Is Rapid Opiate Detox a Safe Treatment?

Posted by mistyjhones on March 24th, 2022

Rapid opiate detox treatment is one of the popular ways to deal with opiate withdrawal, but is it safe? Learn how it is done and the important considerations when undergoing opiate detox treatment procedures.

Despite its effectiveness, rapid detox is a scary process if done by someone who is not trained to do so. There were many horror stories of malpractice and medical accidents because of untrained staff. So, be sure you only go to licensed detox treatment facilities for this procedure.

Is rapid opiate detox one of those magic detoxification procedures?

Yes, in a sense that it speeds up the detox procedure. And, no, because it is a medical procedure where the anesthesiologist heavily sedates you, injects naltrexone or naloxone (opiate antagonists) to counteract the effects of opiates, and licensed nurses and medical doctor checks on you 24/7. When you wake up, the procedure is over.

The doctor usually prescribes naltrexone which you have to take orally for several days. If you think you don’t have the strong determination to take it regularly, the doctor may perform minor surgery to deposit the naltrexone implant to your body. Its main purpose is to ward off any attempt to use opiates. It works for as long as six months. At this time, the opiate user can already adjust to the absence of opiates in his or her body.

Example: Alice had a rapid detox, but she thinks she can’t fight the urge to use opiates and won’t have the discipline to drink her naltrexone maintenance every day. She agrees to a naltrexone implant. When she went home, she used opiates again. But this time, opiate drug no longer works on her. She can’t get what she wants from the drug because the naltrexone implant counteracts the effects of opiates. So, she had no choice but to stop using opiates because it’s futile to do so.

Is rapid opiate detox enough, or do I still have to enroll in a drug rehab facility?

Rapid detox, just like clinical detox, is just a cleansing method. It deals with your withdrawal symptoms by removing the toxins from your body and resetting your brain to its before-drug-use condition. But addiction should be cured from within. Opiate addiction stems from behavioral issues that should be addressed by counseling, psychotherapy, and other methods that seek to resolve the underlying causes of your addiction. To achieve a full recovery and maintain your recovery for life, you need to have total healing-physical, psychological, spiritual, and social.

Important reminders when choosing a rapid opiate detox clinic

• Go to certified rapid detox facilities with licensed doctors and nurses to monitor the procedure 24/7. It may be costly, but your life is more important than the cost. You can just look for some ways to pay for the procedure, so never put your life at risk.
• Tell your doctor about your existing medical conditions. Most of the reported side effects are related to the patient’s existing medical conditions.
  • Don’t forget to ask about other opiate detox procedures available in the facility which is suited to your treatment needs.

You can learn more about the opiate detox treatment programs and how you can overcome opiate addiction and achieve lifetime recovery by visiting or phoning a treatment center.