What Are Opiates?
Opiates refers to a class of drugs that are found naturally in the opium poppy plant. They work on the brain to produce a wide range of effects including relief from pain. (1)
Prescription opioids are used to block pain signals between the brain and the body and they are typically prescribed as a treatment plan for moderate to severe pain.
Once you take opioids, they are converted into morphine and they bind themselves to the opioid receptors such as those involved with pain perception, reward, and other areas that are critical for life. (1)
Opiates drugs include both legal and illegal painkiller medications, which are also called ‘opioid painkillers.’
Opiate drugs have serious effects on the body. They will make you feel happy, ‘high,’ and relaxed. These are some of the reasons why opiates are so addictive. (2)
Opiate detox rehab treatment is pretty common and most drug addiction treatment centers offer it as part of their addiction treatment plans.
Legal opioid drugs are prescribed and administered in a safe way, with corresponding correct dosages.
The legal forms of opioid drugs are:
Meanwhile, heroin is an illegal opioid drug.
Another not commonly known opioid drug is Suboxone, which works by tightly binding to the same receptors in the brain as other opiates, such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone.
According tot he National institute of drug abuse, legally prescribed opioid painkillers are used to treat the following conditions: (3)
Moderate to severe pain
Pain experienced by cancer patients
Pain during the end-of-life stage
Chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP), which are caused by injuries or diseases that last longer than 3 to 6 months.
Osteoarthritis
Fibromyalgia
Tissue or nerve damage
Chronic abdominal pain such as pancreatitis and Crohn’s disease
Acute pain – short-term and caused by specific events such as accidents, surgery, or childbirth
However, because opioid drugs are highly addictive, they are prone to misuse and abuse.
Most people turn to heroin after prescription drugs become unavailable as heroin is presented as a cheaper and available option.
The addiction treatment for opioid drug abuse involves intense symptoms of withdrawal and should be done at an in patient detox and treatment center.
The medical personnel at the treatment centers are trained to help ease withdrawal symptoms, and drug cravings. It is also important to get involved with support groups during the drug detox, as they best understand heroin dependency and are always willing to help.
The Drugs Wheel
The Drugs Wheel is a way of classifying drugs based on the effects they have on the body.(4)
According to the Drugs Wheel, people addicted to heroine and other opioids experience the following:
Euphoria – the feeling of getting high
Relaxation or a sense of peace/well-being
Relief from pain
Slowed-down concentration
Sleepiness and inattentiveness
Feeling “floaty”
Reduced sex drive
Why Are Opiates Addictive?
Opiates take effect on the nervous system (brain + spinal cord + nerves branching off to different parts of the body). (5)
They have powerful, painkilling effects in too-high levels. These high levels are not naturally achieved by the human body.
Opiates change the chemistry of the brain, making the brain used to the too-high level of pain relief.
When opiate use is stopped, relief from pain is reduced significantly.
Since the body got used to a high level of pain relief, any measure of pain can come across as intolerable.
It is in this light that the symptoms surface. Any drug abuse symptoms from withdrawal can be pretty severe and it is advisable to have a medically assisted detox as the first phase of the addiction treatment. (5)
For individuals who have become dependent on opiates to block all effects of pain, nothing but the relief from pain that opiates offers will do.
Withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping opiate use opiate drug addiction treatment are: (6)
Sensitivity to stress
Anxiety/ Irritability
Body coordination can be jerky (can have tremors)
Abnormal sleep pattern (either insomnia or sleeping too much)
Emotional numbness/ blanking out/ daydreaming
Easily distracted
Loss of focus/ memory problems
physical and mental health problems
The potent, fast-acting nature of opioids is hard to match. This is why they are the most preferred prescription painkillers to treat pain.
Some describe getting rid of opiates as moments spent in panic, when the reality of not using is scarier than the actual experience.
Heroin Detox and Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms
Heroin is one of the most common opioids addiction, and the first step towards a heroin addiction treatment is heroin detox.
In a rehab clinic, professional help assists in overcoming heroin withdrawal symptoms for quitting heroin cold turkey.
Stopping the use of heroin addiction can be described with the following timeline
6 to 30 hours after heroin addiction stops:
When going through heroin addiction treatment, one is likely to experience heroin withdrawal symptoms a few hours after their last heroin abuse. The psychological withdrawal symptoms include; (7)
Being emotional, in tears, or feeling down
Anxiety, excessive anger
Resistance, denial, attempts to escape the detox process
Excessive yawning, sleepiness
Conversely, insomnia
Muscle pains and aches
Runny nose, feeling as if having a flu
High blood pressure
Sweating excessively
Anyone suffering from heroin use disorder may also experience some mental health conditions, and the withdrawal may cause a rapid onset of the above heroin withdrawal symptoms.
