Narcotic Detox Program

Definition of a Narcotic

A narcotic is described as an addictive drug that reduces pain, alters mood and behavior, and usually induces sleep or stupor. Natural and synthetic narcotics are used in medicine to control pain. Narcotics also diminish the awareness of sensory impulses, especially pain, by the brain. This action makes narcotics useful therapeutically as analgesics. While they are the most powerful pain-relieving agents available, their use is complicated by a number of undesirable side effects, mainly drug addiction, narcotic abuse or narcotic addiction.

All of the generally used narcotics are in some way related to opium, and the term opiate is sometimes used interchangeably with the term narcotic. Some narcotics are Morphine, Codeine, Demerol, Dilaudid, Methadone and Heroin. Heroin is a highly addicting narcotic, and is so dangerous in this regard that the drug has been completely banned by both federal and state laws under all circumstances.

Narcotic Addiction and Opiate Addiction

All narcotics and opiates have the potential for producing drug dependence and drug addiction when used repeatedly over a period of time. Drug dependence or drug addiction results from compulsive, continued use of narcotics and is characterized by one or more of the following conditions: habituation, tolerance, or addiction.

Repeated ingestion of a narcotic / opiate in which the effect produced by the original dose no longer occurs, results in tolerance. To produce the original effect, it is necessary to increase the dose. When the body develops drug dependence, drug addiction or narcotic addiction occurs. If the drug is suddenly stopped after a period of frequent use, narcotic withdrawal syndrome develops, which is characterized by physical pain and widespread body reactions. The addict comes to dread the development of narcotic withdrawal or opiate withdrawal and is trapped into continuing narcotic addiction. All opiates can produce habituation, tolerance, and narcotic addiction to a greater or lesser degree.

Narcotic Detox Program

Narcotic withdrawal can be particularly painful if not medically assisted. Sweating, severe muscle aches, loose bowels, nausea and intense cravings are all part of the narcotic withdrawal syndrome. Although death from narcotic withdrawal is rare, the intense pain leads most to resume use shortly after attempting to quit leading back to narcotic addiction. For this reason, people attempting to recover from their narcotic addiction, should do so in a medical detox program for narcotic addiction.

A narcotic detox program for narcotic addiction should be a medical detox program, complete with 24 hour nursing and addiction treatment staff capable of supporting the narcotic addict through this difficult period of narcotic withdrawal. The goal of a narcotic detox program is to manage and minimize all narcotic withdrawal symptoms and address any medical issues that may arise. Narcotic withdrawal, while uncomfortable, is manageable through the dispensing of certain detox medications.

The length of time a person spends in a medical detox program for narcotic addiction or opiate addiction varies. While the average time spent in narcotic detox program is between five and seven days, it can be longer depending upon the narcotic, dosage, frequency of use and a variety of other factors. Most medical detox programs treating narcotic addiction or opiate addiction will not discharge a patient until their withdrawal symptoms have completely diminished.

The main goal of a medical detox program for narcotic addiction is medical stabilization and treating narcotic withdrawal symptoms. Another medical detox program goal no less important, is addressing a person’s need for a residential addiction treatment center. A medical detox program for narcotic addiction is only the first step. Research shows that people who choose to go on to longer term drug rehab or addiction treatment center do much better than people that just stop at a medical detox program. Remember that a medical detox program is not an addiction treatment center. An addiction treatment center looks to maintain the gains made in the medical detox program and build a firm foundation for future recovery.

Addiction Treatment Center for Narcotic Addiction

When looking for an addiction treatment center for the treatment of narcotic addiction, please take the time to match the addiction treatment center needs of the person in need of the addiction treatment center with the actual services provided at the addiction treatment center. For every addiction treatment center, there seems to be another addiction treatment center philosophy.

Make sure the addiction treatment center you choose if licensed by the state in which it provides addiction treatment services and be sure to evaluate the credentials of the addiction treatment staff that works in the addiction treatment center. The addiction treatment center should always have a medical detox program within the addiction treatment center itself and the ability to treat people with a variety of addictions and mental health issues. The average length of stay in an addiction treatment center is usually between 4-6 weeks.

If you require our assistance in locating an addiction treatment center in your area, please give us a call at 1-866-99-DETOX (1-866-993-3869).