Opium Abuse Detoxification Signs, Risks, & Withdrawal Symptoms
All opiates arrive from the poppy plant, which secretes a resin-like botanical substance called opium. Opium is a natural pain killer that also creates sensations of euphoria. Opium has been exploited in one method or another by humans for at least 5,000 years.
Did ancient Mesopotamians get high? Near Eastern rituals may have …
Through the millennia, opium has advanced and is now synthesized in a vast range of several drugs, some of which you are likely aware of. Many opium drugs are utilized medically as medications for pain and distress, while some versions of the drug are illegal, sold exclusively on the street or in black markets. Regardless, they all originated from one plant, and they can all be hazardous when abused.
The opiate family comprises of the following drug variations: morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, Heroin, and resin opium itself, which is dried, crushed, and smoked. These seven opiate variations are covered in detail below. All opiates are highly addicting, having the potential to form an addiction habit as quickly as after the first dose. Today over 30 American citizens die daily basis from an opiate overdose.
Even though a hydrocodone pill is considerably less potent than an injection of Heroin, the connection among all opiates is the same in that they all create a sense of euphoria in the brain which is the likely cause of addiction. Indeed, an estimated ninety percent of Heroin users started their addiction to opiates prescription pills. This makes sense if you think about it, as prescription pain killers are the most accessible way for most people to obtain opiates. As the number of prescribed painkillers was greatly over-prescribed in the last decade and still are today, this led to widespread addiction and an opioid addiction pandemic. Dependences on prescribed opioid drugs can develop quickly, but for many, as their prescriptions run out and they cannot be replaced quickly enough, leading to black-market purchases. That’s likely why Heroin became a cheaper replacement option, as you do NOT require a prescription to obtain it. Whereas doctors and state authorities monitor prescriptions, continued abuse of Opioids has now spilled over into the black market in the form of illicit drugs like Heroin.
Knowing how to comprehend abusive signs and threats to support someone struggling with addiction is very important. It is important to know what withdrawal symptoms can be like as there is a broad expanse of severity. Did you know what Ambrosia Treatment Center offers in the way of opiate drug rehab and detox? To begin, a medical detoxification from opiate pain killers is the first step towards recovery.
If you desire simply to read about our detoxification procedure itself, please scroll down to the bottom and proceed reading at the section titled “About Our Opiate Detox Program.” With support from well-trained specialist at Ambrosia, you can receive caring treatment to beat opiate addiction. Our knowledgeable staff and top-notch doctors are ready, willing, and able to help you start today.
Codeine is one of the weakest opiates. It is designed as both a diarrhea suppressant and as cough medicine. Even though codeine is the weakest opioid, it does not imply it is not harmful. Approximately 2,700 people died from codeine overdose in 2015, which was twice as many victims in the year 2000.
Fentanyl is deemed the most potent opiate in use. Today, it is only meant to be applied in unusual circumstances of extreme and severe pain. It can be hundreds of times more potent than even Heroin itself. Fentanyl is presently being used to spike heroin batches, producing what can be a fatal mixture. Moreover, there is a secondary form of fentanyl called carfentanil, which is used for large mammal sedation. It is fifty times more powerful than fentanyl. One grain of this drug can kill a full-grown adult. This version of fentanyl has also been found in spiked batches of illegal street sold Heroin.
The other remaining opiates discussed can be prescribed legally in the United States. Opioids are listed in order of ascending strength, are hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone. Hydrocodone’s primary marketing name is Vicodin, and further comprises Lortab. Morphine is another well-known drug that many may be familiar with. It is a powerful painkiller utilized for victims of terrible pain. Ultimately, Oxycodone’s primary business names are OxyContin and Percocet. However, Heroin and opium are illegal in the US, the former of which has come to be America’s notable killer of drug abuse victims below the age of 50.
If you think someone is abusing opiates, signs include:
- Exhaustion and abnormally low energy
- Slurred speech
- Constricted pupils
- Nauseousness and vomiting
- Absence of appetite
- Mental confusion
- Stumbling asleep quickly or anywhere, AKA’ nodding out’ (with Heroin especially)
Risks of Opiate Abuse
The short-term dangers of opiate misuse include:
- Abrupt heart rate
- Arrhythmia
- Elevated blood pressure
- Hyperthermia
- Tremors and seizures
- Coma and death
Long-term Consequences of Opiate Abuse Are More Drastic Than the Short-Term Ones. They Include but are Not Limited to:
- An all-around weaker immune system, and erectile dysfunction
- Belly issues, rambling from diarrhea to bowel punctures.
- Respiratory depression
- Hypoxia
- Liver injury and failure (especially with drugs containing acetaminophen)
- Brain deterioration
- Coma and death
Heroin and Fentanyl
Since 2015, fentanyl has taken more lives than Heroin has. Even more horrifying, fentanyl deaths have been reported to be growing, twice as much as the prior year and has been steadily increasing. If an individual receives a heroin hit that is spiked with fentanyl, it can be compared to playing Russian roulette with your life. These drugs can and will kill you.
Recognizing Opiate Abuse & Conducting an Intervention
Stepping in to help someone with addiction problems is easier said than done, especially if you love the person suffering and do not want to harm or distress them. But, where you care for them enough, it is easy to realize they are hurting themselves, and possibly at a rate that could become fatal quickly. In some circumstances, professional intervention is recommended. When it comes to trying to assist somebody, you love, hold these tips in mind:
- Do not call them an addict or condemn them of being an abuser.
- Do not mandate the individual to seek aid. Clearly state your concerns.
- Facilitate the prospect of help but do not be aggressive.
- Retain the connection you already possess with the individual. Behaving differently will probably awaken suspicion.
Withdrawal from Opiates
Due to opiates’ nature, it is recommended to endure the withdrawal process while the afflicted patient is checked into a professional treatment center under medical supervision for serious side effects. Furthermore, please be conscious that it has become common to utilize opiates, particularly buprenorphine, as a step-in opiate withdrawal treatment. This suggestion of battling fire with fire is tested and true.
Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms Include:
- Flu-like feelings
- Low energy levels
- Unreasonable sweating
- Body aches
- Nauseousness
- Sleeplessness
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
Withdrawal symptoms are considerably more likely to occur and much more likely to be worse if an addict stops using without assistance. Opiates present some hazardous withdrawal symptoms, and Ambrosia Treatment Center can provide necessary help for an addict to detox and start the journey to recovery. The first step is detoxification, commonly called detox, which safely and effectively removes all traces of opiates from the body.
About Our Opiate Detox Program
Safe Opiate Detoxification
What to Anticipate During the Period of Detoxification?
Dr. Alam is an internationally renowned psychiatrist with academic affiliations with Northwestern University and University of Illinois, Chicago where he completed his residency training. He has been a principal investigator for over forty studies and has been involved in research leading to the approval of most psychiatric medications currently on the market. He is the founder of the Neuroscience Research Institute which continues to conduct research on cutting edge medication and interventional psychiatry. Dr. Alam is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He has won several awards and has been featured extensively on radio and television.
