Opioid Detox West Palm Beach covered by Medicaid
Opioid Detox West Palm Beach covered by Medicaid
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 130 people die every day from opioid overdose in the United States, causing opioid overdoses to be described as an epidemic. Sadly, this shows that opioid use is an increasingly dangerous problem, especially as nearly 500,000 people died due to opioid overdoses between 1999 and 2019.
Opioids have a calming effect on the body. For this reason, they are often used in medical settings to treat severe pain. Yet, the relaxing properties of the drugs cause many people to develop an opioid use disorder, even when used for medical purposes.
At Ebb Tide treatment centers, we provide world-class treatment for drug addictions and drug detox in Florida. On hand to help you overcome your substance use disorder in a safe and secure environment, our clinical and psychiatric support can guide you through the journey and assist you in gaining the tools and knowledge for a successful recovery.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a group of drugs that originate from the opium poppy plant. Some opioids come directly from this plant, while others are created using the same chemical structure in a lab.
When opioids are prescribed, they can alter brain chemistry, especially if you consume them for an extended period. Unfortunately, this can cause your body to become dependent on them. Typically, prescription opioids include:
- Codeine
- Hydrocodone
- Fentanyl
- Morphine
- Oxycodone
Prescription opioids often come in a wide range of forms and colors. The most common types are available as tablets, capsules, syrups, and injectable liquids.
In contrast, illegal opioids, such as heroin and opium, are commonly cut with other drugs, making the risk of addiction and overdose even greater. Similar to prescription opioids, illicit opioids come in various forms. For example, opium is a fine brown powder that users eat or smoke. Meanwhile, heroin in its pure form is white. When cut with other substances, it may also appear brown.
Synthetic opioids are often sold as a white powder, but they are also combined with synthetic cannabinoids in herbal smoking mixtures.
How Do Opioids Work?
Opioids work by activating receptors on nerve cells in the brain, which are often referred to as opioid receptors. The activation of these receptors inhibits sensations of pain and increases feelings of pleasure.
These receptors are also activated by endorphins and other natural chemicals that the body produces. This is why exercise – which stimulates endorphins – can reduce pain and make you feel good.
Opioids can be used effectively for pain management. Still, in order to avoid negative side effects and a serious risk of addiction, you should only use them under the supervision of a medical expert.
The Role of Opioid Receptors
Activated by chemicals in the body, opioid receptors are typically found on the end of nerve cells. When you experience physical pain, these receptors activate, inhibiting communication between the brain and pain to provide relief.
In treating pain, opioids work by filling the receptors, causing unpleasant sensations to be replaced by feelings of euphoria. Although you may think this is beneficial, this reaction can create a severe potential for opioid abuse.
What Is Opioid Addiction?
Opioid addiction is a serious disease that has adverse effects on various aspects of your life, such as your physical and mental health, financial security, and relationships. Unfortunately, you may sacrifice all other activities and responsibilities to acquire and use drugs when you develop an addiction. However, you are not to blame for this.
The availability and prevalence of opioids in society come hand-in-hand with several added risks and complications, causing opioid addiction to lead to one of the biggest health crises of the century.
Because some opioids are legal, identifying an addiction can be challenging. One identifiable sign of opioid addiction is developing a tolerance to the substance.
When taken for a long period, opioids can permanently change the brain’s structure, leading to psychological dependence. As this dependence causes the brain to function better when drugs are present, cravings may arise, and the brain may begin to only function when drugs are taken. Over time, this results in the body becoming less affected by the drug, requiring more of the substance to feel the same high.
What Are Common Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms?
Opioid withdrawal symptoms are similar regardless of whether the drug is legal or illegal, but the severity and duration often fluctuate.
For example, heroin withdrawal usually begins six to twelve hours after being used and lasts for approximately five days. Symptoms can be very distressing but are rarely life-threatening as long as good hydration levels are maintained.
Other short-acting opioids, such as morphine, usually produce withdrawal symptoms within the first eight to twenty hours after use, with withdrawal lasting for up to ten days. In contrast, long-acting opioids, such as methadone, will usually produce withdrawal symptoms around one or two days after last use, which can continue for up to two weeks or more.
