The numbers stemming from the nation’s opioid epidemic are staggering. An estimated 60,000 people died in 2018 from an overdose of drugs derived from the poppy plant. This includes opiates, which are naturally occurring (heroin, codeine, morphine), and opioids, (synthetic or semi-synthetic compounds such as OxyContin and fentanyl). If you or someone you love is struggling with opiate addiction, consider professional help from a drug addiction treatment program.

An opiate addiction treatment program in GA provides end-to-end care for people struggling with substance use disorders. This includes the initial intake all the way through to aftercare support to guard against relapse. No two journeys through addiction are the same, but the professionals at Atlanta Detox Center will provide the same compassionate support to lead you back to a life of sobriety.

What Are Opiates?

Opiates and opioids are very similar drugs but have one important distinction. Opiates are naturally occurring substances from the poppy plant, while opioids are synthetic pharmaceuticals.

Prescription opiates, such as morphine and codeine, provide pain relief from illnesses such as cancer or after recovery from major surgery. Other opiates, such as opium and heroin, are illegal. These drugs pose a great risk of a powerful physical dependence.

Prescription opioids are also used for pain relief.

All drugs that come from the poppy plant have their dangers. Even those available via a prescription can be addictive and cause withdrawal, requiring the help of a drug detox center.

Whether to opioids or opiates, if you or a loved one struggles with an addiction, don’t try to cope with it alone. Seek professional help from an opiate residential addiction treatment program such as ours at Atlanta Detox Center.

How Can an Opiate Addiction Treatment Program Help?

The good news is that many people across the world have successfully broken the cycle of addiction. It takes determination and commitment, but it can be done, especially with the support of an opiate addiction treatment program in GA.

Treatment typically begins with a comprehensive intake and review of your medical and psychological health. Out of this review, clinicians will build a thorough treatment plan, which normally starts with a detox period at our drug and alcohol detox center.

Recovery cannot happen while you are using drugs. Your first challenge is to flush the drugs from your system through detox. During detox, physicians monitor your health and help you manage withdrawal symptoms that may arise. Following detox, you will go through a period of individual and group counseling and then be provided with aftercare support for relapse mitigation.

The Opiate Epidemic

The United States remains in a public health emergency triggered by the ongoing use and abuse of opioids. This includes both opioids and opiates.

The epidemic traces its origins back to the early 2000s when a new family of opioids offered the potential for pain relief without significant risk of addiction. That potential turned out to be misguided, and thousands fell into problems with physical dependence.

When doctors recognized the problem and adjusted their prescription practices, desperate patients turned to heroin, and later fentanyl, to help them deal with the intensity of the addiction and its aftermath—particularly to mitigate withdrawal.

In 2018, about 30,000 people in the United States died from an overdose of either prescription opioids or heroin. Synthetic narcotics caused another 30,000 deaths, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The need for an opiate addiction treatment program and addiction treatment therapies has never been more evident.

Sobriety Is in Sight with Atlanta Detox Center’s Opiate Addiction Treatment Program

Opiates obtained by prescription do serve a purpose, but they and their illegal forms have significant dangers in terms of addiction or physical dependence. If you or a loved one are struggling, consider an opiate addiction treatment program at Atlanta Detox Center. We provide all levels of care for substance abuse, including both an alcohol detox center and a heroin addiction treatment program. Our clinical staff can also help address other forms of substance abuse, such as through our alcohol addiction treatment program. We also offer an alumni program for aftercare support to mitigate the risks of relapse. Call for an intake appointment today at 470.450.2355.

Start Your Recovery Today!

If you or someone you care about has been battling addiction issues or having mental health problems, it is worth reaching out to a healthcare professional like the ones at Atlanta Detox.