Opiate addiction is a chronic medical condition wherein a person becomes dependent on opiate drugs to the extent that getting free needs much more than willpower. As addicts become tolerant to a drug, their bodies may need larger quantities of the drug to get the same high they once had on smaller doses.

But when they suddenly stop or decrease the amount of the drug, they may experience withdrawal symptoms. To keep away from the feelings of withdrawal, addicts may need to abstain from the substance, with the abstinence period extending up to at least six months. It usually takes around four to seven days for the drug to exit the body, but it can take weeks for the person to overcome the drug habit and lead a normal life.

Withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal syndrome is a set of symptoms caused by decreased amounts of alcohol or drugs in the blood of a person who cannot survive without a prolonged heavy use of the substance. Apparently, alcohol withdrawal may show its first signs in 4-12 hours after someone stops drinking or cuts down heavily on it, and can last a few days.

Some of the symptoms of early stage withdrawal are:

  • Intense worry
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Shakiness and sweating

Life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, called delirium tremens (DTs), are:

  • Being extremely confused or upset
  • Feeling things on the body that are not there
  • Seeing or hearing things that do not exist

Treating opioid withdrawal

Drug cravings are impossible to resist, with psychological and social factors acting as common triggers that force an addict to start using drugs once again. A therapist needs to understand an addict’s complete history of drug abuse before starting any treatment, as most people tend to relapse even after achieving long-term abstinence.

An individual addicted to opiates shows withdrawal symptoms that can be effectively managed with medical detox program – a process that provides the safest, most comfortable environment for a patient’s fast recovery. A detox program is a good way of treating opiate addiction and its withdrawal symptoms.

Treating Opiate Addiction

A detox therapy uses medications and counseling to improve the chance of successful recovery in addiction patients. Drugs like naltrexone and buprenorphine can help patients stay on the road to recovery under the care of medical professionals who conduct the detox process. This process takes place in an inpatient rehab center along with adequate medical intervention.

The detox process can help eliminate the effects of narcotic addiction and opioid withdrawal. Nowadays various studies have shown that drug addiction can be better controlled with long-term maintenance therapy, using either buprenorphine or methadone.

Getting yourself enrolled in an Opiate Addiction Treatment Center is not an everyday task and can be pretty tough. Addiction is an emergent though delicate issue that is difficult to handle the right way no matter how much you want to help yourself or a person you love. It is crucial that you ally yourself with a good Opiate Addiction Treatment Center so that you can again start living your life to the fullest.