When most of us go to the doctor, it is to treat a specific condition. This is especially for those with chronic illnesses or who have suffered an injury and need help managing the pain. Most of the time, when this happens, we are prescribed an opioid to deal with the pain. The problem with prescriptions is that many of them still have the potential to become addictive and addiction means that there is a chance of going through withdrawal. It can be difficult to get free of an addiction because of the withdrawal process.
That’s why at Hillside Mission Recovery, we want to give our clients and their families the information they need to stay safe when using medication, even ones prescribed by a doctor. In this post, we are going to look at the timeline for opioid withdrawal, what opioids are, why users need to detox from opioids, the symptoms of withdrawal, and if there are opioid detox programs near you.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a particular classification of drugs that consists of prescribed medications like Oxycontin and oxycodone and illicit drugs like heroin and fentanyl. These drugs are used to treat moderate to severe pain and, depending on their specific makeup, can be prescribed for anything from broken bones to pain management for cancer patients.
Because of the wide array of uses, opioids are some of the most heavily prescribed drugs in America and, because of this, are also some of the most widely abused drugs in America. This abuse happens for a couple of different reasons.
The first reason why opioids are abused is that many people enjoy the way that these drugs make them feel, which means they want to keep taking them above and beyond the prescribed levels.
Secondly, opioids interact with the brain and central nervous system to gradually change how they behave. Over time the body becomes chemically dependent on the opioids being in the body to function normally. Once the body becomes chemically dependent, this is the beginning of addiction as the person begins to experience cravings and other symptoms that make them keep using the drug. Once a person stops using the drug, especially if they do so abruptly, they experience what is commonly known as withdrawal.
Do Opioid Users Need Detox Programs?
The short answer to this question is yes. Any drug that has the potential to become addictive also carries with it the potential for withdrawal. The reason detox programs are necessary is because withdrawal can have severe and even deadly consequences if a person does not detox properly with medical supervision.
The purpose of a detox program is to remove the harmful substance from the body of the individual taking it. Once you stop using a drug, the body begins to react to the absence of the drug in various ways. Depending on the overall health of the person, any underlying medical conditions, and a variety of other factors, the severity of the detox can change.
What Are the Symptoms of Opioids Withdrawal?
The symptoms of opioid withdrawal can depend on the person, but some common symptoms include anxiety, depression, mood swings, intense cravings, sweating, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and muscle aches/pain. More severe complications like heart problems and difficulty breathing can also occur as well as compounding symptoms due to health conditions.
Depending on the length of use of opioids and the dosage, the symptoms can manifest as mild to severe, which is another reason why medical supervision is always advised when going through withdrawal.
What is the Timeline For Opioid Detox?
The opioid detox timeline is not static, like in the case of many other drugs. For short-acting opioids, detox can start within a few hours of stopping use, and last for a few days to a week before clearing the system.
However, for long-acting opioids, the onset of detox/withdrawal can take several days and last for upwards of two weeks. During this time, symptoms of withdrawal can go and go and range in severity.
Are There Opioid Detox Programs Near Me?
If you live in Southern California and are looking for an opioid detox program, then Hillside Mission Recovery is the place to go.
We offer a luxury inpatient program in Southern California with a medically supervised detox program that helps make the process as easy and pain-free as possible before the full treatment process begins.
Each of our Mission Viejo treatment plans is tailored to the individual, and we work to treat the cause of the addiction, not just the drug the person is addicted to.
If you or someone you know is addicted to opioids and ready to detox in Southern California, contact Hillside Mission Recovery today!
