If you or someone you love is looking for opiate detox in south Florida, contact us today at 888-995-5265 to learn more about our program, or click here to verify your insurance policy will cover treatment so you can get help today.
Opioids and opiates are a large family of powerful, addictive substances that includes both street drugs and prescription medications. Common examples of these substances include:
- Codeine
- Morphine
- Heroin
- Oxycodone (an active ingredient in medications such as OxyContin and Percocet)
- Hydrocodone (an active ingredient in medications such as Vicodin and Lortab)
- Methadone
- Buprenorphine
- Fentanyl
- Meperidine (Demerol)
Technically, opiates (which only contain chemicals that occur naturally in a plant called the opium poppy) belong to their separate sub-group. However, a growing number of experts now refer to all opium-derived substances as opioids. That’s because, no matter how they get made, all of the drugs and medications in this family have the same basic effects on the brain and body. They also produce the same types of substance abuse problems in addicted individuals.
What Is Detox?
Addiction treatment specialists use the words detoxification and detox to describe the phase of drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs wherein gradual elimination of drugs or alcohol from the bloodstream is facilitated. No one hoping to recover from substance abuse of opiates can avoid going through the detox process. Why? People addicted to opiates have undergone serious, persistent changes in the normal function of their brains and bodies. To make recovery a realistic goal, the negative impact of these changes must be addressed. And the only way to start the process is to wean the brain from its dependence on uncontrolled substance intake. Our detox treatment center in Boynton Beach, FL can help.
When the brain fails to receive its accustomed amount of an opiate drug or medication, withdrawal symptoms will begin to appear in the affected person. In the early stages of detoxification, common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Sleeping difficulties
- Increased output of sweat, tears, and mucus
- Achy muscles
- Increased feelings of anxiety and mental agitation
As the detox treatment program progresses and more and more opiates leave the body, other withdrawal symptoms will set in, including:
- Loose stools
- Cramping in the stomach or abdomen
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pupil dilation
- An intense urge to consume more opiates
Detoxification is complete when the drug or medication in question completely leaves the bloodstream. Many of the symptoms of withdrawal also end at this time. However, some longer-term withdrawal symptoms can only be addressed through follow-up participation in addiction treatment services.
Continued addiction treatment is also required for long-term sobriety. Drug rehab centers in Boynton Beach FL offer behavioral therapy and other treatment recovery programs. Recovering addicts can choose between an intensive outpatient program or outpatient treatment programs for their continuum of care.
The Importance of Medically Supervised Detox
Why would you need to look for treatment centers in Boynton Beach, FL when you can quit opiates alone?
Some people attempt to beat opiate addiction by going “cold turkey” and halting their drug or medication use on their own. However, for several reasons, this is a mistake that can lead to potentially severe consequences. These are all the reasons why seeking an addiction treatment program is a must.
First, the course of opiate detoxification varies from person to person. While most individuals don’t develop serious complications while going through withdrawal, the potential for problems of unsupervised drug or alcohol detox cannot be eliminated. If complications occur in a person not under a doctor’s care, they can spiral out of control and produce damaging mental and physical effects.
People who attempt opiate detox on their own also have higher chances of relapsing and returning to active opiate consumption and even going through worse drug abuse cases. That’s true, in part, because anyone detoxing without professional substance abuse treatment can find it difficult or impossible to withstand the highly unpleasant effects of withdrawal. It’s also true because cravings for opiate use often reach an extreme level during the detoxification process.
Finally, people who try to quit opiates on their increase their chances of overdosing if a relapse occurs. The reason? As opiate detox services progress, the built-up tolerance to the effects of opiate drugs and medications starts to disappear. Users in the later stages of detoxification who return to substance use may find that a level of consumption they were accustomed to in the past may now overwhelm their systems with potentially fatal consequences.
Medically supervised detoxification programs in Boynton Beach, FL focus on each of these three areas of concern. By providing constant monitoring and oversight, they make it possible to catch withdrawal complications early and prevent the onset of major problems. By helping patients cope with cravings and other common withdrawal symptoms, they reduce the odds that a relapse will take place. In turn, a decline in relapse risks leads to reduced odds of experiencing a fatal or non-fatal overdose.
Summit Detox’s Opiate Program
At Summit Detox, our opiate detox in Boynton Beach, FL is based on the most up-to-date guidelines for safe and effective detoxification. These guidelines break the process down into three phases:
- A thorough, individualized evaluation of each new patient
- Physical and emotional/psychological stabilization designed to maximize the potential for positive detox results
- Preparation for follow-up participation in an appropriate inpatient or outpatient opiate treatment program
Our staff of medical experts and detoxification specialists in Boynton Beach, FL will create a detailed, personalized plan of action for you or your loved one. In addition to round-the-clock monitoring, core elements of our plans include physical and psychotherapeutic support while detox proceeds and opiate substances leave your system. You may also receive medications designed to ease the effects of opiate withdrawal. Factors we take into account in all cases include:
- The specific type of opiate associated with your addiction
- The amount of time addiction has been present
- Your current overall state of physical health
- Your current overall state of mental health
Our goal is an effective treatment that establishes the basis for successful, ongoing opiate addiction recovery. Contact our detox center in Boynton Beach, FL today at (888) 995-5265 or through our contact form.
Summit Detox provides services at our Boynton Beach, FL location and for residents in the surrounding cities of Pompano Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Greenacres, and Wellington.