72 Hours after the last intake
In about three days after stopping the drug use, one will experience the following heroin addiction withdrawal symptoms;
Diarrhoea
Nausea
Vomiting or gastric pain
Goosebumps/ Cold flashes
Craving for opiates
Lingering Withdrawal Symptoms
Other than the above listed symptoms, some additional heroin withdrawal symptoms include the following;
Memory and mental health problems; one’s memory is not like what it was before the physical dependence of opiates.
A slowed intellectual performance
Sexual performance problems like impotence and irregular menstrual periods
Teeth and gum problems
When the amount of alcohol/drugs in a patient’s system is gradually reduced, they will typically begin to experience withdrawal symptoms. (7)
Opioid/ Heroin Addiction Overdose
Aside from being highly addictive, opiates/heroin addiction can cause death from an overdose.
Overdose situations can be avoided by:
Taking the exact dose as prescribed in order to avoid substance abuse
Not mixing opioids with other pain medications
Not using opioids and alcohol together
Not mixing opioids with anti-anxiety drugs and anti-depressants
Ensuring that opiate drugs are kept away from children and/or teenagers
Opioid overdose from substance abuse is life-threatening. In the event of overdose, immediate medical supervision is necessary. (8)
Buprenorphine is often the preferred option as an opioid replacement because it is a partial opioid agonist, meaning that it only partially stimulates the opioid receptors, causing a “ceiling effect” that makes it much more difficult to overdose on compared to other opioid drugs. (9)
What Opiate Detox Rehab Is Like
During the first few days, of heroin substance abuse treatment, the initial reaction to withdrawal and opiate detox may be strongly focused on the physical withdrawal symptoms. (10)
However, some may feel emotionally overwhelmed, and unable to continue.
It is at this point that a personalised opiate detox treatment program comes in handy.
With a dedicated case manager, there’s better chance for the treatment succeeding, but with emotional and moral support. They will also help deal with severe withdrawal symptoms that can be fatal at this stage.
Here’s What A Typical Day In Rehab For Heroin Addiction Could Look Like:
Morning:
Meditation / Reflection
Detox medication (if prescribed)
Breakfast
Therapeutic session
Midday – Afternoon
Lunch
Therapeutic session (for example Cognitive Behavioural Therapy/ Holistic Care)
Evening
Dinner
Therapy sessions with a care manager
Or accompanied attendance to a mutual aid (support) meeting
Therapeutic Help
In terms of effectiveness, treatments available for opioids addiction that show most promise are:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
12 Step Facilitation
Opioid rehab success rate is not readily determined, as clinics vary widely in the type of treatments and length of treatments used.
What is clear is the fact that these approaches are the most utilized, with universal appeal.
After rehab, the use of the techniques learned can be carried on to support group sessions. The patients should continue with maintenance therapy.
Insights can also be explored in-depth during the behavioural therapy by the mental health professionals.
Opiate Rehab Aftercare
In an abstinence-based rehab clinic such as Abbeycare, a long-term commitment to recovery from opiate addiction requires adherence to an aftercare regimen.
Aftercare boosts the chance of full recovery because:
Emotional and psychological support helps to alleviate feelings of loneliness
Being in contact with a sponsor or an accountability partner encourages compliance to recovery commitments
There is motivation through hope in a common vision of recovery
New decision-making skills are learnt because of suggestions for the practical side of recovery
Sticking with an aftercare plan creates structure in a life previously described as chaotic
In addition, an aftercare plan is made with peers who are also in a medication assisted treatment center.
As a result, different points of view can help when someone is stuck with a problem that is hindering recovery from opioids addiction.
Treatment with Naltrexone
Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist. Its main action is to stimulate the opioid receptors and stop endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers)(11)
When endorphins are blocked, the body compensates by producing more endorphins. When this happens, painful feelings are lessened.
In the UK, the NHS permits the use of Naltrexone as a drug to manage opiate dependency (11)
Naltrexone can also be given as Low Dose Naltrexone for the management of pain in some cases.
To add, Naltrexone can be helpful in treating Alcohol Use Disorder.
The prescription can be available with local GPs. Sometimes, the drug is sold under the names Nalorex®, Adepend® or Opizone®.
Naltrexone is given as a 50mg dose in tablet form.
However, in some cases, it can also be administered with an injection.
During inpatient care in an inpatient detox and rehab clinic, Naltrexone treatment is begun after the detoxification process has been completed as they withdrawal symptoms may become severe.
This is because Naltrexone is most effective when opioids have been completely removed from the body.
As part of a comprehensive treatment plan, Naltrexone is only used when counseling and social support programs are in place.
Dealing With Pain In Recovery
Pain management treatment is necessary, even if the person seeking relief from pain is in opioid addiction recovery (Opioids are supposed to control pain)
Guidelines for health care worker dictate that adequate relief from pain should be given for mild, moderate, and severe pain, to eliminate the physical symptoms of withdrawal from substance use disorder during the treatment program.
The first step in adequate pain management is determining which level of pain is experienced.
The second step in adequate pain management is recognizing that acute pain is a medical emergency.
