For someone struggling with opiate abuse, detox withdrawal poses the biggest obstacle to stopping drug use. For some people, withdrawal severity can be so overwhelming that it’s all but impossible to maintain abstinence for very long, while others may be able to tough it out when withdrawal severity is minimal.
Types of withdrawal symptoms commonly experienced include:
- Body aches
- Nausea/vomiting
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Bouts of anxiety
- Confusion
Having the needed treatment supports in place offers the single best chance of making it through the detox withdrawal stage. If you’re considering withdrawal from opiates, knowing when to seek out professional treatment help can save you much time and frustration in the long run.
Call our toll-free helpline at 877-743-0081 (Who Answers?) for information on opiate detox treatment programs.
Opiate Dependence vs. Opiate Addiction
The degree of withdrawal discomfort a person experiences tends to correspond with the severity of his or her drug problem. While the terms “opiate dependence” and “opiate addiction” are often used interchangeably, they actually represent two different stages of the drug abuse cycle.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opiate dependence occurs when the brain’s chemical system becomes dependent on opiate effects to function normally. When this happens, a person starts to experience episodes of withdrawal from opiates when the brain requires more of the drug.
Opiate addicts with depression symptoms should seek professional detox.
Opiate addiction develops out of the chemical imbalances that opiate dependence leaves behind. Someone struggling with a full-blown addiction has reached the point where the mind believes it needs the drug’s effects in order to cope with everyday life.
In effect, someone who’s addicted to opiates stands to experience a more severe withdrawal stage than someone who’s dealing with physical dependence, and so will likely require some form of professional treatment help.
Signs to Watch For
Symptom Severity
When abusing opiates, each successive drug dose impairs the brain’s ability to produce neurotransmitter chemicals on its own while also causing structural damage to chemical-producing cells. With chronic or long-term opiate abuse, widespread damage to cells produces long-term effects in terms of warping the brain’s overall chemical system.
Under these conditions, the severity of withdrawal symptoms becomes too much for a person to handle on his or her own.
Drug Cravings
If you’re experiencing drug cravings on an ongoing basis, this is a good indication that a full-blown addiction is at work. Drug cravings develop out of damage done to the brain’s reward system, which determines what types of things motivate you, and ultimately directs your emotions and behaviors.
In effect, a person has reached the point where he or she “needs” the drug to cope with daily life responsibilities. Someone in this condition will likely require some form of treatment help as withdrawal from opiates will be extremely difficult to bear.
Emotional Problems
According to John Hopkins School of Public Health, the brain chemical imbalances left behind by opiate abuse create an environment where mental health problems can easily take root. After so many bouts of depression and anxiety brought on by withdrawal , a person’s emotional health eventual declines in response to the damaging effects of the drug.
If you’re experiencing ongoing feelings of depression and/or anxiety, withdrawal from opiates will only make these symptoms worse, so it’s best to seek out some form of detox treatment help.
Please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline at 877-743-0081 (Who Answers?) if you need help finding a detox treatment program.
Opiate Addiction: The Darker Side of Pain Control -
With stricter regulations on controlling pain medications, doctors and addiction specialists are now seeing a disturbing trend. People with chronic pain are turning to illegal and dangerous means and substances to alleviate their legitimate illnesses. What the Evidence Suggests According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a review of 67 separate studies shows that ... 
5 Signs You Need Opium Addiction Treatment -
1. Your Work and School Performance are Suffering. When someone becomes addicted to a drug, it will be all they want to do and all they care about. Many times, addiction to opium can make a person feel that their responsibilities like work and school are not as important. According to the DOI, “The apathy ... 
Understanding What The Withdrawal Symptoms From Opiates Signify -
As pain-relieving agents, opiates offer the most effective means for symptom relief. As recreational drugs, opiates pose a high risk for abuse and addiction. Anyone taking opiates on a regular basis may want to consider withdrawal symptoms from opiates as the first warning signs of a drug problem. Once a person starts experiencing withdrawal symptoms ... 
Short-Term Opium Drug Effects -
Pure opium, as well as opium-derived drugs, all produce strong analgesic effects that work well as pain-relief treatments. Examples of opium-derived drugs include: Codeine Heroin Morphine Synthetically made opium-type drugs also exist in abundance, some of which include: Hydrocodone Oxycodone Percodan Whether natural or synthetic, short-term opium drug effects remain the same. According to the ... 
Opiate Street Names -
Opiates are, for the most part, Schedule I to Schedule IV substances which means that they have some level of abuse potential. This is why there are so many different street names for opioid drugs. Knowing the different street names could help you understand what is going on around you and the possibility of illegal ...