Opiate detox, or drug detox in Orange County is the first step towards recovering from your addiction. But it can also be a complicated, confusing process, which causes many people to hesitate pursuing it.
We’ve put together this article to help you figure it out. Below, you’ll find all of the information that you need to know about opiate detox to make the right decision for your recovery process. Let’s get started.
Who needs opiate detox in Orange County?
Everyone who is addicted to opiates needs to go through detox. That’s because detox is the time in which the body purges itself of the last remnants of opioids in its systems. You need to complete this physical healing before you can start addressing the mental components of your addiction and turn the corner towards your long-term sobriety goals.
You can also think about it this way: detox isn’t a voluntary thing. The body will automatically go through it once you quit using opiates. So the question you have to ask yourself is what you want your detox process to look like.
Detox is generally easier and safer when you go through it at a treatment center. We’ll talk more about why that’s the case in a later section.
What happens during opiate detox?
During your opiate detox, you will likely experience several different withdrawal symptoms. These vary from person to person, but can include things like:
- Muscle spasms
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Sweating
- Fluctuating blood pressure
- Vomiting and nausea
- Tremors
The specific withdrawal symptoms that you get will depend on your personal health factors and the way that you’ve been using opioids.
Most people who go through opiate detox also get cravings. Many people exhibit drug-seeking behavior during their detox because of this.
How long does opiate detox take?
A person’s most severe withdrawal symptoms will typically subside about 4-7 days after their last dose of opioids. To be more specific, we’ll outline each phase of the detox process for you below.
Anticipatory
This stage starts occurring a few hours after a person’s last dose. It’s when they begin anticipating withdrawal symptoms and experiencing an uptick in fear and anxiety because of it. A person will also usually begin feeling cravings at this point.
Early Acute
A person transitions to this phase of detox about 10 hours after their last dose. They typically begin experiencing even more anxiety, and may also have physical symptoms.
Some physical symptoms associated with the early acute phase include nausea, sweating, and vomiting.
Acute
This is the stage in which a person’s withdrawal symptoms peak. It happens about 1-3 days after the last dose of opioids was consumed. Symptoms of the acute stage include muscle spasms, body aches, insomnia, and fluctuating blood pressure, among others.
PAWS
PAWS is an acronym that stands for Post-Acute-Withdrawal Syndrome. At this stage of the detox process, a person has already gone through the peak of their withdrawal symptoms.
But they may still experience various physical and mental symptoms for up to 24 months after their last dose of opioids. These symptoms aren’t usually constant. They tend to come in waves instead.
During the PAWS phase, a person may experience sudden cravings, bouts of irritability, and insomnia. They may also periodically have difficulty concentrating on important tasks.
Do you really need to complete your detox in a treatment center?
You technically have the option of completing your opiate detox on your own. But most professionals wouldn’t advise this. That’s because withdrawal symptoms can be unpredictable and potentially severe. You want to make sure that you have a professional watching over you to make sure that your detox goes smoothly and safely.
Additionally, it’s much easier to give in to cravings and relapse when you’re in your normal environment. If you stay in a treatment center instead, then you won’t have the option of relapsing. This significantly increases the chances that you make it through your detox successfully.
How to find opiate detox in Orange County that meets your needs
Completing an opiate detox in Orange County is the first step towards a brighter tomorrow. But you want to make sure that you complete your detox in a facility that can adjust to meet your unique needs. Doing that will ensure that your detox process is as safe and comfortable for you as possible.
That’s why you should check out The House of the Rising Son. We offer 100% customizable detox and treatment plans to ensure that every patient gets the exact type of support that they need to heal.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about what we can do to help.
