Finding Similarities Between Wellness and Life
Detox for Painkiller Addiction
Drug detoxification is the rehabilitation of a drug addict. When a drug addict wants to undergo the rehabilitation process, he or she needs to go through three main stages, these include, evaluation stage, stabilization stage and guiding a patient into treatment. The main activities that occur in the evaluation stage includes testing the patient to see the specific substances that are presently circulating in their bloodstream and the amount as well as looking for potential co-occurring disorders, dual diagnosis, and mental/behavioral issues. In the stabilization stage, the patient gets to know what to expect during the treatment process; however, the use of medication is optional. In the last stage, the patient is guided through the treatment process.
Essentially, most people use painkillers to manage pain since the medicines exhibit activity throughout the brain’s pleasure centers. The interaction of the painkillers with opioid receptors in the brain results in a down-modification of the sensations of pain makes the painkillers to have the ability to reduce pain. Study shows that the use of painkillers has increased over the last decade, and the number is continuing to increase. It is recommended for people who are addicted to painkillers to seek immediate treatment options. The withdrawal process from using painkillers can be challenging; therefore one needs to be prepared to face the challenges. Once one has become an addict; they may feel the need to use the drug every time to feel better. Painkillers addicts are mostly faced with withdrawal syndrome which makes them hard to stop using the drug. The effects of withdrawal syndrome mainly depends on the frequency of use of the drug and the person using it.
The signs and symptoms of painkiller withdrawal syndrome manifest in two main stages, these include the early stage and the late onset stage. Insomnia, yawning, muscle aches, agitation, anxiety, and sweating are some of the early signs and symptoms of painkiller withdrawal. On the other hand, the late withdrawal signs include vomiting, nausea, dilated pupils, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping.
Medics do recommend the use of the following medicines in the painkiller detoxification process, these include Naloxone, Naltrexone , Buprenorphine , and Methadone. Both methadone and buprenorphine are vital since they activates the brain’s opioid receptors.
On the other hand, patients can choose to undergo behavioral therapy which is mainly administered in group therapy, individual therapy and family therapy. However, the therapy will vary depending on the treatment center philosophy, patients preference and the treatment center type.