Throughout the country, millions of people deal with the devastating effects of addiction. When someone decides to become sober, they may go through a range of opioid withdrawal symptoms. A high-quality treatment program can help clients manage and mitigate these opioid withdrawal signs as comfortably as possible. An opioid addiction treatment program can help individuals begin their long-term recovery.
How Does Opioid Withdrawal Work?
Opioids are a kind of drug that doctors use to treat pain. If someone takes these drugs for an extended period, they may go through opioid withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit. Opioids include drugs like morphine, heroin, Vicodin, Oxycontin, and methadone.
While opioids help to treat pain, they can also be addictive. It may only take a few weeks or less to develop an addiction. Afterward, the opioid withdrawal signs can be mild to severe, depending on the individual’s medical history, symptoms, and addiction history.
When opioids are present in the body, they go to receptors in the spinal cord, brain, and gastrointestinal tract. The brain can create its own opioids, but it can start producing less if painkillers are constantly present. Over time, the brain needs more opioids to feel normal. This causes the individual to develop tolerance, dependence, and addiction.
In the body, opioids immediately affect the brain stem. This causes changes to breathing, heart rates, and the limbic system. They also reduce pain levels by causing changes in the spinal cord.
What Are Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms?
Withdrawal symptoms can vary from person to person and from addiction to addiction. The person’s history of addiction, physical chemistry, genetics, and similar factors can affect what opioid withdrawal symptoms are like. In general, symptoms start within the first 24 hours after someone’s last dose.
The initial symptoms include a runny nose, muscle aches, restlessness, and excessive sweating. Individuals may find it impossible to sleep. They may also suffer from anxiety.
After the first day, individuals may go through more intense symptoms like vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. The client may develop a rapid heartbeat, dilated pupils, abdominal cramping, and high blood pressure. In general, the most serious symptoms peak within the first 72 hours. Within seven days, clients should notice an improvement in their withdrawal symptoms.
Starting an Addiction Recovery Program
The hardest part is realizing that there is a problem. Once the client discovers that they suffer from substance abuse, they can find help in the right treatment program.
At a treatment center, clients can find support through options such as:
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Gardening and eco-therapy
- A true hybrid program of adventure therapy and clinical care
- Trauma-informed treatment
- Gender-specific programs
No one has to deal with opioid withdrawal symptoms or addiction treatment alone. At Red Oak Recovery®, clients start with a thorough physical, psychiatric, nutritional, and clinical evaluation. With this information, addiction specialists can tailor a unique, personalized program for each person. Discover more about Red Oak Recovery®’s treatment options by calling us today at 866.457.7590.
