Bay Area Opiate Rehab

Opiates are prescription drugs meant to suppress pain. While the intention is to subdue pain, users risk developing an opiate dependency from prolonged use. 

The drug acts on the brain reward system leading to an intense feeling of well-being or pleasure. As the body gets used to the drug, users may increase the dosage to get the desired result. This steady increase in use can lead to addiction or dangerous drug overdose.

Even with full realization of the negative impact of continued use, people may not be able to quit unless they get professional help from rehab centers. However, it can be challenging to know what opiate rehab center is suitable for each person’s specific needs. Therefore, understanding the basics of opiate or opioid addiction and the treatments available is essential. 

Difference Between Opiates and Opioids 

Opiates and opioids can mean the same since they produce similar effects on the body. However, the difference between the two is the extraction or the manufacturing process. Opiates occur naturally as chemical compounds in the poppy plant or opium. 

Opioids, on the other hand, are manufactured in the lab. Opiates and opioids have similar chemical structures, which act on the brain’s reward system. The reward system is also known as the feel-good neurotransmitters. 

Once taken, the drugs produce an instant feeling of well-being that may reduce pain or calm the individual. These effects make opiates an excellent painkiller for accident victims or people with chronic pain. In most cases, opiates are used in the manufacture of prescription drugs. 

Opiate Addiction

Drug addiction is a condition that leads to compulsive or uncontrollable drug-seeking behavior despite the user knowing the negative impact of continued use. Users move from controlled use to dependency, which means they cannot live without the drug.

When used as a prescription drug and taken as directed by a doctor, opiates may not lead to substance use disorder. However, patients who innocently take opiates as a painkiller may eventually develop dependency. This happens when the individual can no longer get relief from the prescribed dosage. As a result, the individual gradually increases the dosage without the advice of a physician. 

In large doses, opiates produce a euphoric and tranquil effect. The exaggerated feeling of well-being leads to destructive patterns of use, which eventually lead to dependency. Individuals who do not seek help immediately give in to uncontrolled use and develop compulsive drug-seeking behavior.

These individuals may hop from one doctor to another to get more and more prescriptions. If the destructive pattern remains unchecked, the individuals graduate to borrowing, buying, or stealing the drug from other patients. Since substitution is possible, the individual finally moves to controlled substances like heroin. 

As the individual gets used to opiates, they increase the risk of an overdose. An overdose leads to health complications, including death. Most health complications become severe when individuals combine opiates with other drugs, such as alcohol. 

Signs of an Opiate Overdose

An overdose of opiates may lead to: 

• Confusion 
• Unconsciousness
• Constricted pupils
• Nausea or Vomiting
• Breathing difficulties
• Sweaty or moist skin
• Inability to stay awake or speak

Some people may seek help after recovering from an overdose, while others go back to misuse to fight guilt. 

Who is at Risk of Addiction  

People who use opiates as a prescription drug risk developing opioid use disorder or overdose. Unfortunately, most people who overdose on opiates or develop dependency are innocent patients whose only mission is to reduce pain. Such patients are encouraged to talk to their doctors when the prescribed opiate dosage no longer helps them reduce pain. 

However, some people may develop dependency after the recreational use of heroin. Heroin is a cheap and readily available opioid. It produces similar effects to prescription opiates making it highly addictive. 

Since opiates are prescription drugs that can be used as recreational drugs, anyone is at risk of developing dependency or overdose. Individuals dealing with addiction to opiates should be encouraged to seek professional health. They should not be victimized or stigmatized.

Is Opiate Addiction Treatable?

While opiate addiction is treatable, it has a high risk of relapse. People with opiate dependency may go back to abusing the drug if they fail to get the required level of support. Treatment can be outpatient or inpatient. However, people struggling with addiction should be encouraged to seek treatment from an inpatient opiate rehab center. 

Why Seek Help from an Inpatient Rehab Center?     

An opiate rehab center that offers inpatient detox and rehabilitation provides the best mode of treatment. Opiate detox may be unpleasant and painful to most people. In addition, withdrawal symptoms and co-occurring conditions lead to further complications. Inpatient treatment facilities provide closer supervision to individuals undergoing the detox process to manage its impact on the client. 

While at the facility, the individuals are monitored by professionals who provide prescription drugs to ease the detox process. The professionals also replace opiate or opioid painkillers with non-narcotic ones. Treatment professionals will use evidence-based therapies to help people recover from opiate addiction. 

To manage withdrawal symptoms, professionals may prescribe methadone and buprenorphine. Methadone and buprenorphine act in the same brain region to suppress opiate cravings. Clients who complete detoxification may also take Naltrexone to block opiate receptors. Under the supervision of the professionals, the client can eliminate the use of opiates and focus on treating their addiction.

Behavioral Therapies 

After detox, rehab centers focus on managing addiction through behavioral change. Behavioral therapies modify the attitude of the individual toward drug use. Clients also get training on coping mechanisms that prevent relapse. Some treatment centers will provide treatment for substance abuse and mental health at the same time. 

Behavioral therapies also help the individual learn healthy life skills that prevent the abuse of other drugs. Finally, talk therapies help the individual develop comprehensive change, including their perspective on drugs and medication. Typically, the person will participate in individual therapy and group therapy while at the treatment facility. 

Our Bay Area Opiate Rehab Center

Wellness Retreat Recovery helps residents of San Jose deal with opiate addiction. At Wellness Retreat Recovery, we provide a comprehensive treatment approach to individuals battling opiate or opioid addiction. Our San Jose opiate rehab center appreciates our client’s desire to overcome opiate dependency in a safe and secure environment. 

We make our clients comfortable throughout the detox and talk therapy sessions to give them hope and power to prevent relapses. 

Contact us to learn about our treatment options and start your recovery journey.