Posts Tagged ‘opiate detox’

Drug Deaths Now Outdistances Alcohol and Gun Related Mortalities

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

n a recent report by the Dept of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug related deaths are now more common than either alcohol or firearms related fatalities. The majority of deaths are unintentional drug poisoning deaths, with suicidal drug poisoning and drug poisoning of undetermined intent comprising the majority of the remainder. According to the report, in the U.S., 38,371 deaths were drug abuse related. A drug includes illicit or street drugs (such as heroin or cocaine), as well as legal prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs, alcohol is not included.

Report Highlights
The number of male victims far exceeded females by nearly 2 to 1.
For males, the highest rates were among non-Hispanic blacks or non-Hispanic whites each year.
Drug-induced mortality rate increases were greatest for non-Hispanic whites.
Asians and Pacific Islanders had markedly lower rates than all other groups.
For females, the highest rates were among American Indians and Alaskan Natives, for every year.
The studies of primarily white populations report that drug related overdose death rates are highest among low-income persons.

Trends
According to the report, during the ‘80s and ‘90s, the majority of drug-induced deaths were attributable to illicit drugs (e.g., heroin and cocaine), drug-induced mortality rates were higher among blacks than whites.

This change occurred as prescription drugs, especially prescription opioid painkillers and psycho-therapeutic drugs, were prescribed more widely by physicians. Prescribed drugs eventually supplanted illicit drugs as the leading cause of drug related overdose deaths.

Conclusions
The report concluded that physicians should follow existing guidelines for cautious use of prescription drugs that tend to be misused by patients. Regulations designed to prevent illicit use of prescription drugs need to be strengthened and enforced. Persons who misuse prescription drugs should be identified and receive a referral for substance abuse treatment.

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Residential Opiate Detox Centers

Monday, December 27th, 2010

Living in a residential opiate detox center may be the only option that someone that is addicted to this drug has to be truly sober. These facilities are designed to stabilize a person who is addicted to opiates and give them the life skills needed in order to be free from drugs for their lifetime.

Being drug free can be a very difficult task to overcome especially for someone who has been addicted to them for a very long time. In most cases these types of facilities will offer two kinds of care. Care for those who are trying to remove themselves from a drug, and care for those who have already completed a program with success but still need a little help maintaining their drug free lifestyle.

There are also two ways in which one can begin to remove themselves from opiates. Medical treatment is one option and the other option is simply to quit cold turkey. Being able to just quit cold turkey comes with some consequences such as being very sick, this is why a treatment facility may be an important step in being fully drug free.

Choosing to use medicine to help alleviate some of the effects of being taken off of drugs is always an option. One way to begin a program that will help you be drug free is to start using methadone. This methadone must be given to you by a physician and in most care facilities is given on a daily basis by a doctor. This medicine will help decrease the side effects that come along with a detoxification program. Some of the side effects are shaking, and actually craving the drug. This medicine is given to the patient daily and with each successful use is withdrawn by milligrams until it is no longer needed.

Cold turkey is also an option however being in a facility is almost a must if this is the choice being made. Cold turkey can be very painful because the body will crave the drug and go through many symptoms that are uncomfortable. It is important to be around medical personnel who can be supportive or can take medical action immediately if needed.

Being addicted to opiates is a terrible way to spend life and almost everyone who is addicted would like to have a normal life again. In many instances living this normal life again means completing a treatment program that will be supportive even after completion.

Being afraid of what life will be like after the drugs are gone is also a concern for some addicts. Some are also afraid of what is going to happen to their bodies when going through the withdraw symptoms.

Do not let fear ruin the chances of being drug free. Continuing to use opiates such as heroin, Oxycontin as well as other pain killers can lead to severe brain damage as well as overdose and death. These treatment facilities are wonderful places that are trained to deal with and support those who are willing to help themselves be drug free.

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Opiate Detox, Frequently Asked Questions

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

What is a opiate detox? It is simply a detoxification process that allows people who are addicted to opiates to withdraw from these harmful substances. Opiate medications can be abused by any person easily, and once you are a victim of substance abuse, you should get medical help as soon as possible. Dependence on these drugs is a very serious issue and should not be taken lightly.

In opiate detox, the patient is being placed under the supervision of medical professionals. They say this is the safest way to recovery.

Is a painless opiate detoxification really without pain?

Almost all patients who have undergone this treatment experienced no discomfort at all. They have undergone a smooth transition from complete dependence from opiates to no opiates at all. Some may attest to feelings of pain, nausea, and vomiting, but these symptoms are relative and it really depends upon the person’s body.

What should I feel during the eight-hour treatment and after the treatment is over?

Patients don’t feel any pain. Recovery is very fast. After opiate detoxification, clients are allowed to eat normally. When it’s time to sleep at night, certain medications are usually prescribed to help  sleep well.

What are the expected happenings a day after?

Your body will still be in the process of cleaning itself completely to make it opiate-free. But it will be the start of your life where there are no opiates to be found in the system. You will be drug-free and you can start a new, healthy life.

Whenever you feel nauseous or if there are uncomfortable feelings that you encounter, do not hesitate to contact your doctor immediately.

Will there be an difficulties that I will be experiencing after treatment?

The most common are the manifestations of the symptoms you once tried to hide with opiates. For instance, toothache, depression, and certain psychological disorders may begin to appear. There may also be psychological symptoms that can be linked with withdrawal such as irritability and drug cravings.

Where should I get opiate detoxification done?

Before deciding to do the opiate detox process, you should consult a doctor first. If the doctor gives a go signal, you can then proceed to finding the best facility for you. Do not forget to do some research about the center you are about to choose. It is extremely important they have qualified medical professionals who can help you throughout the process. Always find one that fits your budget. Opiate detox doesn’t have to be expensive as long as you are under the best care.

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Finally a Better Way to Detox off Opiates

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

There was a time when the only you could safely and medically detox off opiates was inside a medical facility. Thankfully, things have changed. Thanks to a new wonder drug called Suboxone, a person who needs to get off of their pain medication can do so, without all the hassles of checking themselves into a hospital. Now there are licensed doctors who will help you get off of Oxycontin, hydrocodone, percocet, vicodin, methadone, heroin and and all the rest, on an outpatient basis. A few trips to the doctor’s office and it’s done.

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