Rehab Options for Opium Use

Opium is often used recreationally and causes euphoria in high doses. It can be smoked, ingested as a pill, or injected. Many people become addicted to opioids, or semi-synthetic opiate drugs, everyday, but opium itself can be highly addictive and detrimental, especially if a person abuses it for a long amount of time. Here are some rehab options for opium use.

Side Effects of Opium Use

The DOJ states that “an opium ‘high’ is very similar to a heroin ‘high'” where users experience euphoria, “followed by relaxation and the relief of physical pain.” But opium use also causes these effects and risks:

There are both inpatient and outpatient facilities that can help you overcome opium addiction.

• Physical dependence
• Psychological dependence
• Addiction
• Constipation
• Dry mouth and mucous membranes
• Withdrawal symptoms (muscle pain, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, vomiting)
• Overdose
• Anxiety
• Drug-seeking and other risky behaviors

With all of these effects, opium use can be very hard to stop. Rehab is essential to recovery in many cases, as opium causes such strong physical and psychological dependence.

Types of Rehab Centers

There are several different types of rehab centers. If you are looking for help in order to stop using opium, choose the treatment facility that is best for you:

• Inpatient Centers
  Inpatient centers keep the patient in a controlled environment, usually for at least 3 months, sometimes longer. Patients have access to medically-assisted detox, counseling sessions (both group and one-on-one), and 24-hour care. These facilities are especially beneficial to someone who has been dealing with a severe addiction and is afraid of relapsing before the detox can be fully completed. Patients who need constant care and the chance to be away from the stressors of daily life would benefit from an inpatient center.
• Outpatient Centers
  Outpatient centers offer many of the same treatments as inpatient centers. The difference is that patients do not stay overnight and usually visit the facility daily while working through the beginning of their recoveries. They often receive medication for their withdrawal symptoms, access to physicians, and counseling sessions with other recovering patients.
• Private Inpatient Facilities
  These facilities, while usually very expensive, are great for patients who do not want others to know their whereabouts. Many people feel more comfortable knowing that their privacies are very secure and are willing to pay for more private and upscale facilities. These rehab centers often have classes which offer other methods of rehab aside from medication and therapy. These can include anything from nature therapy and arts and crafts to tai chi and acupuncture.

Methadone Treatment

Working through opium addiction can be a long process, and many people find that methadone treatment is a good solution for them. Since the 1970s, methadone has been used to treat opioid medication and drug addiction (CDC). In this treatment, patients receive small doses of methadone for as long as they need it. This method is incredibly beneficial to people who have tried other methods and have succumbed to relapse as it “relieves the craving for opiates that is a major factor in relapse.”

When it comes to your recovery from opium use, the most important question is: does it work for you? Each person seeking rehab must choose the treatment that is right for him or her to ensure the best results.