Can You Get Off Opiates Forever On Your Own?

Getting addicted to opiates is fast, yet recovery is often painfully slow with plenty of relapses along the way. Opioid addiction is an epidemic across the United States because the euphoria caused by these narcotics is very sought after by addicted individuals. Once you’re hooked, getting off opiates on your own is not easy and this process often requires medical assistance.

The best way to recover from opioid abuse is to enter a medical detoxification program followed by residential addiction treatment. However, not everyone has the means to do so successfully. Whether it’s a lack of financial stability, health insurance, or family support, some addicted people can only get sober on their own. If this is the situation for you or a loved one, then we suggest assisting the journey with twelve-step Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

Tips for Opioid Detox at Home

Commitment and strong will are the characteristics needed to survive an opioid detox at home. It will not be easy and the withdrawal symptoms are painful but it is possible. The most common opiate detox withdrawal symptoms include the following:

• Cold and hot sweats
• Diarrhea
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Aches and pains
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Hallucinations
• Cravings

While these may seem like a handful and many of them sound dangerous, few if any people have actually directly died from opioid withdrawal symptoms. The biggest threat is a relapse back into active addiction if someone is detoxing at home. That is because they are left without clinical supervision or sober support to ensure a successful detox.

Getting Over Opioid Addiction By Yourself

The best chance for success with an opioid detox is to overcome the addiction with help from mental health professionals in a medical detox or rehabilitation program setting. As we’ve explained previously, it is certainly possible to get over opioid addiction by yourself with enough determination, but it’s not recommended. If you choose to go down this route, we recommend keeping in mind the following tips for opioid detox at home:

• Drink plenty of fluids
• Get plenty of rest
• Keep yourself busy or occupied
• Take daily recommended doses of vitamins and minerals
• Stay focused at all costs

There will be struggles along the way and opioid detox lasts anywhere from five to seven days (or longer) depending on the opioid that was abused, but there is always light at the end of the tunnel. If you or a loved one have any questions about opioid detox or opiate withdrawal symptoms, our helpline is confidential and available around the clock.