Best Opioid Detox Treatment in Los Angeles

January 15, 2020 | Addiction Treatment , Detox

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Research shows that even though addiction rates in L.A. are low, many people overdose on opioids in L.A. than anywhere else in California. About 450 people died due to opioid overdose in L.A. County in 2017. Effective detox treatment for opioid dependence saves lives and reverses the consequences of opioid use disorder.

Opioids are drugs extracted from poppy plants that cause varying effects when you use them. People take opioids as pills, injections through the veins, like lollipops, or as a patch on the skin. The DEA classifies opioids as controlled substances. Some are illicit, while some are legal if you acquire them using a valid prescription. Medicinal opioids such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and fentanyl are crucial pain relievers. You may obtain and use them legally if a certified medical professional prescribes them. Heroin is illegal for medical or recreational use.

Opioids are highly addictive. They alter the normal functioning of your brain and increase your tolerance level. Continuous abuse of opioids leads to dependence as your body needs them to operate. Any attempt to withdraw from them often leads to unbearable withdrawal effects. Addicts need opioid detox treatment to safely and effectively overcome their opioid addiction.

What is Opioid Detox?

Detox in opioid dependence treatment involves purging opioids safely and successfully from your body. The process seeks to manage the severe consequences of withdrawal, and prepare you for the next step in overcoming your addiction. Licensed detox facilities are the best place to detox. Their physicians and caregivers design the appropriate detox plan for you and monitor you as you get rid of the opioids from your system.

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Opioid detox treatment is necessary for addicts that use illicit opiates. It is also crucial for patients that develop a dependence once they complete their dosage. Opioids are highly addictive, and, without proper care, their prescriptions can lead to addiction. Patients that take more opiates to feel their effects or cannot stop using after they complete their dosage need opioid detox.

Opioid addicts that try to quit using it develop withdrawal symptoms. These effects of detox can start around 10 hours after your last score. The severity of the withdrawal signs depends on various factors, such as the length of abuse and the opiate you are quitting. These symptoms can be unbearable, and many addicts opt to return to the drug they have a dependence on to stop them. It would be best if you stopped using opioids in a detox facility. Detox centers can prescribe medications to help alleviate your withdrawal signs or advise you on alternative ways of coping with them.

Signs of Opioid Addiction

If you suspect you have an addiction to opioids, these signs should help you make a rational conclusion. You may also use them to determine if someone you care about is an addict. These clues apply to both those addicts that use drugs illegally and those that become addicted due to prescription opioids.

Taking more opioids that the doctor recommended
Increased tolerance (you need more drugs to feel the same effects)
Visiting several hospitals to get more prescriptions
Track marks (marks on necks, feet, and arms from injecting the drugs)
Prioritizing opioids over hobbies, relationships, and financial management
Withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking opioids

If you notice these signs, you need to get opioid detox treatment.

How Long Does Opioid Detox Process Take?

The duration of this treatment varies with the unique needs of each addict. Several factors affect this period.

Level of opioid addiction
The treatment technique adopted (quitting cold turkey or tapering)
The overall health of the opiate addict
Length of opioid dependence
Type of opioid you are detoxing
Co-occurring disorders
The quantity of opioids you have taken
Age and genetics

Your physician will give you a reliable estimate of how long your detox will take. The detox typically takes days, weeks, or months. The physician will evaluate your case and recommend the duration that gives you the best chance detoxing without complications.

Opioid Detox Process

There are different processes that doctors use to help opioid addicts overcome their addiction. Your physician examines your case and picks the appropriate approach to help you get better. One way to stop using opioids is quitting and turning to medications to help with the withdrawal symptoms. Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT) is also another strategy for detoxing. This approach entails using medicine and therapy to detox.

Rapid Opioid Detoxification (ROD) is another process for detoxing. This technique involves physicians putting you under IV sedation and monitoring you. You will undergo this process in a medical detox facility. The sedation makes you sleep through the uncomfortable withdrawal. Once you are through with the tough part, your doctor will prescribe Vivitrol or Naltrexone to help curb your cravings.