Acute pain is short-term, and should be treated aggressively.
If the person experiencing the acute pain is in addiction recovery, steps must be made to guarantee that:
The addiction concerns do not overshadow the pain being felt
“Less addictive” medicines are prescribed in a thoughtful manner
Under-dosing does not happen, because this leads to self-medication and psychological harm
Professionally, experts are reminded that pain comes from psychological origins, with little to no physical basis are exceptions more than the norm.
In a rehab clinic such as Abbeycare, Addictions counselors can work with clients to distinguish the contributions of feelings and thoughts to how pain is experienced.
It is hoped that after in-depth discussion and probing, clients can see that:
Pain is sometimes motivated by cultural factors
The expression and experience of pain can be encouraged or discouraged depending on who the person is with
Mental health factors play a huge part in the interpretation and handling of pain.
In the end, the management of pain during opioid withdrawal can help eliminate drug cravings and any psychological symptoms during the drug rehab and medical detox programme.
Opioid antagonist can be used at this point to control cravings but its not recommended especially with long acting opioid and quitting cold turkey.
Some synthetic opiates or opioids with a different chemical structure but similar effects on the body and brain are propoxyphene (Darvon), meperidine (Demerol), and methadone.
Specific Ways To Handle Pain
Behavioral therapy is an excellent option offered by treatment providers during the opioid withdrawal medical detox, but further to that, the following options are also available;
Stress reduction techniques, specifically those learnt in therapy
Mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, and hypnosis
Physical exercise – it is important that the exercise chosen is safe and does not risk more injury
A regular sleep schedule
Regular physical exercise
Supplements or vitamins (inadequate nutrition can lead to fatigue and momentary depression)
Foods rich with probiotics and Omega-3 fatty acids, as these can lower inflammation (inflammation is associated with some types of chronic pain) [11]
Activities that engage creativity
Sustaining long-term recovery by sticking to the aftercare plan in rehab
Alumni programs from the rehab clinic, where past clients come visit present clients
Continued communication with addiction counselors, sponsors, and members of mutual aid groups
FAQ
Does opiate detox work?
Yes, it does. But for opiate detoxification to work, the following elements need to come into place:
Correct assessment of the condition, including other conditions that may affect recovery chances
Comprehensive treatment – inpatient/structured care can give better care than outpatient care.
Medical attention through behavioral therapy treatment and other treatment options during the medical detox to help with symptoms of withdrawal.
Is there opiate rehab without insurance?
Yes. Because individual needs are different, pricing for opiate rehab without insurance is discussed during a client’s initial conversation with our treatment providers at Abbeycare.
See the Pricing page for more information or use the Abbeybot below below to get guideline pricing, including the treatment process.
Note that all pricing is subject to agreement from both the clinic’s Admissions and Clinical teams.
What to avoid while detoxing on opiates?
Detoxing from opiates necessitates avoiding:
Alcohol
Anti-depressant medication – such as citalopram, dapoxetine, and escitalopram
Anti-anxiety medication – such as Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) including sertraline and paroxetine
Other addictive substances/drugs
During detox, a high-fibre diet rich with anti-oxidants can help flush out toxins and really help with the withdrawal process.
Adequate hydration by drinking plain water is also highly recommended
In an inpatient rehab clinic, nutritious food is considered part of holistic recovery.
Many do not pay attention to good nutrition when in a state of active opiate addiction.
Nutritional deficiencies can cause lack of energy to engage in activities necessary to make changes in a lifestyle without opiate use.
Is there treatment for opiate addiction without rehab?
Yes, but inpatient rehab can be the best option because it provides structured, comprehensive care for opioid use disorder including support for mental health issues as well.
But if inpatient care is not available or hard-to-obtain, outpatient rehab is the next best option.
Without professional help, there might be some serious health risks including:
Severe diarrhoea
Vomiting often, which can lead to choking
Dehydration
Lung infections
Seizures
Undiagnosed and untreated mental health conditions.
Increased blood pressure
Muscle aches
The National institute on drug abuse has provided outpatient care through services available in local drug centres.
Mutual aid groups also offer free meetings, although meetings, though immensely helpful, are not a complete form of therapeutic care for substance misuse.
What are the side effects of detoxing from opiates?
Physical withdrawal and psychological withdrawal are the two main sources of side effects from opiate withdrawal.
Physical withdrawal effects can include fever-like responses, sleeping problems, tremors, and cardiovascular (heart-related) complaints.
Psychological withdrawal has more to do with feelings associated with stopping the use of opiates. The most common psychological signs of opiate and other drugs withdrawal are:
Mood changes – anxiety level can be high; depressed feelings can surface
Aggressiveness/ Restlessness
Lack of motivation to do daily things
Repeatedly thinking about opioid use
Fears that detox won’t be successful
Denial of the seriousness of the situation
How To Book
To book into Abbeycare for Opioid help, contact Abbeycare direct on 01603 513 091.
Pricing
