Self Improvement

How To Beat Morphine Addiction

Morphine dependence, like alcohol or drug addiction, does not just affect one family, one person, or even one community. In fact, it is a national concern. In the US alone, people spend billions of dollars on this addiction when they factor in accidents, lost employment, healthcare costs, and criminal justice costs.

Addiction to any type of narcotic is a continuous behavioral process. An individual uses it repeatedly until it escalates to a level that develops into a craving. The use of prohibited substances such as morphine often starts when a person begins to have difficulties facing life’s realities. At the same time, they perceive a need to be soothed by the calming effect of narcotic drugs.

Disturbing Statistics

Morphine produces effects that are similar to heroin, another opiate drug. When studying morphine abuse statistics, many monitoring and government agencies look at statistics gathered from studies on heroin abuse. According to a survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Health Administration, about 12 million Americans aged 12 and above have abused prescription pain relievers. This is the drug category that morphine belongs to. At the same time, this figure represents nearly 5 percent of the entire adult population in the US.

The study also shows that the average age when individuals first use morphine was 21.3 years old. At the same time, the number of people who reported heroin abuse or dependence increased from 214,000 in 2002 to 359,000 in 2012. Additionally, morphine and other opiates were the number three cause for drug-related emergency room admissions.

Wishing to Stop

People who are suffering from this addiction feel intense physical and psychological dependency. When they attempt to quit, they become sick with symptoms that are similar to a severe case of the flu. A lot of addicts tell themselves from the start that they can get off the drugs any time they want without seeking the help of outside resources.

However, this is not usually the case. This is because the results will not statistically last long when a user makes an attempt to detoxify themselves and to stop their drug use without the help of professional experts. According to a study, morphine users have one of the highest relapse rates among substance addicts. At the same time, the possibility of a relapse is significantly increased when behavioral factors that have greatly influenced this addiction have not been changed.

Factors that Can Hinder Recovery

Drug rehabilitation is a long-term, multi-phase process. Detoxification is only the first step on the path of addiction treatment. At the same time, physical detoxification alone is only one tool and is not enough to alter behavior patterns. This usually requires the assistance of drug addiction professionals. In order to achieve a successful recovery, the user needs new tools to enable them to deal with problems that can arise. Factors such as returning to the same environment or neighborhood and places, encountering someone from their years of use, or even small details such as objects and smells trigger memories that can create psychological stress.

These factors can greatly hinder the addict’s commitment to a complete recovery. It also does not allow the individual to permanently regain complete control of their lives. Morphine addiction is a serious and sometimes life-threatening problem. It is not only hard for the user. It is also extremely difficult for the people who care about them. At the same time, admitting that they have a problem with their addiction can be very hard. No matter how painful this may be, the problem must be acknowledged before people are able to overcome it.

The next hurdle is being able to accept and seek help from an addiction professional. It can be very hard for a morphine addict to face the fact that they cannot do it alone. Once this realization has been accepted, it is the right time to look for the appropriate professional treatment. Drug rehabilitation programs that are based on a social education modality are proven to be highly effective.

Inpatient Rehabilitation

There are two types of morphine rehabilitation implemented in the United States today. This includes inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. Both of these rehab treatments have program styles that provide a lot of the same important elements. This includes detoxification, counseling, and aftercare. However, the way that patients live when not actively taking part in these treatment modalities is very different.

Inpatient drug rehabilitation or residential rehabilitation has the person leave their home and stay in a treatment center full time. This treatment method is considered to be a totally immersive experience. This is because it gives the individual a chance to be free from distractions and focus solely on their rehabilitation.

The individual receives care around the clock from treatment professionals. At the same time, an inpatient rehabilitation center offers peripheral programs such as hikes and walks, exercise regimens, nutritional counseling, and more. Treatment in an inpatient rehabilitation center can last anywhere from one month to a year or even longer. Longer treatments are best for individuals that have experienced repeated relapse or have a very serious lifelong addiction.

Benefits of Inpatient Rehabilitation

  • Personal and Holistic Health Care

More and more residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation facilities are adding holistic modalities to their treatment arsenal. Acupuncture, yoga, and meditation are some of the programs that enhance the body, mind, and spirit of an addict.

  • Personal Attention and Care

Although there are many caring and attentive professionals working at outpatient centers throughout the country, there is no replacement for the high degree of personal attention that recovering individuals receive while staying at a residential rehabilitation center. A lot of staff members actually live on site. This means they are present to help individuals when they need it most.

  • Community and Support

Living side by side along with recovering individuals can be a great experience for a lot of recovering addicts. It can also lead to different treatment breakthroughs. An inpatient rehabilitation experience creates friendships that can last a lifetime and aid them on the path to recovery.

  • Outpatient Rehabilitation

Outpatient rehabilitation is a treatment program where an individual attends treatment based on their schedule and then returns to a sober living facility or their home in the evening. These treatment programs usually happen in a hospital-like setting while some take place at a large treatment or home center.

The duration of an outpatient rehabilitation program varies according to the facility’s philosophy as well as the personal needs of the patient. A lot of recovering addicts can expect this treatment method to last a maximum of three months. However, more serious cases may need one year or more of rehabilitation. Additionally, long-term outpatient rehabilitation is much less common than inpatient programs that are of the same length.

Catherine

Catherine Han founded Murals Plus in 2017 and is currently the managing editor of the media website. She is also a content writer, editor, blogger and a photographer.

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