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 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.