In the United States, opiates are among the most addictive drugs. Millions of prescriptions are written every year for people experiencing mild to chronic pain. Opioid abuse is a serious issue that claims the lives of Southern Californians every day. The economic burden is also staggering, costing the country billions of dollars every year.

Due to decades of overprescribing, California is at the forefront of the opioid epidemic. From 2021 to the present, more than 100,000 Californians lost their lives to drug overdoses.

This further proves that a strong desire to use drugs is not nearly as dangerous as developing an addiction. To successfully recover from prescription drug addiction and avoid the possibility of a fatal drug overdose, it’s in a person’s best interest to get professional help at a treatment center that provides comprehensive treatment programs.

Finding a rehab facility that can offer these services is the best way to reduce the chance of a fatal overdose. 449 Recovery’s opiate addiction treatment center in Mission Viejo, California can help.

Due to their extremely relaxing effects, prescription drugs, or painkillers, are professionally used to treat mild to severe pain in patients. Due to their potency and ability to work effectively, extremely high rates of prescription drug abuse commonly occur, which in many cases can result in addiction.

opiate-addiction-treatment-center

Opiates vs Opioids

Natural opioids like heroin, morphine, and codeine are referred to as opiates. All partially synthesized and synthetic opioids are referred to as opioids. Both types of medications are considered “narcotics”. (The term “narcotic” merely refers to substances that cause drowsiness or numbness (from the Medieval Latin narcoticus, from the Greek narkoun “to benumb.”)

The terms opiates and opioids are frequently used and often used interchangeably. However, it’s important to know the difference between the two so that the signs of addiction can be recognized before it’s too late.

Opiates are chemical compounds that are extracted or refined from opium, a material that naturally occurs in poppy seeds and plants. They differ chemically from stimulants and sedatives in a significant way.

Opioids are chemical substances that are typically not produced from actual plant material. A synthetic or partially synthetic drug is an opioid. The majority of opioids are “produced chemically in a lab.” Despite using components from the opium plant in its production, heroin is considered a synthetic opioid since it’s a manufactured substance.

There are over 500 unique opioid compounds that have been developed by the pharmaceutical industry. Some are frequently used in medicine, while others are not. Examples of commonly prescribed and abused opioids in the United States include:

  • Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet)
  • Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
  • Methadone (Dolophine)
  • Fentanyl
  • Morphine
  • Codeine

Signs and Symptoms of Opioid Addiction

There are many signs and symptoms that a person may be experiencing dependency or addiction to opioids. Some of these include:

  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Constipation
  • Narrowed pupils
  • A lack of cooperation
  • Reduced pain perception
  • Irritability, sleepiness, or sedation
  • Speech slurring Issues with focus and memory
  • Taking more than the recommended dosage, against the doctor’s recommendations
  • Borrowing prescription drugs from others or “losing” them, resulting in the need for new prescriptions
  • Not paying attention to or being unaware of the surroundings’ persons and objects
  • Requesting the same prescription frequently from whoever can prescribe it
  • Taking medications while not experiencing pain, “just in case”
  • Alterations in sleeping habits
  • Extreme mood swings
  • Nose bleeds or sores
  • Changes in appetite
  • Lying/stealing

Contact 449 Recovery Today!

Find The Help You Need By Reaching Out To Us Today!

The Benefits of An Opiate Addiction Treatment Center

Entering a facility for the treatment of opioid addiction is a major life decision. An opiate addiction treatment center’s level of support makes the enormous task of going through detox and transitioning to a life without drugs or alcohol easier.

Even though it doesn’t often seem like it, you can overcome your opiate addiction. However, recovering requires more than just willpower. Why not give yourself the best chance to succeed when you are prepared to alter your life?

You can get the continuing support, expert assistance, and medical care you require at an opioid addiction treatment facility to break the cycle of addiction and regain your life. Take into account these advantages of opioid addiction treatment:

The first step in treatment at 449 Recovery in Orange County, CA is medical detox. During this process, a person will experience the total removal of addictive substances from the body. In a safe and professional environment, individuals suffering from addiction can be spared. Many of the painful physical and psychological side effects of withdrawal are more likely to prevent the probability of relapse, especially during the early stages of recovery.

