Rapid opiate detox clinics promise an accelerated and painless form of detox off of opiates such as heroin or prescription narcotic type pain pills. Patients proceeding through rapid opiate detox are placed under anesthesia and administered certain drugs (primarily the opiate antagonist nalexone) that accelerate the process of detoxification. Although were the patient conscious for this period of accelerated detox the pains would be unbearable, since the procedure occurs under anesthesia, the patient awakes several hours later with no memory of the agony experienced, and completely free from physical addiction.

It sounds too good to be true, and a lot of critics say that it well might be.

Problems with rapid opiate detox

Health risks

There are some serious issues concerning the safety of the procedure, and one well known clinic was disbanded after a string of deaths occurring within days of patients undergoing the rapid detox.

Detox is hard on the body, and anything that accelerates and intensifies this detox also intensifies the trials on the body and mind. Since patients coming in with an addiction to heroin or other drugs are often not in the best of physical condition, many doctors argue that the health risks of the procedure far outweigh any possible benefits.

Long term sobriety

Rapid opiate detox clinics present the technique as a cure to addiction, a claim most addictions professionals dispute heavily. Although a successful period of opiate detox does end the physical addiction to opiates, detox is but the first step to recovery.

Raid opiate detox clinics offer no therapy or education as to future relapse avoidance, and since the cravings and temptations to use remain, without the tools to avoid these triggers to abuse, few people can maintain abstinence.

Without intensive therapy and a commitment to a life changing set of behaviors and habits, the odds of long term sobriety are very low.

Costs

Rapid opiate detox is expensive. Costs for the one day procedure run from $15 000 - $20 000 and this price is inclusive only of the procedure, and without any additional therapies offered.

If it worked and if it could offer you long term sobriety, the costs would be reasonable and comparable to the costs of a conventional residential rehab; but since without therapy or relapse avoidance training the long term prospects are so low, the money spent is not likely to influence a long term change over addiction and drug seeking behaviors.

Because of the controversial nature of the procedure, no insurance carrier will offset any of the costs of a rapid opiate detox.

Although anyone would choose to avoid the agony of opiate detox were they offered an effective and safe alternative, the heath risks, expenses and risks of relapse inherent in rapid opiate detox should raise serious cause for alarm.