How to Treat Morphine Addiction

Morphine has had a medicinal use for a long time. The opiate painkiller made early American surgeries possible. Now, you receive it for intense pain. It’s also a habit-forming substance that causes morphine addiction. It does so even when you use the product according to a doctor’s instructions.

Signs of a Morphine Addiction

Dark brooding man suffering with morphine addiction.

Individuals dealing with a morphine addiction tend to be sleepy a lot of the time. They suffer from constipation. Look for empty bottles since many prefer the liquid form of the drug. You may also find syringes and similar paraphernalia.

The body quickly develops a tolerance to the drug. As is the case with other opiates, the user will increase the dose to achieve the same result. Doing so can be dangerous, particularly when mixing the drug with other substances. Opioid overdoses are becoming a regular sight in hospital emergency rooms across the nation.

If someone takes too much of the drug, you witness shallow breathing. Pupils are constricted. Do not waste time on waiting for the individual to come around and snap out of it. A morphine overdose is a medical emergency that requires the assistance of first responders.

Has this medical emergency happened to you? Maybe it happened to a loved one. For many, an overdose is a wakeup call that it’s time to quit. No matter how long the drug use went on, you can stop right now.

Detox is the First Step of Treatment

You experience withdrawal symptoms after about six to 12 hours from the last dose. Gastrointestinal upset is a first sign that your body is trying to regain equilibrium. Detoxing in a medically supervised setting is safer than doing it at home because of the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and danger of dehydration. A good-quality rehab facility can put you in touch with a detox center.

Overcoming a Morphine Addiction with Rehab

Of course, drug detox is only one aspect of recovery. It typically takes between three to ten days to break the physical component of a morphine addiction. Undoing the psychological part, however, is far more labor-intensive. It requires targeted treatment that includes psychotherapy and relapse prevention training.

Examples of modalities include:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy that takes place in one-on-one sessions to counteract negative patterns
  • Dialectical behavioral therapy that assists program participants with accepting conditions outside their spheres of influence
  • Trauma assessment and treatment make it possible to find closure for past situations that affect your actions today
  • Life skills training takes you from self-imposed isolation to collaborating with others on how to go through your day without using
  • A holistic approach to treatment incorporates organic nutrition, healthy lifestyle discovery, and parts of the 12 Step program

As you can see, there’s plenty of emphasis on getting to the reasons for a morphine addiction. Experts recognize that someone struggling with a substance abuse problem typically self-medicates. By finding out the underlying condition, it’s possible to not only break the addiction but also prevent a relapse. Of course, it’s impossible to provide this level of care without complete personalization.

In fact, every aspect of the treatment must motivate the program participant. At the same time, it must meet the individual’s needs. For example, someone who self-medicates to overcome feelings of depression has different treatment needs than someone with an anxiety issue. Trying to provide both individuals with the same level of therapy is counterproductive.

 

Relearn How to Live Life without Using

At Healing Springs Ranch, our treatment model embraces lasting recovery as the ultimate outcome goal. To this end, you have access to a variety of therapies that will appeal to you. Examples are experiential therapy and nutritional counseling. While the former opens the door to new ways of healing, the latter helps you to get into the groove of a healthy lifestyle.

Because goal setting is a significant aspect of recovery, therapists encourage you to envision yourself living drug-free. Exercise, healthy food choices, and changes in your mindset are the stepping-stones that get you to your goals. As you can see, you don’t have to keep using. Reach out for assistance today by dialing Healing Springs Ranch at 866-656-8384 and connecting with our compassionate therapists.