It’s no secret that the United States is plagued by a crisis that parallels the worst we have ever seen. According to The New York Times, the numbers are staggering. Overdose deaths set a record last year. The article highlights new figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing that more than 70,000 Americans died in 2017, setting a new record.
Each year that passes sets new records for lives lost. New data also points to how overdose death rates are higher than deaths from HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), car crashes, or gun violence at their peaks. The same data also highlights how the use of synthetic opioids like fentanyl has driven these disproportionate numbers.
During one of the distinct waves of the opioid crisis, 2013 saw the number of overdose deaths linked to fentanyl and similar drugs to have grown more than 28,000 from a mere 3,000 in the preceding years. Deaths from fentanyl rose more than 45 percent in 2017 alone.
A senior public health scientist with the research group RTI International is on the record saying, “If we’re talking about counting the bodies, where they lie, and the cause of death, we’re talking about a fentanyl crisis.”
Fentanyl is one of the most potent drugs of any class to ever find its way into existence. It was initially used to treat chronic pain in patients who became resistant to opioid therapy, but eventually, it found its way into the public and the streets.
Fentanyl use has become so detrimental to U.S. society that we’ve seen a reduction in the country’s life expectancy three years straight. We have not witnessed a pattern like this since World War II, and life expectancy has fallen by nearly four months at birth. Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death for adults under age 55.
Robert Anderson, the chief of mortality statistics at the CDC, mentions that “the idea that a developed, wealthy nation like the United States has a declining life expectancy just doesn’t seem right. If you look at the other wealthy countries of the world, they’re not seeing the same thing.”
Synthetic drugs are much more deadly than prescription pills and heroin for a variety of reasons. They are often more potent, which means a tiny error in dosing can lead to an instant overdose.
The way inexperienced chemists synthesize the drugs in clandestine labs also means that the chemical structure of the drug is subject to change. One batch may be twice as potent as the one a user had previously. In some parts of the country, fentanyl has completely phased out heroin.
There is one silver lining to this all, and some early trends have been pointing toward 2017 being the peak of the overdose epidemic. One main contributor is that cities have made the conscious effort to invest in public health programs to help reduce the deadliness of drug use and connect more of these individuals with drug treatment centers.
When using prescription opioid drugs like OxyContin or Percocet, or using stronger street drugs like heroin or fentanyl, someone who wants to stop using the drugs is going to need help. Withdrawal symptoms from opioids can be downright unbearable, and medical detoxification is necessary to secure the chance of a future of abstaining from the drugs.
The next question you might ask is, “How do I find the right opiate detox center for myself or a loved one?” This article will highlight that in detail below.
How Do I Choose an Opiate Detox Center?
Various facilities throughout the U.S. offer similar services, so finding the right one may be a daunting task for some. You have finally accepted that you need help for your opiate addiction, but now you are starting to question your desire to get help because this task seems more difficult than to keep using. It doesn’t have to be. Prioritizing your health and wellness over drug use must not be influenced by choosing where to detox. Before you make a decision, though, you must be well-informed about your options and what to look for in the right facility.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has identified 13 principles that make for effective addiction treatment. Many of these factors have become the bedrock of today’s addiction treatment industry. When you’re looking for addiction treatment, it’s worth keeping many of these principles in mind. Here are some of the most important principles to look for in a rehab center:
- Addiction is a complex but treatable disease. Our understanding of the nature of addiction has grown over the past century, and there’s still a lot to learn. Still, it’s important that your treatment center has a clear understanding of what addiction is. For a while, it was treated like a bad habit or a moral failing. However, addiction is a chronic disease that can be effectively treated.
- There is no one ultimate treatment plan. There is no one approach to treatment that will be effective for every person. People are different and come to treatment with a different set of problems that need to be addressed. Treatment should be tailored to your individual needs.
- Treatment should address multiple needs. Addiction is complex, and people often come to treatment with a variety of physical, psychological, and social issues. For treatment to be effective, it needs to address a variety of issues, including medical conditions, mental health, relationship problems, financial instability, and legal problems.
- Remaining in treatment for enough time is important. The amount of time you spend in treatment will depend on your specific needs. However, spending less time than you need will have limited results. When it comes to the full continuum of care, NIDA says that studies show that treatment should take at least 90 days from start to finish.
- Behavioral therapies are recommended. Though your treatment will be tailored to your individual needs, most people receive some kind of behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapies refer to a wide range of treatment options that help you identify the factors that contribute to behavioral health problems and how to make positive changes. These therapies can help you engage in treatment, improve your motivation to make a change, and help you identify triggers. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most common options for addiction treatment. It involves learning positive coping skills to help prevent relapse in the future.
What to Look for When Choosing an Opiate Detox Center
Each person who enrolls in treatment has different needs that will make their process unique. Those who enter into treatment come in at a different height, weight, age, type, and amount of opiates they’ve been using, among others. No single treatment plan will be useful to everyone, which just means you require a tailored treatment that fits your current and evolving needs.
Our center offers specialized help for clients who are struggling not only with addiction but other disorders that can accompany their conditions. We treat mental health issues like anxiety, depression, as well as substance use disorders. The holistic program our facility offers focuses on the person as a whole, including their mind, body, and soul.
Other Services That Should be Offered Include:
- Vitamin support
- Dietary assistance and health food options
- Gender-separated treatment
- 12-step meetings
- Stress reduction options
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
Client-to-Staff Ratio
Detox will only be practical when a facility is not focused on too many needs at once. It’s important to have enough staff members who have time to provide each client with individualized attention. The only way this can take place is when the client-to-staff ratio remains low. It allows for specialists and other on-site professionals to respond quickly to problems that may arise and offer constant monitoring to make adjustments on the go.
