrawal and cravings. It is usually prescribed as part of a 4-week taper combined with naltrexone maintenance treatment. This combination has been shown to boost success rates for recovering from opioid addiction.
Naltrexone: This drug can help prevent relapses to opioid dependence. It works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and blocking the effects of opioids. Naltrexone is typically used in combination with other medications like buprenorphine or methadone as part of a medically managed detox program. It’s also sometimes prescribed after a person has finished detoxing from opioids because it can reduce cravings and make it easier for them to stay clean and sober.
Lofexidine: It is used to alleviate withdrawal symptoms to facilitate sudden opioid discontinuation temporarily. It works as a central alpha two agonist resulting in decreased norepinephrine release that may cause autonomic-mediated symptoms of withdrawal.
Clonidine: This drug can help reduce norepinephrine release and thus reduce anxiety during detoxification from opioids. It may also be effective in extending the duration of abstinence in people concurrently taking buprenorphine for maintenance therapy.
All the above drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of opioid addiction.
Are you ready to get off opioids?
We know that it can be hard to do it on your own, so we’re here to help you maintain abstinence from opioids.
