The Stages of Opiate Detox: What to Expect

Learn the Stages and What to Expect in Opiate Detox

From the heroin purchased on the street to the legally prescribed pain medication you are taking, opiates are everywhere, and they can be addictive no matter what form they take. Whether you are taking pain pills from your doctor or shooting up with heroin, the mechanism of addiction and dependency is much the same. It is easy to feel alone and despondent when you are addicted to opiates, but there is quality help and guidance available to manage the stages of opiate detox.

What Is Opiate Withdrawal?

Just like many drugs, opiates take a heavy toll on the body, creating not just psychological cravings but powerful physical addictions as well. Opiate withdrawal happens when the body is suddenly deprived of the drug, and the symptoms it creates can range from merely annoying to severe and life-threatening.

The good news is that even the most severe opiate withdrawal symptoms can be managed with the proper addiction treatment during the stages of opiate detox.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, call WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab today at 877.969.1993 to learn how we can help.

Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms

Here are some of the most common symptoms of opiate withdrawal:

• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Mood changes
• Feelings of depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Back pain
• Heightened sensitivity to pain
• Runny nose and watery eyes

The Stages of Opiate Withdrawal

Opiate withdrawal happens in stages, with success at each stage helping to lay the groundwork for success in each subsequent stage. When you trust your recovery to WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab, we will help you understand the stages of opiate detox, setting you up for success at each step of the journey and giving you the time you need to reflect on how far you have come and how far you still have to go. With that in mind, here are the stages of opiate detox and what you can expect:

• Initial withdrawal symptoms – You can expect the initial withdrawal symptoms to peak within a few days of your last use.
• Lingering withdrawal symptoms – Even after the worst of the withdrawal symptoms have passed, you are likely to experience lingering cravings, possibly for weeks or months.
• Aftercare – Receiving quality aftercare in the wake of opiate withdrawal treatment will be critical at this stage. This is the point where you will begin to build the coping skills you need to stay clean.
• Developing pain free methods of pain relief – If you turned to opiates for pain relief, you will need to find drug free ways to treat that pain, and WhiteSands can help you with that as well

The Importance of Medical Detox for Opiate Addiction

Getting off of opiates can be a difficult thing to do, especially when you lack the professional support you need. The severity of the withdrawal symptoms that set in can be difficult to bear, but you do not have to go it alone or forgo medical support during the process.

When you work with WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab, you will have access to professional medical detox. Our unique approach during detox will help get you clean by using various medications to mitigate the effects of opiates and give your body the time and space it needs to heal.

Opiate Detox and Rehab at WhiteSands

Given the fact that many opiates, including the ones used to treat chronic pain and post-operative discomfort, have ended up hurting instead of helping is genuinely heartbreaking, yet that is precisely what has happened to all too many people. These drugs may be powerful painkillers, but they are also powerfully addictive, and once that dependency sets in, it can be difficult to break without professional help.

But the good news is you do not have to do it on your own. You have access to one of the best opiate treatment programs, and access to that help is only a phone call away. When you reach out to WhiteSands, you will have access to a wealth of resources, including medical detox to help your body heal, rehab to continue to journey to recovery and aftercare, and tips on drug-free pain relief to support you even after you have returned home. If you are ready to begin your path to healing, the staff at WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab are here to help, so pick up the phone and give us a call today.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.