Opioids are potent, narcotic substances based on chemicals found in poppy plants. Sometimes, these substances take the form of legitimately produced medications. At other times, they take the form of illegitimately produced medications and street drugs. Opioids in both of these categories are widely misused across America. As a result, opioid addiction is one of the nation’s top substance problems. Help for this form of addiction is available in an opioid rehab program.
Do you or someone you love need opioid rehab? Seek help from the experts at The Right Step. We specialize in the treatment of all forms of opioid addiction. Whether you’re recovering from the use of medication or street drugs, you’ll find everything you need to regain your sobriety.
How Opioids Impact Your Brain and Body
Chemically, opioids resemble endorphins, your body’s built-in painkillers and stress relievers. In fact, the resemblance is close enough that opioids can access your brain in the same manner as endorphins. However, once inside your brain, opioids have a decidedly different effect on you.
First, they significantly slow down your normal nerve activity. They also produce a far greater degree of pain relief than endorphins. Crucially, opioids also produce a more intense form of pleasure than endorphins.
If you use an opioid long enough, you can become physically dependent. If your intake is excessive, you may also become psychologically or emotionally dependent. Eventually, you may develop an overwhelming urge to acquire and take more of a given opioid. You may also stop caring about the damaging consequences of fulfilling this urge. Once you’ve reached that state, clinical addiction is almost certainly present.
Detoxing From Opioids While in Rehab
Recovery from clinical opioid addiction requires a period of detoxification. The detox services you receive in rehab have multiple goals, including:
- Assessing your overall health
- Determining how heavily you’re affected by addiction
- Providing an opioid-free setting where you can stop using drugs or medication
- Protecting your well-being as you withdraw from opioids
- Decreasing the intensity of opioid withdrawal to make it more bearable
Short-term doses of opioid replacement medication are often key to successful withdrawal. This medication helps you withdraw more gradually. At the same time, it lowers the overall difficulty of the withdrawal process. Crucially, the replacement medication you receive will not make you feel intoxicated. As a result, it does not create its own addiction risks. You may receive an additional opioid-blocking medication when withdrawal is complete.
Active Opioid Recovery
The next step in an opioid rehab program is active recovery. This is the stage where you learn to create an opioid-free daily routine. Treatments used to support your efforts include:
- Opioid or non-opioid medication
- Psychotherapy
- Nutritional support
- Fitness programs
- Mindfulness practices such as yoga or meditation
These treatments are combined into a coordinated recovery plan. In turn, each plan is fully customized. Options are chosen to meet your specific needs. Over time, they may change as you make progress toward your goals. That way, you always gain the greatest possible benefit from your opioid rehab services.
Seek Help From The Right Step’s Opioid Rehab Program
Want to know more about how opioid rehab can help you break the grip of addiction? Consult the experts at The Right Step. We’ll be glad to provide further information on opioid detox and treatment.
Every day, The Right Step relies on customized care to support opioid recovery. This care takes the severity of your substance problems into account. It also takes in other crucial details of your situation. This way, we provide you with the greatest possible rehab support. Call us today at 17135283709 or complete our online form to learn more.