Opiates are among the oldest substances people use to treat pain. Often used hand-in-hand with “opioids,” people often refer to opiates as a term that refers to all drugs and medications with ingredients from the opium poppy. Heroin is an opiate due to its roots in this plant, as are many other early painkillers, including morphine. Unfortunately, these drugs are so powerful that many people who take them often become addicted after only a handful of uses. The sedative effects provide immense relief from pain and bind to receptors throughout the body to provide euphoric feelings.
Breaking an addiction to these drugs without an opiate detox center can be difficult, even dangerous. Intense mental and physical withdrawal symptoms can be so uncomfortable that they cause relapse or can be life-threatening. Thankfully, drug detox in Los Angeles, like the detox programs at California Centers for Recovery, offers a luxurious space in which to stop using opiates and receive support on the road to a healthier future.
Common Drugs Causing Opiate Addiction
While heroin is the most well-known opiate, it’s not the only one that can cause addiction. These drugs all come from opium or are synthetically created to mimic its effects:
- Morphine
- Codeine
- Fentanyl
- Oxycodone (OxyContin)
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- Hydromorphone
- Meperidine
Doctors often prescribe these drugs to patients after surgery or to those suffering from chronic pain. While they are meant to help, the risk of developing an addiction is high. In fact, nearly 80% of people who use heroin first misused prescription opiates.
The Risks of Opiate Addiction
Opiate addiction is a severe problem in the United States. In 2021, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) released a report showing that approximately 2.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from an opiate use disorder. This number has quadrupled since 1999, with no signs of slowing down.
Of those suffering from an addiction to opiates, many people overdose each year. In fact, in 2020, the CDC reported over 81,000 overdose deaths in the U.S., nearly half of those attributed to opioids.
Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is largely to blame for the dramatic increase in overdoses. This drug is 50-100 times more potent than morphine and 30-50 times more potent than heroin. Just a few grains can be deadly, which is why many people who use fentanyl don’t even know they’re taking it.
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Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms
One of the main reasons people struggle to break an addiction to opiates is withdrawal symptoms. These can be so severe that they are debilitating, making it nearly impossible to quit without professional help.
Withdrawal symptoms usually start within a few hours of the last dose and peak around day three. They can include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Agitation
- Muscle aches and pains
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramping
- Insomnia
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
These symptoms can also be life-threatening due to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and other health complications.
How an Opiate Detox Program Can Help
The first step in overcoming an addiction to opiates is detox. This process can be difficult and uncomfortable, so finding a safe and comfortable space to detox is crucial.
An opiate detox center provides 24/7 medical supervision to help with withdrawal symptoms and ensure the detox process is as safe and comfortable as possible. The California Centers for Recovery team is specially trained in opiate detox and will work with you to create a personalized care plan.
Detox is just the first step in recovery, but it’s an important one. After completing a detox program, you’ll be ready to start working on your recovery and building a healthy future.
A Luxury Opiate Detox Center in Los Angeles, CA
If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction to opiates, detox can be a difficult and dangerous process. But at California Centers for Recovery, we offer a luxurious space to detox and begin your journey to recovery.
Our team of experts is specially trained in opiate detox and will work with you to create a personalized care plan. We offer around-the-clock medical supervision to help with any withdrawal symptoms and to make sure the detox process is as safe and comfortable as possible.
Verify your insurance now to find out if the first step of your recovery could be at no cost to you. Start the journey to a happier, healthier future. Contact us at 877.328.5682 today to learn more or get started.
