Detoxification from substances involves your body cleansing itself. After prolonged use of opioids, the brain and the body have changed to feel like they need opioids to feel normal. The detox process involves your body finding its balance again.
Symptoms of opioid withdrawal start within the first day or so in the forms of anxiety, restlessness, agitation, muscle cramping, insomnia, runny nose, tearfulness, yawning and sweating. As withdrawal progresses, people can have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Having a medically assisted detox can help to significantly reduce the physical and emotional suffering of withdrawal.
AToN Center provides an individually tailored sub-acute detox, usually using medications such as Suboxone. Suboxone helps to make withdrawal more manageable, avoids medical complications like dehydration, and reduces cravings which could otherwise lead to relapse. AToN Center also provides a comfortable, supportive environment where residents can begin to heal. Having a supported inpatient sub-acute detox for opioids, including heroin, is paramount to recovery for a few reasons. First, during an unassisted withdrawal the body craves opioids and it will be very difficult resist.
Second, attending inpatient treatment during detox can help you to begin to learn tools and skills, and to start on the road of recovery – not just abstinence.
Kirsten Helgager PsyD
Clinical Psychologist
AToN Center 888-535-1516