The Stages of Opioid Detox

Even though the duration and severity of withdrawal vary, the typical withdrawal timeline looks like this one.

6-24 hours after your last opioid use:

Nausea and vomiting
Depression and anxiety
Intensifying urge to use opioids

Physicians can prescribe medications to help alleviate your suffering in this stage. ROD typically starts in this phase.

36-48 hours after your last opioid use:

Watery eyes
Abdominal cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Running nose and sweating

Your physician increases the dosage of the medications you are using up to the maximum recommended limit. Many patients struggle to get through this phase and need supervision to avoid relapsing.

48-72 hours after your last opioid use:

Insomnia
Diarrhea
Tremors and muscle pain can occur

Your doctor starts to reduce the dosage of your medications. The reduction can be gradually done until after this phase or begin once this stage ends. You may experience the worst symptoms about 72 hours after your last opioid use. Their severity often decreases within 24 hours.

Finding Effective Detox Treatment for Opioid Dependence

Located in Los Angeles, Novo Detox is a reputable detox facility that provides affordable and reliable detox services. Our team of ten on-staff experts has the essential knowledge and experience you will need to quit using opioids.

About 98% of our former patients lead drug-free lives. You can be sure that you will quit opioids and live a long life free from them with our 24/7 services. Our physicians design a detox program for you and help you get through it. They will help you through the withdrawal symptoms and come up with strategies to avoid relapsing.

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We provide our services via our inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs. The inpatient approach involves you residing in our facility as you receive the care and constant supervision you need to get better. Outpatient opioid addiction treatment detox involves you quitting opioids in the comfort of your residence, but visiting our facility periodically for treatment. The partial hospitalization program is a middle ground between the two programs. You visit our detox center for treatment during the day and return home in the evening.

What Treatment Options are Available for Opioid Detox?

Detox centers offer different drug detox treatments for opioid addicts. Your physician will examine your case and help you settle on the ones that give you an excellent chance of detoxing without complications.

1. Medication-assisted Therapy (MAT) – this method involves using therapy and medication to help you detox. Drugs such as buprenorphine help reduce withdrawal symptoms and the urge to use opioids. Therapy helps build your mentality towards treatment and understand your addiction.

2. Medicines – there are several drugs that doctors can prescribe to help you manage opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms. They include buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. Naltrexone reverses the effects of opioid use. It is useful to help recovering addicts avoid an overdose in case of relapse.

3. Behavioral Counseling and Therapies – therapy helps you embrace detox, prepare you for lifestyle changes after treatment, and alter your attitude towards opioids. At Novo Detox, you will attend individual, family, or group counseling. The sessions may include contingency management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational enhancement.

Conclusion

Opioid addiction is a problem that keeps growing in America. Many people in Los Angeles and its surroundings are developing a dependence on opiates, and feeling its burden. Opioids can be illegal substances such as heroin, or medical prescriptions such as oxycodone. Due to their highly addictive nature, many people that misuse them often develop an addiction to them. Their bodies become reliant on them to perform essential functions. Without the drug, addicts develop uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

If you suspect you or someone close to you has an addiction, there are signs to help your judgment. These symptoms include a high tolerance level, prioritizing the opioid, track marks, and withdrawal symptoms when one stops using the opioid. These signs often show that there is a need to seek opioid detox treatment. The duration of this therapy varies depending on various factors. Consulting your physician can help you know the exact timeline. The opioid detox process will vary depending on the treatment approach you choose. Depending on your case, the doctor can recommend that you get treatment via medically assisted therapy or rapid opioid detox. You will experience different withdrawal symptoms in each stage of treatment. Some signs may continue to the next phase.

Novo Detox provides effective detox treatment for opioid addiction in Los Angeles. The accredited facility has a professional medical team that comes up with a treatment plan for you and monitor you to its completion. We have successfully treated about 98% of our patients underlining the efficiency of our services in overcoming addiction. We provide flexible treatment via our inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs.