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Opiate Drug Rehab

Opiate drug rehab is for those looking for recovery from addictions to heroin and prescription pain killers like Vicodin, Norco, OxyContin, Percoset, and Dilaudid. Opiates, especially heroin, are extremely addictive and carry a surprisingly high relapse rate among addicts. When opiate addicts go through drug rehab, there is not only a sightly more complex treatment process, but they are also offered a variety of options for recovery from opiate addiction that is not generally present with other substances of abuse.

Opiate Detoxification

The first step to opiate drug rehab is detox. Because of the severe physical dependence created by heroin and other opiate addiction, medical detoxification is a necessary first step. The body must be free of opiates prior to beginning the counseling and therapy included in drug rehab. Opiate detox needs to be medically monitored because of the severe withdrawal symptoms experienced when opiates are removed from the system. Generally, opiate withdrawal symptoms include high fever, sweating, vomiting, muscle spasms, and diarrhea. These symptoms are extremely uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Although death is very rare in opiate withdrawal, the symptoms are severe enough to require medical attention to ensure a safe and complication free detoxification from opiates.

Opiate Drug Rehab Therapy

The second step in opiate drug rehab is the rehab itself, complete with group and individual therapy and counseling. The kind of therapy and counseling in drug rehab for opiate addicts and virtually the same as it is for any other addict. The goal of drug rehab is the same for all substances; to provide the tools necessary for sustained sobriety after rehab has been completed. Although drug rehab can last anytime from 30 days to over a year. In the addiction treatment field, it is generally recommended that heroin addicts attend rehab for longer than 30 days, mostly because of the high relapse rate associated with it. Unfortunately, even after multiple stays in drug rehab, heroin addicts have a very high relapse rate, perhaps because of it's overwhelmingly addictive lure. While in drug rehab, opiate addicts learn the tools needed to cope with everyday responsibility and stress and stay away from people, places, and things that can trigger relapse. Through counseling and therapy, a 30 day or year long opiate drug rehab program can be a powerful tool in the fight for recovery.

Opiate Drug Rehab Treatment

For some opiate addicts, drug rehab is not just going to treatment, getting clean and leaving for a drug free life. While this is the main goal of rehab centers worldwide, the fact is that many opiate addicts need more than counseling and therapy to have a successful experience and recovery. One successful treatment for opiate addicts in rehab is methadone maintenance. This maintenance can be for many different reasons, but most commonly for addicts who have chronic pain and for those who have experienced chronic relapse. It has been argued that prolonged opiate use can cause severe brain deficiencies in it's abilities to naturally produce endorphins(or pleasure chemicals in the brain) without the presence of opiates. This can feel like severe depression and lead to a complete lack of energy and motivation in some people, and for these specific cases, methadone maintenance can be considered by the staff at a drug rehab center. The only way to be on methadone maintenance outside of drug rehab is to get methadone from one of several clinics set up in every city for a pre-approved dosage on a daily basis. Another treatment methodology for opiate addicts in drug rehab is Naltrexone, a synthetic opiate inhibitor that causes immediate withdrawal when opiates are present in the system and has none of the euphoric qualities of opiates. This is a viable treatment plan for opiate addicts who have experienced chronic relapse to discourage further use because of the unwanted symptoms of withdrawal after drug rehab.

As with any kind of drug treatment, opiate drug rehab requires complete dedication and commitment on behalf of the addict for success in the rehabilitation program and in life after treatment to maintain sobriety.