Opium Detox Centers
Opium is a dangerous drug that is no longer used to treat pain and other medical conditions. However, the natural substance found in the poppy plant is used to create other drugs that have beneficial medical uses. Still, many people choose to abuse opium itself and then become dependent on its effects.
Opium dependence and withdrawal requires professional detox as well as addiction treatment afterward. Seek a detox center that can provide you with safe, reliable care and help you make the transition to rehab by calling 800-315-1376 (Who Answers?) now.
How Opium Detox Works
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, opium causes similar effects to other drugs like morphine, heroin, oxycodone, and fentanyl, which are either derived straight from opium itself or synthesized in a lab to create similar effects. Therefore, opium causes withdrawal symptoms just like other types of opioid drugs, although the former is likely to create more severe effects because of its dangerous and illicit use.
Doctors in detox centers use medications, counseling, and other methods to treat opium’s withdrawal symptoms and to help the patient put an end to their dependence on the drug. However, it is important to remember that treatment does not stop here, especially for an illicit drug abuse syndrome like that associated with opium.
Opium Withdrawal
The withdrawal symptoms caused by opium are similar to those caused by all other drugs in its class. These include:
Flu-like symptoms are common with opium withdrawal.
- Increased tearing or crying
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Flu-like symptoms (including runny nose, fever, goose bumps, chills, and sweating)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Muscle pain and aches
Because the drug lowers an individual’s pain tolerance, the aches and pains experienced in withdrawal can be extremely severe, almost unbearable. Depression can also be a severe result of opium withdrawal. However, this syndrome is not considered to be life threatening as long as it remains uncomplicated (National Library of Medicine).
Symptoms of Opium Withdrawal Treated in Opium Detox
An individual will need to receive medication as part of their treatment. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “Management of withdrawal without medications can produce needless suffering in a population that tends to have limited tolerance for physical pain.” While opioid withdrawal is sometimes treated with the drug clonidine, most doctors will choose to use buprenorphine or methadone for opium withdrawal, depending on the severity of the individual’s dependence.
Depression must be treated with counseling and, sometimes, with antidepressant medications. Patients should also be screened for any other comorbid disorders early on in their detox. “Treating these disorders can reduce the risk of relapse” (NLM). Sometimes, holistic methods are also used by certain detox centers to minimize pain, such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and meditation.
Is It Safe to Detox at Home?
It is usually safe to go through detox from an opioid drug at home, as long as your withdrawal remains uncomplicated. However, you may want to choose to attend residential detox for opium withdrawal for the reasons listed below.
- Abusing a drug as potent as opium can create a high chance of relapse. If you believe you are at risk of using again, it may be better to stay in a controlled environment where you can focus on your recovery.
- Comorbid disorders must be treated simultaneously with addiction, and the treatment of the former can start as early as during detox (National Institute on Drug Abuse). If you are suffering from a comorbid disorder, it is likely this issue will make your withdrawal harder and more complicated, which could make residential detox necessary.
- Detox is only the first part of addiction treatment and you must make sure to attend a rehab program as well. People who stay in detox for the proper amount of time are often more likely to transition into addiction treatment afterward. If you believe you will be more likely to continue with residential detox, this may be a better choice for your needs.
How Long Will Opium Detox Take?
Usually, your withdrawal period will take around 10 to 14 days as long as it is not complicated. Complicated withdrawal can sometimes take a bit longer, but it is difficult to state with any certainty how long any one individual’s detox will take without a proper consultation with a doctor.
Help Me Find an Opium Detox Center
Therefore, the best, safest thing you can do for your recovery now is to begin treatment for your opium abuse with a detox program that caters to your needs. Call 800-315-1376 (Who Answers?) today, and we will match you with the best option for you.
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