Opioid Epidemic

The United States has been in the midst of a severe opioid epidemic according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is estimated that about 130 Americans die daily from an opioid drug overdose that involves both prescription opioids and illicit opioids like heroin. The blame for the epidemic appears to lie among a few different groups like pharmaceutical manufacturers, physicians, pharmacies, and distributors. Sadly, these groups are quick to point the finger at others and declare their own innocence.

It appears that in 2010, enough prescription opioid medications to treat pai, were dispensed to medicate every adult American with a 5mg. dose, every 4 hours, for one month. Opioid medications have a high risk for addiction even when taken at the recommended dosage, and this type of dispensing only maximizes the risk of addiction.

The Northeastern section of the U.S. has been affected the most by the opioid crisis, but the problem has spread to other states where the problem is on the rise. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that there are over 2.5 million Americans currently addicted to opioid drugs. One effective treatment for opioid addiction has been the use of medications like Suboxone, Naltrexone, and Methadone that are used along with behavioral counseling.

Studies have been conducted to determine which patients would tend to misuse their opioid medications, based on age, sex, comorbidities, demographics, and mental health disorders. The results can assist physicians in determining the dosage amount and length of dosage for specific patients.

History of Opioid Addiction

The first wave of the U.S. opioid crisis began with the rise of opioid overdose deaths in 1991. The claims that pharmaceutical companies made regarding the safety of opioid medications resulted in an increase of prescriptions for the drug to treat pain in non-cancerous cases. By 1999, almost 90 percent of patients were using opioid medications to treat pain.

The second wave of the opioid epidemic began in 2010 with a noticeable increase in heroin overdose deaths. As patients were being denied renewed opioid prescriptions, they began to take illicit heroin as a replacement. The use of heroin at this time was shown to have increased dramatically among all socio-demographic factors.

The third wave of the opioid epidemic emerged around 2013, with an increase in deaths related to the use of synthetic opioids like Fentanyl. Since then, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued guidelines to the medical community about prescribing opioid medications. The pharmaceutical industry, with a vast amount of profit to lose, is opposing these guidelines by using lobbying and advocacy groups.

How to Detox from Opioids

If you are struggling with opioid addiction and need help to detox from the drug, you can get professional medical help at Legacy Healing Center. We can provide you with a medically supervised detox procedure that can safely remove the opioids from your body. We will monitor you throughout the process to assure that you are kept stable, and we can treat any withdrawal symptoms that you experience.

As opioids are removed, your body will respond by producing withdrawal symptoms. Some of the opioid drug withdrawal symptoms that you may experience include:

• • • – Anxiety, restlessness, insomnia
    • – High blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating
    • – Blurry vision, tearing, dilated pupils
    • – Muscle aches, joint pain
    • – Abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration

The opioid withdrawal timeline helps you understand what to expect during detox. Symptoms typically begin within the first 24 hours after the drug is removed from the body. Symptoms will intensify thereafter but typically begin to decrease after 72 hours to a week.

A medically supervised detox is the safest way to get off of opioid drugs. Our medical team will provide you with the support and care you need and try to keep you as comfortable as possible during and after the detox procedure.

What Opioid Rehab Is Like

Here at Legacy Healing Center luxury rehab, we have comprehensive treatment programs that can help you transition from addiction to sobriety. You will learn about how addiction affects you physically and mentally, and what you can actively do to prevent a relapse. Our programs are evidence-based, ensuring that with your commitment you can overcome addiction and begin to live a healthy, productive life.

Our beautiful facility provides you with a safe and nurturing environment where you will be able to focus on your recovery unhindered by outside interference. We provide a structured daily agenda that is conducive to achieving recovery goals. You will also have free time to relax or join in on activities with others in our community. Our staff will provide you with continued support and guidance throughout your stay with us, and also after you leave our facility.

Our professional team of doctors, nurses, and clinicians practice a holistic approach to healing, treating each individual as unique with their own history and needs. You will receive a physical, social, and psychological examination and evaluation that will determine the level of care that you require to get well.

Your treatment program will begin with the detox procedure, and then you shall begin a series of other therapies that may include:

• • • – Individual and group therapy
    • – Cognitive-behavioral therapy
    • – Cognitive-behavioral therapy
    • – Psychodynamic therapy
    • – Dialectical behavior therapy
    • – Family therapy
    • – Medically-assisted therapy
    • – Relapse prevention
    • – 12-step programs
    • – Aftercare programs

How long Does Rehab Last?

Rehab can last anywhere from 30, 60 to 90 days or more, depending on the level of care you require. Once you complete your inpatient treatment program you can still receive care and support as an outpatient, or join an aftercare program.