Get Clean from Opioids

You’ve tried to control, slow down or stop your use of opioids. But, you can’t. It might even feel like it is impossible to stop taking your opioids, and that is because it is. One of the hallmarks of addiction is not being able to control your use and, chances are, your opioid addiction has spiraled. You may also be thinking that now is the time to get help. However, one of the scariest parts about getting help for your opioid addiction is the unknown. Not knowing how you will feel, how long detox will last, where you will be and what emotions that treatment may trigger are all common concerns. One of the biggest concerns is how to get clean from opioids and how to go about getting started.

Understanding Opioids

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others.

Opioids are commonly prescribed for easing chronic pain. They can be prescribed for anything from recovery after surgery to pain from a major injury to symptoms associated with advanced cancer. When taken as directed, opioids can help manage pain and bring patients a lot of relief. However, due to its addictive nature, many people can develop an addiction. The more opioids a person takes, the more their tolerance builds. This tolerance can quickly lead to dependency and an inevitable addiction.

How Opioids Work

Opioids bind to pain receptors, essentially cutting off communication between the pain point and the brain. The brain does not get the message that there is a pain in the body, which allows for much-needed relief. When abused, opioids can also cause a euphoric high which can be irresistible to some users. Abuse of opioids can lead to overdose and even death.

How To Get Clean

Reach Out for Help

The first step to getting clean from opioids is making the call for help. This can mean having a conversation with a trusted loved one, such as a spouse or friend. Having this conversation and admitting to your problem with opioids can be difficult, however. You may find it easier to have the conversation over the phone or to even write it out in a text or email.

Addiction can cause a lot of problems with relationships. Chances are, you may have hurt or alienated the ones you love because of your addiction. If you do not feel comfortable reaching out to someone in your life, you can reach out to our treatment center directly. Our admissions specialists are on-hand to have a confidential conversation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are available to answer any questions you may have, as well as work to sort out any logistics you may have. These can include cost, time off work and having difficult conversations with your family.

Don’t Do It Alone

It is very important that you do not attempt to get clean from opioids alone. When someone is prescribed opioids under the care of medical professionals, they need to be slowly weaned off. This happens even if they do not become addicted to opioids. This is because quitting cold turkey can be a shock to your system and cause severe withdrawal symptoms and cravings. These two mixed together will likely result in a relapse.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Opioid drugs are much stronger than the natural opioids the body produces on its own. The constant flooding of the fake opioids can eventually cause the body to stop naturally producing its own opioids. This lack of dopamine in the brain causes withdrawal symptoms as the body adjusts.

Withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Anxiety
  • Muscle aches
  • Sweating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Shivering
  • Fever
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Increased heart rate
  • Insomnia
  • Stomach cramps
  • Tremors
  • Mood swings
  • Restlessness

Medical Detox

Luckily, medical detox options are available for when you are ready to get clean from opioids. Not only are there medications, like Suboxone, to help slowly wean you off of opioids, but there are also medications available to help ease uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and stop intense cravings.

Medical detox also offers round-the-clock care, should any medical issues arise during your detox. The comfort of a safe, easy detox and medical support is the best way to get clean from opioids.

Treatment

The only sure way to get clean from opioids is to begin treatment. Treatment for opioids can vary from person-to-person, depending on the length and severity of the addiction. Safely detoxing from opioids, learning how to overcome triggers and finding new, healthy coping skills are how to truly get clean from opioids.

About Pinelands Recovery Center

If you are ready to get clean from opioids, give us a call. We will talk to you about exactly what to expect and how we develop your custom, individual treatment plan. There is no secret or instant way to get clean from opioids. It is a disease that requires help, and we are here for you every step of the way.

Pinelands Recovery Center of Medford is widely known as one of New Jersey’s finest, most respected addiction treatment facilities. With comfortable 30-bed accommodations and 24-hour professional staff, we can offer clients a serene, relaxing environment amid the lush piney woods. This stress-free setting with its sense of warmth and welcoming enables you to feel comfortable and confident about your clean and sober life ahead.

We will establish clear goals, both general in nature and specific to your needs. We continue to monitor those goals, to make sure that our clients are progressing and buying into their recovery plan. We thrive on assisting clients in feeling connected to the recovery community, share and demonstrate effective coping techniques, help clients to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior and everything else you will need to be happy and productive living a sober, healthy life.

We ensure that clients complete their planned concrete tasks, encourage hope, optimism and healthy living. Our recovery program is not a revolving door treatment program; it is a recovery model designed to help clients go on to lead productive, happy lives. For more information, visit pinelandsrecovery.com