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Heroin, Methadone, and Oxycontin Detox

Heroin (also known as “smack”) is a powerful narcotic which re-gained increasing popularity in the 1990′s and continues to gain popularity with men and women. Heroin is the main component in the opiate family. Heroin is a white to brown powder or gummy, black, tar-like substance derived from the opium poppy. It is injected directly into a vein, sniffed, or smoked. The opiate group of drugs include naturally occurring (opium poppy extracts), and synthetic drugs commonly used for their analgesic (pain relief) and cough-suppressing properties. Morphine was isolated from opium in the early 1800′s and was widely available without prescription until the early 1900′s when the non-medical use of opiates was banned. Withdrawal symptoms continue to be the greatest obstacle in heroin detoxification treatment. Studies concur that there is no proof that one detoxification treatment is better than another. Relapses continue to occur in numerous cases around the world therefore making heroin detoxification a monster of an addiction. Statistics show that the average heroin addict will stop and start detox 10 to 25 times in their lifetime relapsing to heroin use every time.

Heroin

Heroin accounted for 39% of drug induced deaths from overdose and 11% of drug abuse-related emergency room episodes in 1992. Typically, heroin is used every four to six hours in doses of 4 to 8 milligrams each. The euphoria of heroin lasts only a few hours. Heroin users show signs that include constricted and non-reactive pupils, muscle relaxation a decrease in pulse, reflexes, blood pressure, and respiration rate, and fresh needle marks. The drug also causes constipation. Heroin use drives out the neurotransmitter endorphin, when this happens and heroin isn’t used, withdrawal symptoms begin. Symptoms include muscle ache, nausea, sweating, insomnia, chills, diarrhea, and vomiting. Periods of addiction usually last four to six months, often ceasing because the addict is arrested or enters a drug treatment program. Periods of abstinence usually last no longer than a few weeks or months, and relapse is usually precipitated by physical or mental stress. Once addicted to intravenous use of heroin, a staggering 70 to 80 percent of users continue to use for many years or a lifetime.

Methadone

Methadone detox is invaluable to those who have tried to discontinue using opiates with methadone maintenance. Individuals are as physically dependent on methadone as they were to heroin or other opiates; this is not recovery from drug addiction. Detox from Methadone may be more difficult than other substances, but the end result is a body clean from drug polluting toxins. An individual who uses methadone over a period of several months to years and decides to discontinue use will experience a long and painful withdrawal. Many people go from being addicted to heroin to acquiring a methadone addiction. They continue with this “treatment” for years, fearing the withdrawal that will occur when they stop. Methadone does not have to be the way of life for former heroin addicts. Gradual cessation followed by a drug-free program of rehabilitation may be the answer for many sufferers.

Oxycontin

OxyContin was first introduced in 1995. It is a Schedule 11 controlled drug used in the treatment of severe pain disorders. OxyContin is a long acting formulation of oxycodone, the medication’s active ingredient.

The drug is a powerful pain killer and widely used in clinical medicine. However, because of its mood altering effects, Oxycontin can be abused. Over the past decade, OxyContin has become a popular drug and the mood altering effects it produces has led to a significant increase in abuse of the drug and chemical dependency and addiction.

Respiratory depression is a major severe complication of oxycontin detox. Respiratory depression is a cause of concern in elderly or debilitated patients, and usually follows after the use of large initial doses in non tolerant patients, or when other opioids are given concurrently. In the community, the majority of OxyContin-related deaths have occurred in individuals who were ingesting large quantities of oxycontin in combination with either alcohol or benzodiazepines. OxyContin may cause severe hypertension. The drug is easily abused by simply crushing the tablets and either ingestion, injection, inhalation or placed rectally. The drug can have serious side effects when injected as it has a prolonged extended action. OxyContin detox is accomplished similarly to other drug detoxification. The individual is stepped down slowly off their dose of OxyContin until they no longer physically need to take it. Without this process, the withdrawal symptoms from OxyContin may be so severe that OxyContin detox may seem impossible to the individual. Detoxification tracked by long-term treatment is an effective method of relieving withdrawal symptoms while patients adjust to a drug-free state.

To suddenly stop taking oxycontin can result in serious withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal syndrome may be characterized by restlessness, dizziness, headaches, anxiety, yawning, perspiration, queasiness, sweating, and chills. Other symptoms also may develop, include irritability, vague pain, weakness, abdominal cramps, insomnia, nausea, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, or increased blood pressure, respiratory rate, or heart rate.


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