People who struggle with opioid addiction and are ready to seek recovery are best served by enrolling in an opioid addiction treatment program. The very first step on this journey of recovery is detox. If you are looking into addiction treatment or are concerned about a loved one, detox may seem intimidating, and you may be unsure what to expect. However, you do not have to figure this out alone.
Opioid detox is one of the key stages of recovery, and it should be done under medical supervision. At Atlanta Detox Center, our team can guide you through detox so that you can transition into our opioid addiction treatment program for genuine, long-lasting recovery. Learn more today by calling 470-450-2355 or completing our online form.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are synthetic compounds that mimic the effects of opium and other opiates. Users may be seeking pain relief or the euphoric effects of opioids to help mask depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring disorders.
Opioids are often prescribed by physicians in forms such as fentanyl, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. Individuals who take these drugs in high doses over a period of time are at risk of developing dependence and addiction. Someone who has become dependent on these drugs will need to continue taking opioids to feel pleasure of any kind due to the drug’s effect on the brain. They will also experience withdrawal if the drug is withheld or unavailable.
When people with an opioid use disorder stop taking these drugs, their symptoms are unpleasant and can be painful and frighteningly disorienting, involving physical, mental, and psychological distress. Because of the intensity of opioid withdrawal, users may relapse before the withdrawal is complete. Over time, it may become more difficult to quit.
What to Expect from Opioid Detox
Opioid detox is the process of releasing these drugs from the body. It is important to detox with the guidance of medical professionals to manage withdrawal symptoms safely. Every person’s experience with detoxing depends on how long the person was addicted and what other underlying symptoms might be.
At Atlanta Detox Center, our medical professionals will often use medications to help you through withdrawal at an opioid addiction treatment program. Medication, along with psychological support, helps you remain both comfortable and secure as the drugs leave your body. It can take days or weeks to get past the withdrawal symptoms from the physical dependence on opioids.
Factors that contribute to the length of withdrawal include:
- Duration of addiction
- Severity of addiction
- Genetic makeup
- Underlying medical conditions
- Co-occurring mental health disorders
The withdrawal symptoms you may experience during opioid detox range from mild to intense. Within twenty-four hours after your last dose, you may start to feel a combination of symptoms such as:
- Sleep disturbance
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Agitation
- Seizures
- Muscle spasms
- Tremors
- Fever
- Paranoia
Is Opioid Detox at Home Safe?
Undergoing withdrawal alone in your home is dangerous. People are often tempted to stay home because they believe their loved ones can help them, they don’t want to or cannot afford detox treatment, or they don’t understand the potential risks. For all their good intentions, loved ones are ill-equipped to cope with the potential violence and intensity of an unmedicated withdrawal that is not professionally supported and managed. They will not have medications that can ease the process, nor are they likely trained to manage your psychological symptoms.
Not only does detox that is not medically managed put you at higher risk of relapse due to the untreated medical and psychological discomfort. It comes with health risks, such as severe dehydration and seizures, which will need medical attention. At Atlanta Detox Center, our team offers thorough drug detox center programs to prevent these dangerous complications.
Medication-Assisted Detox for Opioid Withdrawal
The needs of every person during detox are different. But generally, the opioid withdrawal process follows similar steps, which are:
- Evaluation – This is when a medical team screens you for mental and physical health issues. The doctors may use blood tests to determine the level of the medication you need. This also covers the review of your psychiatric, medical, and drug history.
- Stabilization – To prevent harm, doctors can give you medications that reduce withdrawal symptoms and prevent further complications.
- Support – During detox, a team of providers is on hand 24/7 to help with the physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
- Preparing for next steps – As you near the end of detox, our staff will determine the best treatment process for you.
Every part of the process of detoxing from opioids at Atlanta Detox Center is carefully tailored and structured to your individual needs and carried out in a safe environment.
Find Help for Opioid Addiction at Atlanta Detox Center
Has your opioid addiction taken over your life? Or, do you feel you are losing someone dear to you to their addiction? Don’t wait to start the road to recovery at Atlanta Detox Center. We can help you with this vital phase in your recovery.
Our team is here to design a coordinated, holistic treatment plan that can help turn your life around. Contact our team at Atlanta Detox Center today by calling 470-450-2355 or completing our convenient online form for more information or to schedule your appointment.
