Amidst the opioid crisis and the battle against opiate addiction, there was an urgent need to find a treatment that could reduce the excruciating withdrawal symptoms clients experience during detoxification.
The FDA’s approval of the drug, suboxone, to alleviate pain and other withdrawal symptoms during an opioid detox has led to more people seeking suboxone detox in South Florida. Many of them fall between the ages of 18-30 and may come from other cities to seek treatment in South Florida.
If you, or a loved one, are struggling with addiction to heroin or another opiate and want to get clean, admission to a detox center can change your life. While there, you may be amazed to learn that with the help of medical professionals you have what it takes to beat addiction and stay sober.
Suboxone and How it Works to Treat Opiate Addiction
Suboxone is a prescription medication approved by the FDA, in 2002, specifically for treating people addicted to opioids or opiates (narcotics).
Opioids are prescription drugs made from the opium poppy plant to treat severe pain. Opiates are more natural and potent forms of the drug, e.g., heroin, and are used illegally by drug users. Both the natural and prescription forms of the drug are highly addictive, resulting in a massive increase in the number of people addicted to these drugs.
Suboxone is itself an opioid—a partial opioid agonist. The medication comes as a tablet or a film and contains the active ingredients buprenorphine and naloxone. But it does not cause addiction the way other opioids do.
Instead of giving users a high, the ingredient buprenorphine works to prevent a feeling of euphoria by blocking the natural opioid receptors in the brain. The other ingredient, naloxone, then kicks in to reduce withdrawal symptoms. This mechanism of action is what makes suboxone such a ‘blockbuster’ drug in the treatment of opiate addiction.
Suboxone Detox
Detox for opioid or opiate addiction is a physically and psychologically painful process. This is a primary reason why those wanting to recover from these drugs are often unwilling to seek treatment. However, a Suboxone detox in South Florida can effectively rid the body of opiates while reducing the severity of the symptoms.
The client is medically supervised to help them manage withdrawal symptoms to the point of stabilization. Suboxone is also used to manage cravings during the maintenance phase of detox.
The ability of this medication to reduce the effects of withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings are reasons people addicted to opioids use it as an alternative to heroin or in between drug doses. Others have used the medication to self-treat addiction at home. However, using suboxone to detox at home is discouraged due to the risks of serious medical complication from withdrawal symptoms, including these:
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Extreme mood swings
• Rapid heartbeat
• Dilated pupils
• Insomnia
• Abdominal cramps
• High blood pressure
• Chills and fever
• Irritability or restlessness
• Anxiety or depression
• Overpowering cravings (increases the risk of opiate overdose)
Benefits of Going to a Suboxone Detox Center
In addition to your determination to get over drug addiction, there are benefits of going to a suboxone detox center that can make the process easier.
Tapering: Successfully detoxing requires tapering the user off opiates in a systematic way. During the induction phase, the physician will determine the severity of addiction to set up a suboxone treatment plan that is right for you. This includes the right amount of suboxone doses needed at each stage while tapering you off the drug. A medical professional will administer the doses to allow gradual withdrawal while reducing the effects of the symptoms.
Safety: Trying to detox at home using suboxone is quite unsafe for your physical and mental health. The risk of overdose increases with self-treatment. At a detox center in South Florida, you will be surrounded by a medical staff trained in suboxone detox. These centers usually provide 24-hour services and support to monitor and keep you safe at each stage of withdrawal.
Comfort: Many detox centers in South Florida provide amenities, food, social activities, and a structured and compassionate environment to make recovery easier. Therapists and psychiatrists are also part of the team and can provide emotional support and counseling during withdrawal.
Reduced Risk of Relapse: Tapering off opioid with medical-assisted detox has proven to reduce the risk of going back to drugs. Gradual stabilization of the patient and maintenance help to significantly reduce relapse. The client is considered stabilized once the symptoms are gone and they no longer crave the drug.
Suboxone Detox Withdrawal Timeline
Withdrawal, from the point of induction to stabilization, can take a few weeks to several months. The recovery period is based on various factors including the type of opioid abuse, the severity of the addiction, and any co-occurring mental health issues. Therefore, the length of time to completely withdraw varies from one person to another.
Although stabilized, some clients may still experience an occasional urge to use. In such cases, the medical professional will continue to administer low doses of suboxone, if needed, to manage any isolated cravings. This process is called maintenance. At this point, opioid use will not have the usual euphoria effect since suboxone will continue to block its effects on the brain.
Treatment After Suboxone Detox
Opiate withdrawal symptoms can be severe and need to be medically managed at a detox center. However, the process doesn’t end there. Recovery is most successful when augmented with Medically-Assisted Treatment (MAT) at an inpatient or outpatient treatment center. The professionals at the detox center can assist you with transitioning to any of these programs for psychotherapy.
This phase of recovery deals with mental health issues and behaviors associated with addiction and is conducted by a therapist. You will learn the behaviors and circumstances that trigger drug abuse. You will also learn coping skills to manage cravings and triggers and be equipped with a relapse prevention plan.
People who transition to psychological therapy immediately after detox have a greater chance of maintaining sobriety after rehab. If you live in South Florida, you can begin your journey to a drug-free life by calling us at 877-978-3125.