The country is in the midst of an opiate epidemic that seems to go on without end. It started with the tragic belief that Oxycontin and other certain new prescription painkillers showed a low risk of addiction, which led millions into painful dependence. Then it continued with a surge in the use of heroin. The abuse of opioids has claimed too many lives. If you or a loved one is struggling, it may be time to seek help from opiate detox centers, such as our Columbus, Ohio addiction treatment.
Opiate detox centers are designed to break the cycle of addiction and put you on the road to recovery. It’s not done easily, as opioids have powerfully addictive qualities, but the first step is to stop the slide. Detox will help break your use patterns and put you in a position to find your way back to sobriety. The place to begin that journey is through Opiate detox centers. Don’t wait another minute, as your life and future depend on it. Tens of thousands of people die each year from an opioid overdose.
Opiate Abuse – The Signs
Legal opioid painkillers are highly effective drugs used to treat pain in cancer patients and people with other serious illnesses or injuries. The problem is they are also extremely addictive. As a consequence, too many have turned to illegal opiates like heroin to sustain their addiction. It’s a nasty cycle that has destroyed millions of lives.
Problems with substance abuse don’t announce themselves when they arrive. They show up with subtle, sometimes hard-to-read signs. If you are worried about yourself or someone you love, here are some of the warning signs:
- Constipation
- Nausea/vomiting
- Problems with balance or coordination
- Feeling agitated
- Slurred speech
- Changes in sleeping habits
- Moodiness
Alone, just one of these symptoms is not necessarily a concern. If patterns appear, though, you may want to consider a consultation with opiate detox/treatment centers near you.
Opiate Detox Centers
Detox represents the first step of the long road to recovery from opioid addiction. And while every case and every place is different, opiate detox centers take a common approach to helping you through your troubles.
Detox is necessary because when you stop using opiates, your body responds. You will experience a painful series of withdrawal symptoms, some of which can be painful and even life-threatening.
Opiate detox centers provide medical supervision to help you through the withdrawal period. It can be done on an outpatient basis, but more commonly may require a short stay in a residential inpatient facility. Some of the principle withdrawal reactions include;
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Muscle aches
- Insomnia
- Abdominal cramping
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
The severity of these symptoms will determine what form of detox you will receive. Milder forms could potentially be addressed on an outpatient basis. If you’re looking for help, even if you need to seek treatment at a distance, consider an opioid detox center in Ohio. Closer to home you may well find opiate detox centers that also serve your needs.
Facts about the Opioid Epidemic
The country is experiencing a public health emergency related to the use and abuse of opioids. And for good reason: opioid overdoses killed nearly 50,000 people in 2018, almost two-thirds of all drug overdoses in the United States. The current driver of opioid overdoses is heroin and forms of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Hampshire lead the nation in opioid-related deaths — not a designation any of those states would have sought independently.
Prescription opioid use has been curtailed but remains significant across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control, doctors wrote 168 million prescriptions in 2018 — one for every two people in the country.
The fearsome addictive qualities of opioids make opiate detox centers increasingly important as the nation seeks solutions for the epidemic.
Addressing the Complications
The fearsome addictive qualities of opioids make opiate detox centers increasingly important as the nation seeks solutions for the epidemic. These facilities provide the first step to help people with opioid abuse problems put their lives back on the path to sobriety. But by no means are opioids the only drugs that result in addictions. Cocaine, alcohol and other substances remain a big problem across the United States. If you are struggling with a different addiction, consider getting help from Columbus addiction treatment programs, or other programs with detox and treatment facilities near you. Don’t wait another moment to get help.