Detoxification is the process that prepares someone to be admitted into their treatment program. It is important to disclaim that detox isn’t a substitute for treatment. Optimal results have proven to occur when people have gone through all the stages of treatment, including detox, residential, and outpatient treatment programs. Medical detox during addiction treatment has various benefits, including:

  • Completely rids the body of harmful, addictive chemicals, enabling patients to concentrate on the psychological and emotional aspects of rehabilitation.
  • The process prepares residents for rehab.
  • The severity of withdrawal symptoms is lessened.
  • Residents claim that, under medical supervision, detox provides them with the calm, focus, and mental clarity they require to continue their rehabilitation.
  • Helps to prevent the high probability of relapse.
  • Rehab is more likely to be successful once the body is toxin-free.

During the detox process, the staff at 449 Recovery’s opiate detox center closely monitors individuals to make sure that they are as secure and comfortable as possible. Most significantly, you’ll have a fresh outlook on life without the use of opiates obscuring your judgment.

Opioid Withdrawal

A person who is dependent or addicted to a specific prescription drug, whether purchased legally or illegally, may discover that switching to a different opiate or opioid helps them sustain their dependency or addiction.

Self-detoxing is not recommended as major physical and psychological complications commonly occur without proper medical supervision. Pausing any type of drug use for however long can cause mild to severe withdrawal symptoms, such as fever, shakes, chills, vomiting, etc.

The harsh reality is that when addiction is left undiagnosed and untreated, it can result in comas, physical and psychological health consequences, and fatalities. Luckily, there are help and resources available at our opiate addiction treatment center.

Opioid detox is challenging no matter what. People who have undergone detoxification more than once or those who require treatment for other mental health issues or physical disorders may find it to be significantly tougher. Opioid withdrawal is not just uncomfortable; it can even be harmful. There is a range of withdrawal symptoms, including:

  • Fever
  • Sweats
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Achy muscles
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Chills/shaking/tremors
  • Urges to use substances
  • High blood pressure
  • Agitation/anger
  • Cravings
  • Diarrhea

People can receive the medical care necessary to get through detox as comfortably as possible at an opioid rehab facility. You’ll be able to concentrate better on healing without distractions.

Many patients who seek treatment for opioid addiction also have undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues. Nearly 9 million Americans are thought to experience co-occurring disorders.

Addiction may develop for some people as a result of an attempt to self-medicate to cope with or manage their symptoms of addiction and mental illness. Being at an opioid rehab clinic with access to mental health professionals will help address any co-occurring illnesses or health issues.

Recovering addicts must avoid the people, places, and things that make them want to use opioids to maintain their sobriety. When individuals are emotionally vulnerable and unsure about their capacity to recover, it can be particularly challenging.

Even though it’s impossible to eliminate triggers from your life, starting your recovery in a secure, controlled atmosphere will provide you with a strong foundation to build on.

Professional assistance is a vital component of addiction recovery, but after leaving treatment, people require support and a continuum of care to maintain sobriety.

You will meet people who are going through the same thing as you in opioid addiction treatment, and they will have a profound understanding of your difficulties. A significant step toward self-growth is learning how to communicate openly and take part in peer groups, such as 12-step programs.

Most of the peers you meet throughout rehab end up making up the backbone of your clean friend group, which will support you for years to come.

opiate-addiction-treatment

Start Your Journey to Recovery Today at Our Opiate Addiction Treatment Center

At 449 Recovery, we understand that the desire to stop abusing opiates is only the first step in recovery.

However, having a compassionate, non-judgmental team such as ours to help you navigate through the beginning stages of your new life without opiates can make a major difference in the success of maintaining long-term sobriety.

We have years of expertise helping people just like you struggling with an addiction to opioids. If you or someone you know is battling drug abuse, contact our admissions team right away to learn more about our opiate addiction treatment program and the other helpful resources that we offer. Don’t put off ending your addiction any longer!