Opiate Addiction Treatment

Opiates remain some of the most widely consumed types of painkillers in the world after a steady climb lasting decades. On the lower end, drugs like oxycodone and morphine are regularly prescribed or administered by pharmacists for serious pain management, and on the other end lies heroin and fentanyl—two extremely dangerous and illicit street drugs. It can be easy to label one type as “safe” and the other not, but the reality is more complicated. Every opiate, synthetic to natural, faces the same problem: they all have high addiction potential.

The presence of opiates, whether they are being prescribed or otherwise discovered, can be a frightening prospect. Information is paramount in preventing an opiate overdose in your family. The steps to identify, treat, and care for those with opiate dependence aren’t out of reach. If you’re uncertain about anything regarding opiate addiction treatment, Clear Steps Recovery can offer a solution. To learn more about opiates or the substance abuse treatment program in Londonderry, New Hampshire, just contact us online or call (603) 769-8981 today.

What Are Opiates?

When starting an opiate addiction treatment program, there are a few things individuals should know about opiates, opioids, and treatment. First, opiates come in a variety of labels, doses, and legalities—if you aren’t sure if a drug is an opiate or not, identify the most common examples from the list below.

• Oxycodone (includes OxyContin and Percocet)
• Hydrocodone (includes Vicodin)
• Morphine
• Methadone
• Codeine
• Heroin
• Fentanyl

Opiates belong to a class of drugs that are commonly prescribed to treat pain.

Opiates vary wildly in strength, but all essentially do the same thing: block pain and induce euphoria. This is achieved by producing endorphins—a neurochemical responsible for the body’s own natural response to pain. Take enough opiates, and the body’s response system will become inactive and rely on opiates to supply endorphins. Chemically speaking, this is the reason for addiction in most individuals. Understanding this, we can treat those who suffer from SUDs not as euphoria chasers but as victims of circumstance.

Why Choose Opiate Addiction Treatment in New Hampshire?

If you or a loved one live in the Londonderry, NH area and are struggling with opiate use, we strongly recommend seeking treatment. Opiates are an extraordinarily prevalent drug and are responsible for more overdose deaths than any other type of medication. Not everybody who wants to stop using opiates seeks treatment at a recovery center, but the price they pay can be very steep.

When you stop taking opiates, the body enters a period of withdrawal. If the supply of endorphins is completely cut, the brain will suffer from an inability to match the previous homeostatic levels. Headaches, pains, and fatigue aren’t the only symptoms of withdrawal. Other symptoms include:

• Irritability
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Nausea
• Fever
• Chills

Medically managed recovery is one of the reasons we insist upon opiate addiction treatment. Without it, an otherwise genuine attempt to cut opiates out of one’s life can end in disarray and illness. At an opiate addiction treatment center, our therapists work with clients to slowly return the endorphin production capabilities of the brain and ensure that withdrawal symptoms are treated in a timely manner.