Opioid Detox Center in Sebring
Opiates and opioids – or narcotics – are drugs that act on opioid receptors in the central nervous system to produce effects like those of morphine. Medically, opioids are used to treat moderate to severe and chronic pain, including anesthesia. Other medical uses of opioids include suppression of diarrhea, replacement therapy for opioid use disorder, reversing opioid overdose, and suppressing cough. This group of pain-relieving drugs, while effective, are some of the most addictive substances in the world. For those battling opioid use disorder, our opioid detox center can offer the medical care you need to take the first step toward recovery.
What Is Opioid Withdrawal?
Opioids can be derived from the opium poppy plant, such as morphine, or synthesized in a laboratory, such as fentanyl. However, opioids also include illicit drugs like heroin and dorsomorphin (Krokodil). When these drugs travel through the bloodstream and make it to the brain, they attach to opioid receptors, causing nerve cells to release signals that muffle the perception of pain and boost feelings of pleasure.
Unfortunately, what makes opioids effective for managing pain can also make them dangerous. At lower doses, opioids can cause sedation, drowsiness, impaired judgment, slowed breathing, and slowed heart rate, which can be fatal. The euphoric high caused by opioid abuse can also contribute to further drug-taking behavior, which can lead to dependence and addiction.
Dependence is marked by withdrawal symptoms, which occur when an opioid user suddenly stops or cuts back on drug use after an extended period. When a person is physically dependent on opioids, they will not feel good or “normal” unless they are under the influence of these drugs. Otherwise, they may experience severe withdrawals that can become life-threatening without the aid of medically supervised detox.
Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms
When a person uses opioids for a long time, their body becomes desensitized to their effects. Over time, the body requires an increase of the drug to achieve the same effect. This can be dangerous and increase the person’s risk of developing dependence and even experiencing an accidental overdose.
Prolonged use of these drugs also changes the way nerve receptors work in the brain, and these receptors become dependent on opioids to function. Whether they are prescription or illicit opioids, physical dependence is a risk of long-term use.
Moreover, the symptoms experienced during opioid detox will depend on the severity of the person’s drug use, how long they have been using these drugs, and whether they have any underlying medical conditions. While detoxing from opioids may look different for everyone, there is also a typical opioid withdrawal timeline that users may experience.
Early opioid withdrawal symptoms typically begin in the first 24 hours after the person stops using the drug, and they include:
- Anxiety
- Excessive sweating
- Frequent yawning
- Inability to sleep
- Muscle aches
- Restlessness
- Runny nose
- Teary eyes
Additional symptoms that may peak or become more severe after the first few days include:
- Diarrhea
- Dilated pupils and blurry vision
- Goosebumps on the skin
- High blood pressure
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rapid heart rate
- Stomach cramping
While these symptoms are typically unpleasant and painful, people withdrawing from opioids can expect symptoms to dissipate after three days. However, in cases where the individual does not receive medical care, dehydration (caused by vomiting and diarrhea) can become life-threatening. For this reason, and to decrease the risk of relapse, our Sebring, FL, rehab recommends our professional opioid detox program.
How Our Opioid Detox Center Works
Opioid detox centers are designed to help patients slowly become accustomed to not using these drugs. At our facility, detox is the first step of our opioid addiction treatment. This is a crucial step, especially for individuals with severe drug use disorders, as it is meant to help them get through the worst of early recovery.
During detox, patients are slowly tapered off opioids, allowing their minds and bodies to slowly adjust to less and less of these drugs. This system allows for a more gradual transition to abstinence than cold-turkey or at-home detox methods. In addition to following a tapering schedule, our medical team may also administer medication (as needed) to alleviate clients’ symptoms and make them as comfortable as possible. Medication not only provides comfort but also controls potentially dangerous symptoms like severe dehydration.
Opioid Detox Near Me
If you are looking for addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one, Banyan Treatment Centers offers care in various locations nationwide. For more information about our Sebring drug treatment and detox services, contact Banyan today.
Related Reading:
