Opioid Detox

While detox services are not offered at our JourneyPure Knoxville campus, JourneyPure has several other facilities that provide detox. We will make sure you receive the highest care of medical detoxification.

Continuing on with a pattern of substance abuse will only cause these issues to get worse, plus cause new consequences to develop. Those who abuse opioids are at risk for suffering these and other consequences as long as they keep using.

Opioids include common prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and fentanyl, as well as illicit substances like heroin. Today, the country is in the midst of an opioid epidemic that has claimed the lives of millions of people and continues to impact the lives of millions more. Those who are addicted to opioids can have trouble obtaining and/or maintaining employment, have problems managing finances, and even develop severe health problems but ignore them due to their desire to keep using. These addictive substances can completely and entirely change an individual’s life for the worse. What he or she once was can be completely overcome by the heroin user they have become now. And, when a heroin addiction is occurring, it can be extremely difficult to put a stop to, especially if an individual attempts to do so on his or her own.

One of the main reasons why individuals addicted to heroin are often unable to stop using independently is because of the withdrawal symptoms that can develop when use ends. Known as being very painful and upsetting, individuals might give up on trying to stop their heroin use and go back to using just to get some sense of relief from the withdrawal symptoms. And, when this type of pattern continues, individuals can find themselves in more danger than ever before.

Opioid Dependence

Some people struggle with understanding why an individual addicted to opioids cannot simply just stop using. This is entirely understandable, however, there is much more that goes into opioid addiction that makes doing something like this impossible without the appropriate means.

When someone abuses opioids, he or she is altering his or her brain and body in a way that causes them to rely on the presence of opioids. Without opioids, the brain will not release as much dopamine on its own, a neurotransmitter that makes people feel rewarded and euphoric. Without opioids, the body cannot function the way in which it has been, causing it to work in overdrive in an effort to find a new way of functioning. All of this occurs when an individual is dependent on opioids. He or she cannot stop using without experiencing side effects like these, which is why many people go back to using, because the pain is too great.

Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

Someone dependent on opioids will suffer from withdrawal symptoms when he or she stops using. There is no getting around that. The symptoms that he or she will experience, however, will be based on his or her relationship with opioids. For example, the severity of his or her symptoms will be determined by how many opioids he or she was using, how often he or she was using, and for how long he or she was using. In most cases, those withdrawing from opioids include a combination of some or all of the following symptoms:

• Nausea
• Muscle aches
• Vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Sweating
• Diarrhea
• Chills

These symptoms are not deadly, however, if they continue to occur without proper treatment, can cause an individual to require medical attention.

Opioid Detox in Knoxville, TN

Individuals addicted to opioids do not need to experience withdrawal symptoms this intensely. When attending an opioid detox in Knoxville, TN, those who are ready to stop abusing opioids can do so in a manner that is less stressful and much more comfortable.

Depending on the severity of the opioid addiction, an individual may or may not be started on medication-assisted treatment. Medication-assisted treatment is a form of care that provides those detoxing from opioids with prescription medications designed to minimize cravings and control withdrawal symptoms. Each dose will be carefully administered by a medical professional working at an opioid detox in Knoxville, TN so that there is no opportunity for abuse. Many medication-assisted treatment programs work to taper their clients off of these medications (including methadone and buprenorphine) prior to the completion of the program in an effort to prevent abuse when they transition back into everyday life.

An opioid detox in Knoxville, TN will also have medical professionals available to check vital signs on a regular basis and care for any physical conditions that a client might be experiencing. In addition, mental health care professionals are also on-site, providing clients with the appropriate care that they need at this time. This might include working with clients to develop effective coping skills or making a recommendation for a continuum of care at an inpatient facility.

Do You Need Help?

Being addicted to opioids makes it impossible for an individual to experience any kind of true pleasure and wellbeing. The continual use of opioids only causes personal destruction and collateral damage to those around you. And, the longer that you use, the more likely you are to suffer from several physical and psychological conditions, and potentially even death via fatal overdose.

Today, hundreds of thousands of people are dying from opioid-related overdoses when they do not have to. Addiction is a treatable disease that does not need to have such a high death toll associated with it. If you are addicted to opioids, reach out for help immediately. Do not spend time waiting around for your rock bottom before getting treatment. An opioid detox in Knoxville, TN can get you started on a path to recovery where overdose is not an option.

Do not wait. Call for help right now.