Opioid detox is not something you want to try alone. Often when a prescription for pain relievers runs out, someone who has become dependent on opioids to function cannot get what their body needs. Withdrawal symptoms can be overwhelming. As the body screams for more, it summons the brain to go find more, whatever the cost.
Generally speaking, most family and friends do not understand the extreme intensity of these withdrawal symptoms, as they have nothing to go by, so they do not know what the person is going through.
The dependent person at this point tries to self-medicate. But finding a replacement to ease withdrawal symptoms can be difficult, especially now that government regulators have cracked down on opioid prescription misuse. Without a source of opioids, a dependent person may take to the streets to find illicit replacements. This is one of the reasons why heroin use is on the rise again in the United States (citation: 1).
Another replacement could be fentanyl, which can be bought illegally online (cite: 2). Fentanyl is the active ingredient in some of the most powerful prescription pain relievers available. The problem is that the person does not know exactly what he is receiving or in what concentration. Taking more than the person is used to can cause more dependency, and too much could cause death from an overdose.
This above scenario is very common. What starts out as a prescription for painkillers for a real health or medical problem turns into a living nightmare, often ruining their lives. We all agree that this is terrible, totally unacceptable and should never have happened. Of course, blaming now does not solve the problem for all those who have become dependent and addicted to opioids (cite: 3).
What is the solution to the problem of detoxifying opioids?
Well, in the scenario above we see that simply ending a dependent person’s prescription painkiller often doesn’t end well. By the time a person addicted to opioids arrives at a legitimate rehab facility, the situation is often more intricate and complicated as the mix of prescription and illicit drugs, amounts and concentrations, and health status progresses. impaired person.
For a successful detox program to work at this point, everything must be taken into account and each individual will need a personalized treatment strategy (cite: 4). One-size-fits-all programs will not work and will only lead to relapse, which means more pain, more health problems, and more personal financial stress, often to the point of no return. There is no chance for the individual to get his life back from her.
time is critical
The longer one waits to enter treatment, the more damage will be done to their body and mind, and the more difficult it will be to successfully treat the dependency. Long-term brain and nerve damage can occur, and opioid drug use affects internal organs. Add in the use of illicit drugs and the lifestyle of someone who is depressed or out on the streets and there comes a point where even after successful treatment you will never be the same again. The sooner dependency treatment begins, the better for all concerned. Therefore, time is of the essence. No one should become a ‘throwaway’ person (quote: 5).
References:
1.) “Substance Use Self-Medication Hypothesis: Testing the Updated Khantzian Theory,” by Danny H. Hall and John E. Queener, published in Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, pages 151-158, September 8, 2011.
2.) “Detection of Illicit Online Sales of Fentanyls via Twitter,” Tim K. Mackey and Janani Kalyanam, Version 1. F1000Res. 2017; 6:1937. Published online 2 Nov 2017. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.12914.1
3.) “The Physician’s Dilemma: Opioid Analgesics and Chronic Pain,” by Howard L. Fields, published in Neuron.
4.) “Precision in Addiction Care: Does it Make a Difference?” by Jaap van der Stel, PhD, published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine.
5.) “The Neurobiology of Opioid Dependence: Implications for Treatment,” by Thomas R. Kosten, MD and Tony P. George, MD, published in the Journal of the National Institute on Drug Abuse on Science and Practice Perspectives . 2002;1(1):13-20. doi:10.1151/spp021113