Early opioid withdrawal symptoms include:
- Muscle aches
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Increased perspiration
- Fever
Other symptoms that usually peak around the three-day mark include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
- Depression
- Strong urges to use
Opioid Withdrawal Relief
Opioid withdrawal can be uncomfortable, and life-threatening complications can arise in some situations. Although it is normal to think that withdrawal lasts a certain amount of time, the overall timeline spans a few days to a few weeks. How long it takes you to complete opioid detox and withdrawal depends on the type of opioid you use, how long you have used it, and whether other substances were used in conjunction.
Though the thought of completing detox may seem daunting, medically supervised detox can help ease withdrawal symptoms and support you in completing treatment.
There are many options available when it comes to opiate withdrawal and detox. You can find out more about them below.
Tapering
Typically offered when a detox program is completed under the supervision of medical clinicians, tapering includes gradually reducing the dose of opioids until they are no longer used. In some instances, tapering may also include an opioid maintenance drug like methadone.
During this treatment, twenty-four-hour care is available, as is emotional support from therapists and other medical professionals.
Medications
Medication-assisted treatment supports the withdrawal process by controlling drug cravings and easing any symptoms experienced. Within a rehab center, buprenorphine and methadone are available, both of which are available long-term to support sobriety and decrease the risk of overdose.
Other medications, such as anxiety medications and loperamide, may also be used to relieve withdrawal symptoms during detoxification.
Although medications can effectively reduce symptoms, control cravings, and decrease the likelihood of overdose, they cannot treat opioid abuse alone. Instead, they must be combined with comprehensive therapy treatment.
It is also important to remember that one crucial aspect of detoxification is recognizing that it is the first step in a lifelong recovery journey.
Medical Supervision for Opioid Detox
Accessing help from an addiction treatment center, such as our luxury rehab, can be the difference between a full recovery and relapse. Everyone living with an addiction needs some form of medical assistance, so seeking support is one of the most powerful choices you can make.
Recognizing that every person and every addiction is unique, we offer a wide range of treatment options and individualized care for the best chance of sustained sobriety at Ebb Tide.
The first stage of treatment for drug addiction is always detoxification, which rids the body of substances. As detox and withdrawal can be distressing and sometimes give rise to health complications, drug detox is most successful if completed in an inpatient treatment center under medical care and supervision.
Long-Term Impacts of Detoxification
At Ebb Tide, we understand that seeking help for an addiction can be intimidating, and we also know that the thought of opioid detox can be daunting. However, ridding the body and mind of substances is a crucial first step towards recovery. Essentially, detox is the catalyst for the body to begin healing, inside and out.
Detoxing in a specially designed center will help you achieve sobriety in a supportive environment without having to go through the complexities of withdrawal alone. Even long after the detox process has finished, the benefits of detox can be felt.
Many others who have achieved sobriety have gone on to build the strength and agency needed to move forward in their journey and make healthy choices for themselves.
The Ebb Tide Method
Opioid detox is a challenging process that you should be proud of completing. However, we always remind our clients that recovery is a lifelong journey. Following detox, we provide specialized therapy treatment to guide you on the right path to a life free of addiction.
Once your body is free from drugs, you can move on to the next stage of the treatment process, which includes therapy. At Ebb Tide, we offer individual and group therapy to assist you in recovering from the psychological effects of addiction.
For many people, substances are a form of self-medication from the challenges of living with untreated mental health disorders or trauma. For this reason, we use individual therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which utilizes a goal-based approach to focus on specific problems. During your sessions with us, you will see where you are making progress and where you need additional support.
During therapy sessions, you can also identify your relapse triggers and create healthy coping strategies.
At Ebb Tide, we genuinely believe that a comprehensive and successful detox program sets the tone for the rest of the treatment. If completed with the right support and care, it can be the beginning of your journey to lifelong sobriety.
Contact Us Today
If you are ready to address your opioid use disorder and free yourself from your dependence, please contact us today. Likewise, if you have questions about our medical team, treatment plans, or medical insurance coverage, pick up the phone and call us today.
We are here to provide you with the treatment you need, celebrate your successes, and work through any difficulties with you.
