Fighting the urge to abuse opioids can oftentimes feel like an uphill battle. No matter how many times you quit, a sense of discouragement looms when you’re almost ‘forced’ to take it again. However, it is possible to quit opioids once and for all. With the strategies mentioned below, you can break free from opioid addiction.
Substance use disorder is no simple matter. It can cost you your health, livelihood, relationships, and even your life. Perhaps that is the reason why you are here, looking for ways on how to quit opioids.
Our country is in a long-term state of an opioid epidemic. Many states have declared this crisis in their respective territories, as people succumb to more and more opioid overdoses and deaths. Opioid addiction becomes a stronghold for many, sending them into a vicious cycle of desiring to quit, but failing and suffering the consequences.
How does one quit opioids? In this post, we will be elaborating on steps that will increase your chances of recovery success.
How To Stop Using Opioids
How hard is it to quit opioids? Many people wonder if there’s a way on how to quit opioids on your own. Generally, this path isn’t advisable as many people have died or suffered long-term health consequences because of withdrawal complications. People can experience seizures, dehydration, vomiting, or loss of consciousness when having severe withdrawal symptoms.
Drug and alcohol withdrawal should ideally be experienced with the help of a medical professional or under a trusted rehab facility. Withdrawals from opioids may be uncomfortable, to say the least, but the complications can be unpredictably life-threatening.
Now that we understand the dangers of trying to quit opioids on your own, here are the steps you can take for a safe and effective recovery from drug addiction. Getting in a top-rated rehab center is your best bet for safe and effective addiction treatment. This is because treatment centers have a complete process that will not only address the current addiction, but also the triggers that cause the abuse. Under a formal addiction treatment process, you will undergo:
Getting In A Quality Rehab Facility
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Managing Triggers
Although this will be further discussed when you undergo addiction rehab, it will also be helpful to make some changes in your present environment to prevent substance use disorder.
Addiction triggers are situations, thoughts, emotions, or people that cause you to crave opioids. To manage your triggers better, you need to increase your awareness of preceding factors during your opioid use. It could be:
- Experiencing stress
- Negative thought patterns
- Problematic relationships
- People influencing abuse
- Passing by a certain location
Once you have created a list of these addiction triggers, create an action plan on how you will manage these factors in your life. Work on resolving these triggers to lessen the likelihood of opioid abuse. Some tips to help you manage triggers include:
- Changing up your environment: Avoiding locations that you are likely to access opioids
- Resolving relationship issues: Healing from a toxic relationship or going through relationship therapy
- Avoiding negative thought patterns: Replacing negative perspective or cognitive distortions with helpful ways of thinking
- Cutting off unhelpful influences: Avoiding people or groups that encourage substance use disorder
The specific strategies for managing triggers can also be learned during your rehab’s self-management interventions.
Community Of Support
Another pillar that you will rely on during your recovery journey is your support systems in place. It will be helpful to have in-person or virtual support groups that you can attend regularly for accountability, encouragement, and helping you get back on track in case a relapse occurs. There are faith-based and secular groups available that you can join so you can grow and learn together during your journey to being addiction-free.
Some people out of rehab may also be given maintenance treatments such as psychotherapies, group therapies, or holistic treatments to aid in their mental and emotional state during recovery. Your community of support is crucial to help you succeed in long-term sobriety.
Opioid Addiction: A Way Out Is Possible
There’s no ‘hopeless case’ in substance use disorder. One who decides to recover can do so, with the right professional help, trigger management, and community of supports. The decision to become sober is usually the hardest step to take but will produce results that lead to a healthier, happier, and fulfilled version of yourself.
Sources:
- Hhs.gov – “About the Epidemic”.
- Ndarc.med.usnw.edu – “Yes, people can die from opiate withdrawal”.
- Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – “Religiosity and Participation in Mutual-Aid Support Groups for Addiction”.
Medical disclaimer:
Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery.
Licensed medical professionals review material we publish on our site. The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals.