Individuals struggling with an opiate addiction often dread the prospect of a detox and its accompanying withdrawal symptoms. That’s why the idea of a rapid opiate detox is so appealing to many patients. However, a rapid opiate detox isn’t the safest option, and there are many risks associated with trying to complete this process. Even in a medically supervised environment like a detox center, taking the traditional approach is usually the recommended course of action.
What is a Rapid Opiate Detox?
A rapid detox from opiates is a process where patients are put under anesthesia and given a drug, often one called naltrexone, that flushes out the opiates in the system and causes the withdrawal to proceed faster than normal.
For anywhere from three to six hours, the body goes through the entire withdrawal process at a rapid speed, with the idea that upon waking, all the symptoms have passed. This can and has worked in the past, but it isn’t without substantial risks and dangers along the way.
Rapid Detox Puts Incredible Stress on the Body
The first issue with a rapid detox for opiate addiction is that it puts the body under a tremendous amount of stress. A normal withdrawal, where the bulk of the physical symptoms occur for around 72 hours, is already stressful on the body. Trying to compress that into half a day means the body is pushed to its very limits.
Although technically the patient is under anesthesia, there are reports of seizures on the examination table or flopping bodies that simply can’t cope with the stress. After the procedure has ended, it can take several days to recover.
Rapid Detox May Require Additional Drug Use and the Potential for Further Addictions
After a rapid detox from opiates, medical professionals typically prescribe patients some kind of drugs to ease the physical pain and stress of the process. For people who are clearly susceptible to addiction, this can be dangerous. In fact, some people go on to become addicted to what they are prescribed after the rapid detox.
If the goal is to remove addiction for good, then simply replacing one addictive substance for another isn’t wise. A more traditional, week-long detox is preferable for those who want to break ties from substance abuse once and for all.
Rapid Detox Doesn’t Address the Causes of Addiction
A substantial issue with the idea of a rapid opiate detox is that it won’t actually address the causes and underlying reasons for addiction. A rapid approach to detox may solve the physical side of addiction, but it won’t treat the psychological symptoms in any way. A traditional detox followed by rehab, therapy and addiction treatment can reveal the underlying trauma that can lead to substance abuse, help patients develop coping strategies for lasting sobriety, sustaining recovery, and lead to a healthier, happier life overall.
If a rapid opiate detox sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is. Instead, opt for the true road to recovery, which should include detox at a reputable center like New Start Detox in California. Call 855-737-7363 for details on how to successfully break free from your opiate addiction.