People use opiates to treat pain, but it’s easy to get hooked. It’s also difficult to stop using because of withdrawal symptoms, which include drug cravings, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and increased heart rate. A medically supervised detox program helps you safely quit using opioids by tapering your dosage over time. It’s important to find a facility that offers 24-hour care and support, as well as a full intake assessment to create an individualized treatment plan.

Whether it’s prescribed by a doctor or purchased on the street, opiate abuse is a serious problem. In fact, over 1.6 million Americans are addicted to prescription painkillers, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone. A growing number of people are also turning to heroin as an inexpensive substitute for these drugs. This is because it can provide the same pain relief, but without the health risks.

Opiate addiction can be insidious because most people who become dependent on opiates start out using them for legitimate reasons. For example, they may have had surgery or a major injury and were prescribed powerful painkillers to help them recover. However, some users begin taking more of the medication than prescribed, and soon they develop a tolerance and addiction. People with opiate addiction tend to exhibit different types of behavioral changes, such as becoming vastly irritable, angry or defensive. They can also fight with family members and friends over their substance misuse.

Detox is only one part of treatment for opiate addiction, but it’s an important first step. After detox, you’ll likely need to continue with long-term rehab. This can help you overcome the root causes of your addiction, as well as work toward larger goals such as improving employment and healing relationships and addressing past criminal behavior.

How Long Does it Take to Detox from Opiates?

The length of a person’s opiate detox will depend on a few factors, such as their level of addiction and the type of opiate they’re taking. Withdrawal symptoms can also be unpredictable because they vary between individuals. Shorter-acting opiates, such as heroin or some prescription painkillers, have a shorter half-life, which means that withdrawal is much quicker. It usually starts within 24 hours of the last use and can persist for four to ten days.

The most effective opiate detox programs are often inpatient, and offer a safe environment for patients to manage their symptoms. They also provide a variety of medications to ease the withdrawal process, such as buprenorphine and naltrexone, which reduce opioid cravings, and clonidine and lorazepam, which can relieve anxiety and agitation. Some programs also use naloxone, which blocks the effects of opioids, and can be used on its own or in combination with other drugs for pain management. However, some people prefer to do detox with no medication at all. While this approach can be risky, it’s sometimes necessary for some people. This is especially true if the person has a history of underlying mental health issues.