Understanding Opioid Destruction
Written by: Jeffrey R. Hilton
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Opioid Dependency is a very controversial topic. Opioid addicts are often thought to be heroin junkies, but in Alberta, Canada that is a very large misconception. Opioid use in Alberta is largely prescription drugs prescribed by physicians, at one time, so freely is was like going and buying candy from the corner store. This was curbed a number of years back and not all physicians were able to continue writing triplicate prescriptions for opiates, so all of a sudden there was a large number of addicts who had been on these medications that were unable to attain them through legal channels. This in turn increased illegal methods of obtaining these drugs and caused a a very large increase in addicts with this particular issue.
Opioid's are often prescribed to people who have severe pain issues, but due to the current health system, doctors do not spend enough time with their patients to make the side effects clear and what the rate is of becoming addicted to some of the substances they are taking. People who are in chronic pain, or waiting for surgery to cure their ailment, and who are waiting up to a year for their procedure, all of a sudden, get their treatment and therapy and figure no more medication only to find out when they get rid of it, the body has become addicted to their specific medication. Many people don't realize that opiate medication is a drug that, half life's, so if one is on it any length of time the quantity will increase as the original dose ends up not being sufficient which becomes a very vicious circle.
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Many people die each year in North America from opioid related overdoses. There are a lot of misconceptions in society regarding this subject. Opiate addiction is very difficult to overcome, due to the severity of the withdrawal process, the best way to describe the withdrawal is imagine having the worst possible flu, body aches, etc but multiply it by about 1000, and the length of time till one feels somewhat normal can be 21 days, just to get over the worst part. That's the experience of detox.
There are many so called methods of coming off these addictions including Rapid Detox, Specialty treatments in foreign countries costing the individual substantial amounts of money. The best way is to detox yourself very carefully if you can handle it by going cold turkey, as well as seek counselling to help you deal with the mental part of the addiction. For those who feel they aren't strong enough there is Methadone.
Methadone in its self is very controversial, but with careful and controlled treatment and counselling to change behavior it can be very effective. With this addiction the damage it does to the brain and the body is tremendous, but with methadone, it acts as a blocker in the craving centre of your brain and over time it can heal this area so that the detoxing is easier. As well, with the heavier drug users a change in lifestyle, friendships and situations also has to happen, which can make them feel very alone and not accepted. Some addicts miss the "friendship" acceptance part of using, but they also miss the preparation part of getting high, which to someone who hasn't lived this lifestyle outside of the medical community cannot understand or fathom it.
Many people feel that this medication is one substitute for another, which may be somewhat true, but methadone doesn't make you high and with correct monitoring that is required when starting methadone and a real willingness to succeed these addicts can turn their lives around and lead a very successful and normal life.
Things are not always what they seem so, don't label all Opioid addicts under one umbrella. Stop and think, and the next time a physician prescribes you any form of opiates, ask questions and research as much as you can before taking that first pill.
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Jeffrey R Hilton
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