Opiates are so named because they are constituents of opium. There are several sorts of opiates and this family includes morphine, codeine, thebaine, and papverine. Synthetic opiates include heroin and hydrocodone and are derived from these substances. Some prescription pills such as Vicodin or Oxycontin also contain opiates. Opiates are considered narcotic drugs because they produce a bluntening of the senses.

People using opiates are at high risk of developing physical and psychological dependency. This means that if somebody suddenly stops using opiates then he/she will experience withdrawal symptoms. An opiate detox is designed to help the addict come off opiates in a controlled and safe manner rather than going "cold turkey".

A medically supervised opiate detox will rid the body of the chemicals left behind by opiate use so that the client is able to start a drug rehab treatment program with a clear mind and a healthy body.

Specialist detoxification (detox) centers in Cape Town are able to help you through the withdrawal phase of addictions treatment. They are experienced in providing safe opiate detox services under 24-hour medical supervision. A detox center in South Africa will provide a balanced nutritional program to help the body restore equilibrium.

An opiate detox will help to break the physical dependence on the drug. Of course addiction goes beyond simple physical dependence. An addiction treatment program in a drug rehabilitation (rehab) clinic in South Africa will address the underlying causes of the addiction. The psychological aspect of opiate addiction will be dealt with in a comprehensive manner using a multi-disciplinary team. The opiate detox is the first step in being able to start this treatment process.

Opiate detox can be managed in an outpatient setting by an experienced doctor. Such outpatient programs won't offer as much medical supervision or support as an inpatient program might. The lack of supervision in outpatient opiate detox increases the risk of the patient being overwhelmed by cravings and relapsing out of desperation. They are therefore more suitable for clients who have either not been using opiates for long or have been using relatively lower doses.

The withdrawal effects from opiates are very uncomfortable. Addicts in opiate detox without medical assistance feel aching pains in their bones and muscles, can't sleep but feel exhausted, feel irritable, get diarrhea, vomit, and have cold flushes. Effective medical supervision during opiate detox will reduce or eliminate these symptoms. Medication will address the physical discomfort and the support by staff and peers in the drug rehab center help the addict to deal with the psychological cravings that may arise.

Opiate addiction is a traumatic time for any addict to live through. The chaos that surrounds the compulsive need to obtain and use drugs leads to a life of misery. Opiate detox should be the end of this cycle of destruction and shouldn't be something to fear. When choosing an opiate detox center in South Africa please contact us for expert advice.