Demerol Treatment and Rehab

Demerol Info

• Demerol Addiction and Abuse
• Demerol Symptoms and Warning Signs
• Demerol Treatment and Rehab
• Demerol Withdrawal and Detox

In the UK, US and other parts of the world, there is a growing epidemic of prescription opioid drug abuse. Generally, painkillers are the most commonly abused prescription medication, with Demerol being very popular amongst synthetic opioid addicts.

Demerol is the brand/marketing name for meperidine, a synthetic opioid drug typically prescribed for post-surgery, pre-anaesthesia, and other situations that require pain relief. According to experts, the way meperidine functions in the human body is very similar to how morphine (another opioid narcotic) works.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, opioid drugs such as Demerol are widely abused, with between 26-36 million people abusing the drug globally. Demerol is abused because it (along with similar substances) interacts with your body by filling up the opioid receptors in your brain in a manner that leads to an overproduction of some of your brain’s chemical messengers. The chemical messengers/neurotransmitters mostly affected are those that influence your emotions, as well as your ability to feel pleasure. This results in you feeling ‘high’ as well as experiencing pain relief.

Aside from its ability to block out pain, Demerol can also lower your stress levels by minimising certain functions of your central nervous system, such as blood pressure, respiration and heart rate. This can lead to a relaxed mood, feelings of sedation and a significant decrease in anxiety. Most people who abuse Demerol do so simply to experience these effects and feel good.

Addiction to Demerol will form over time as the brain becomes used to its altered chemistry triggered by the drug’s effects, and the disruption of the natural production and movement of neurotransmitters.

It’s been noted that not everyone who develops dependence on Demerol starts by using the drug solely for recreational purposes. In many recorded instances, Demerol abuse began with a legitimate prescription of the drug for pain relief. However, because the drug isn’t meant to be taken long-term, an individual can easily become addicted if it is used for longer than the prescribed period or in doses that are higher than what is prescribed.

Regardless of how you or a loved one started abusing Demerol, it’s important to get help fast for overcoming addiction. This is because Demerol abuse and addiction can lead to long and short-term side effects that are easily capable of negatively impacting one’s quality of life, as well as relationships.

What is Demerol addiction?

Due to how Demerol interacts with brain chemistry, it can be highly addictive (as can similar opioid drugs). Demerol comes in inject able form, as a tablet or in syrups. Because of its many guises, Demerol can be abused by taking orally, snorting, smoking or injecting. The drug can be found on the streets with names like D, juice, dust, or dillies.

Due to its potency, abusing Demerol can quickly lead to substance dependence and eventually addiction. In such a situation, quitting the drug suddenly becomes difficult due to the ensuing withdrawal symptoms. A specialised treatment plan will be needed to help an addict completely and permanently break free from the influence of the substance.

Drug use that you have no control over and compulsive drug-seeking behaviours are signs that you have most likely developed a Demerol addiction. Another key sign of a developing addiction to Demerol is an increased tolerance to the drug. This will lead to you requiring a gradually increasing dose, as lesser amounts no longer deliver the desired effect. Tolerance will evolve into dependence, as your brain becomes reliant on the effects of the drug to stay balanced and stave off cravings, as well as other uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

Demerol withdrawal symptoms can be quite difficult to bear. Some of the more commonly witnessed include: restlessness, tearing up, nausea, runny nose, sweating, chills, abdominal cramps, pupil dilation, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, anxiety, major depressive disorder, weight loss, irritability, weakness and insomnia. There can also be life-threatening symptoms such as elevated heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate.

In order to make a full recovery from Demerol addiction, a medical detox may first be required, especially if the addiction is severe. It will help minimise the discomfort and the risks often associated with opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Once detox is complete, it’s best if it is immediately followed by treatment at either an outpatient or residential treatment programme. Under either of these programmes, you’ll be helped to recover from the psychological aspects of addiction through therapy sessions, addiction education, life skills training, supportive care and counselling. A combination of these treatments will contribute to helping you make a full recovery from the disease of addiction.

Demerol addiction treatment

For all kinds of opioid dependence (especially Demerol dependence), a medically assisted detox is often recommended to purge an addict’s system of all Demerol related toxins. If you’re being provided such treatment, you’ll be consistently monitored and your health appropriately managed in order to avoid any physical or psychological complications. This is done to ensure you recover safely.

