As a group of substances, opioids are a family of drugs that includes prescription painkillers, but also illicit substances.
Generally, opioids work by binding to the receptors in the brain that signal pain, causing a range of additional and side effects in the process.
In most cases, a prescription course of opioids would be short-term or highly controlled to avoid the risk of developing an addiction. However, in cases where opioid consumption is long-term or unsupervised (i.e., in recreational settings), it can lead to an addiction.
When individuals are addicted, their brain chemistry and cognitive functioning is altered, meaning that the individual will persistently seek out the substance that they are addicted to, even if the individual is aware of future negative consequences.
This web page will cover more about opioids, the dangers of opioids as an addictive substance, and how a home opioid detox may be suitable in some individual cases.
In the UK, individuals can ensure that what they are receiving as a prescription substance is a pure opioid – rather than a synthesised one or a substance that has been mixed with other substances.
This is something that is especially dangerous when individuals are seeking opioids outside of a medical prescription.
Below is a list of some of the most common forms of opioids, as well as how they may be used/misused in different circumstances:
A key feature of opioids and something that makes them relatively more dangerous than other substances is the fact that they are physically addictive.
A physical addiction means that the substance becomes ingrained within the individual’s everyday functioning, including direct impacts to the individual’s physical and mental wellbeing.
For example, if an individual becomes addicted to an opioid such as oxycodone or heroin, the withdrawal process is likely to be far more complex than a withdrawal from a substance such as cannabis or cocaine.
In the same way as an individual would work toward recovery from an alcohol addiction, for example, individuals must treat a detox from opioids incredibly carefully, as well as ensuring that they are fully supported and supervised throughout the process.
Without the support of a medical practitioner or addiction specialist, individuals are far more likely to experience serious health problems, life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, and – in extreme cases – death.
In some instances, an individual may be able to progress with a detoxification programme for their own home – this is common with less severe alcohol addictions, for example.
However, due to the complexities and dangers of an opioid addiction and withdrawal, it is only in a small number of cases that some individuals may be able to undergo a home opioid detox.
During a home opioid detox, individuals will progress with the first stage of rehabilitation -detoxification – while in the comfort of their own home or local area. This may be more suitable for some individuals due to the differing environments in which they may prefer or require to recover in.
For example, an individual who has a dependent at home with them (i.e., a single parent, carer for another), may be more suited to recovering at home, but only if the risk is low and there are no other viable options.
So how does a home opioid detox work? In fact, there are many stages (even if this is the first stage of rehabilitation itself), and all of these must be carefully considered and thought about before an individual makes any final decisions about the future of their care.
In the cases where an individual may be suitable for a home opioid detox, they will be aware of all the stages of care before they begin any programme, as this will better prepare them for the future of their rehabilitation programme, as well as informing them on any stages that they may need to consider more carefully.
The following subheadings outline some of the key processes within a home opioid detox, as well as highlighting some key features of the process of a detox and how an individual may be assisted through the different stages should they feel as though they need it.
Before beginning any form of rehabilitation, an individual must first be assessed to determine their needs of care and where they may best be suited to carry out this rehabilitative programme(s).
As mentioned across this article, a home opioid detox can be incredibly risky in the wrong situations, meaning that it is imperative for an individual to be fully assessed to determine their suitability and/or requirements of care.
Below follows an example list of questions that an individual may be asked by a medical professional or addiction specialist service before entering rehabilitative care:
By answering all of these questions (or similar) with complete honesty and openness, an individual is far more likely to be recommended the most suitable and effective rehabilitation programme(s) for them and their needs.
When it comes to withdrawing from opioids, most substances will require some form of tapering in order to withdraw slowly, over time, and with the minimal amount of discomfort and danger caused.
During tapering, individuals are often prescribed another substance to counteract the negative withdrawal symptoms that they may experience and slowly increase the consumption of this substance while reducing the consumption of the substance that they are addicted to.
Studies show that tapering is often performed on an outpatient basis, though the guidelines surrounding this practise are often unclear, unregulated, and highly variable (2). This highlights the dangers of opioid withdrawals and the professional support required for such a supervised programme.
In some cases, especially in recent years, some individuals are being prescribed a sober companion or sober coach to support them throughout their home opioid detox.
As a home opioid detox is primarily carried out at home and without constant supervision or presence of others, it can be a challenging process to undergo alone.
With the help of a sober companion or sober coach, individuals gain the social support of someone who is knowledgeable in the field, as well as being able to give unique and tailored advice as to the individual’s next steps and ongoing care.
In all cases of individuals who are addicted to a form of opioid, further care is always necessary.
This reduces further harm in the future, as well as providing the individuals with further tools and methods to support their own ongoing recovery and learning.
With opioid addictions, this is generally recommended to take place within a dedicated rehabilitation centre so that the individual can receive 24/7 care, as well as having access to the most appropriate facilities and services for them.
Accessing these facilities and rehabilitation centres can be started though contacting the individual’s local health services or, alternatively, by contacting a specialist addiction referral service.
To learn more about opioid addictions, home opioid detoxes, or any other query relating to addiction and the rehabilitation process, get in touch with Rehab 4 Addiction or take a look at our other web pages – full of information and advice surrounding addiction and the related fields.
To speak to a member of our friendly and professional team, call our addiction support line on 0800 140 4690 to find out how we can help you or someone you know start the recovery process today.
[1] Johansen, B.S. and Johansen, K.S., 2015. Heroin: From drug to ambivalent medicine. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry, 39(1), p.75.
[2] Kral, L.A., Jackson, K. and Uritsky, T.J., 2015. A practical guide to tapering opioids. Mental Health Clinician, 5(3), pp.102-108.
