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[O298]Opiate Detox At Home

by Christian Shire, Chr

Advocates of rapid opiate detox claim that through the procedure, addicts can undergo an accelerated form of detox while under anesthesia, finish within a day, and experience no pain.

How it works

Patients are paced under anesthesia, and once sedated they are administered a cocktail of drugs that accelerate and intensify the detox period (primarily the opiate antagonist nalexone) the pains of this quickened detox would be unimaginable were the patient conscious, but since they proceed through the day of withdrawal sedated, they awake at the end of the detox with no memory of the procedure, and completely opiate free.

The process can vary in duration from a few hours to a day or more, but at the end of it detox is over, and patients will feel no additional intense sensations of withdrawal.

The drug naltrexone is prescribed most commonly for the months after detox, to help with cravings back to use, but no additional therapy or education is offered. Patients are considered to be cured of their addiction, and ready to resume their lives without the abuse of drugs after only a day or two of care.

The procedure is expensive, and ranges from between $15 000 and $ 20 000 and insurance providers do not cover any of these expenses.

Problems

There are a number of issues of controversy surrounding the use of this novel technique, and critics have argued that the high costs of the procedure as well as the absence of any therapy towards drug avoidance makes the procedure a very expensive detox, unlikely to offer a long term solution to the problem of addiction and drug seeking.

Perhaps the greatest point of contention surrounds the safety of the procedure, and a well known clinic was recently disbanded after a slew of deaths occurred within days of patients having undergone the procedure.

Doctors argue that the detox is tough on the body as is, and when the detox pains are accelerated and intensified, the strain on the body grows proportionally. Since many patients entering into detox from heroin or other opiate based pills are not in an ideal state of health, they are at serious risk from this acceleration of strain on the body and mind.

Recommendations?

Most independent and impartial addictions professionals do recognize the value in this new form of detox, but argue that as it's used now, and without any complimentary therapies for relapse avoidance, the risks, expenses and likelihood of relapse make it a poor choice, tempting as it may be.

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.

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About Author

Both Christian Shire & Christin Shire are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Christian Shire has sinced written about articles on various topics from Detoxification. Read more about the risks and benefits at and read the daily addiction and recovery blog. Christian Shire's top article generates over 1600 views. to your Favourites.

Christin Shire has sinced written about articles on various topics from Alternative Medicine, Work From Home and Detoxification. Thinking about rapid opiate detox? Read stories of hope and recovery at. Christin Shire's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.