Opioid use has become an epidemic in the United States. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a shocking 2.5 million Americans suffer from opioid addiction. Sadly, this results in thousands of deaths from overdose every year. Many opioids are among the most unsafe drugs to use and the most likely to lead to an overdose. This is why many will need to seek men’s addiction treatment for opioids before it’s too late. Learn more about opioids and what to look for in a Florida men’s detox center.
What Are Opioids?
You may be aware of the more common illegal varients of opioids such as heroin, morphine, and narcotic painkillers that can typically be bought on the street. However, it may surprise you to learn that many legal painkillers, such as OxyContin, Vicodin, and Percocet, contribute to the opioid epidemic.
While initially prescribed in a controlled dose, these medications are nonetheless highly addictive and prone to abuse by those who use them to deal with pain.
Whether consumed as tablets, smoked, snorted, or injected, opioid use builds a tolerance. This tolerance means that you require a higher dose to produce the same desired effect. Taken at first to suppress pain, opioids can sometimes be abused long after the pain has subsided because stopping use often results in severe withdrawal. Undergoing withdrawal without a medical detox program can be extremely uncomfortable, and leaves you at risk of relapsing. Getting professional help at a men’s opioid rehab center is often the best way to deal with withdrawal.
Signs of Opioid Abuse
It may be difficult to know if a loved one is using or abusing opioids. However, some signs to look out for include:
- Sudden and intense anxiety attacks
- Mood swings and impaired decision-making
- Abandoning or failing at routine responsibilities
- Lack of motivation or direction
- Drowsiness and inability or unwillingness to stay awake
- Physical impairments such as nausea, vomiting, constipation
In more advanced cases, those suffering from opioid abuse may need larger doses of opioids. This may compel them to engage in desperate or even criminal activity to obtain the drugs.
What Happens at a Men’s Opioid Addiction Treatment Center?
Opioids are among the most difficult drugs to stop using once a person is addicted to them. One option other than trying the “cold turkey” approach is contacting professional help. It is quite dangerous to attempt to stop using opioids without medical supervision or observation at a detox facility. A men’s opioid addiction treatment center can help you safely detox and begin the steps to recovery.
At a men’s rehab center, they first assess your needs for managing withdrawal and quitting opioids. This first step may allow a patient to focus on their recovery rather than on physical withdrawal from the drug. This type of treatment is most effective when combined with many other forms of therapy. Addiction therapies help you understand the underlying negative emotions and behaviors that contribute to addiction.
During treatment, you will be exposed to many therapies including:
- Group support therapy
- Individual counseling
- Motivational interviewing therapy
- Trauma-guided therapy
- Experiential therapy
It will usually require a combination of the therapies listed above for a client addicted to opioids to achieve sobriety in the long term. It can be difficult for these individuals to see a life ahead of them that doesn’t have the drug in it. The best men’s opioid addiction treatment centers believe that all options should be on the table when it comes to treating these devastating addictions.
You Can Overcome Opioid Abuse with Opioid Addiction Treatment
Take the first step toward a life without addiction. If you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction to painkillers, you can find the help you need at a Jacksonville addiction treatment center.