Once detox has been successfully achieved, you’ll be assigned a comprehensive treatment programme that utilises both behavioural therapy and counselling. This will educate you about healthy ways to properly manage drug cravings, stress, and maintain positive thoughts that will help you stay drug-free long-term. Your treatment plan will cover any and all co-occurring disorders, so that you receive optimal care that deals with not just the addiction, but also any underlying issues.

Demerol dependence: Treatment suggestions

In most cases, behavioural therapies are recommended for the treatment of Demerol addiction or other opioid substance abuse disorders. Treatment can be provided either through an outpatient or inpatient programme, where you’ll have access to both group and individual therapy sessions that will teach you new methods of coping with stress and managing emotions, as well as healthy life skills that promote sobriety.

Some examples of behavioural therapies include Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

CBT will assist you by facilitating the modification of your thought patterns and helping you get past thoughts that linger on negative drug behaviours. For example, if you have low self-esteem or other anxiety issues, you may indulge in destructive behaviours like substance abuse to feel better. CBT can help with improving your self-image and thus overcome the detrimental behaviour patterns that led you to abuse drugs in the first instance.

On the other hand, MI is a non-judgmental and non-confrontational type of therapy that can help you recognisea need to move onfrom drug abuse habits. The therapy will help motivate you to change and stay committed to your decision.

Combining behavioural therapies according to the recovery needs of an addictis more effective and can help you better understand how to control drug related impulses and emotions such as anger, which are potential stressors that can trigger cravings.

A detox that’s supported by medication can also safely facilitate or hasten the process of ridding the body of Demerol remnants. During such treatment, you’ll likely be required to stay within a specialised facility, where you’ll be monitored round-the-clock by medical professionals until you make a full recovery.

Medication such as methadone and buprenorphine can be used as part of opioid replacement therapy to wean you off Demerol. Buprenorphine can be used alongside naloxone (an opioid agonist) to prevent a relapse.

Combination drugs like Zubsolv, Bunavail and Suboxone work by acting as partial opioid agonists, while buprenorphine partially fills the opioid receptors without producing a ‘high’and thus minimises withdrawal symptoms.

Other types of medication can also be used to treat specific symptoms of withdrawal, such as depression, insomnia, anxiety or nausea. Medication can include benzodiazepines that serve as anti-anxiety treatment, antidepressants, or sleep aids. Non-opioid pain relievers can also be made available. Clonidine can be used to manage increased blood pressure resulting from withdrawal symptoms.

Underlying medical, mental, or behavioural disorders are treated simultaneously in an integrated fashion, in order to guarantee a full recovery. Ignoring a co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder can lead to any provided treatment not having the maximum effect and the patient subsequently resuming their drug abusing ways.

Warning signs of Demerol abuse and addiction

A warning sign of Demerol addiction that can’t be ignored is substance dependence that comes with drug cravings and opioid withdrawal symptoms when you delay taking another dose. Said withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, irritability, weakness, heightened blood pressure and heart rate, tearing up, restlessness, nausea, runny nose, sweating, chills, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.

Other warning signs of Demerol abuse and addiction include:

• Potential legal or criminal issues
• Increased tolerance to the drug (and thus an increase in dosage)
• Failed attempts at quitting Demerol
• Using false pretences to get more of the drug – or ‘doctor shopping’ by visiting different doctors with the goal of obtaining more Demerol prescriptions
• Lack of interest in things you once enjoyed, especially activities not revolved around using Demerol
• Neglecting home, school or work responsibilities and duties
• Sleeping at odd times
• Significant weight loss
• Sudden mood swings
• Continued abuse of Demerol, even though being well aware of its negative effects
• Developing new risky habits and behaviours, such as driving whilst under the influence

Addiction in any form is a disease that can negatively impact your mental and physical health, as well as your emotional and financial wellbeing. The negative impacts can also extend to your relationships with family and affect your community as a whole. Demerol addiction is not a life sentence, but is in fact a highly treatable ailment, as long you go about receiving the necessary care in the right way.

Keep in mind that mixing Demerol with other substances can actually worsen side effects.

The long-term effects of abusing Demerol can last for months or even years after you’ve actually stopped abusing it. Long-term side effects can negatively impact the functioning of not just your body, but also your mind. Some of the more serious and most commonly seen long-term side effects include:

Research and studies have also shown that people who abuse opiates have a greater likelihood of experiencing common mental health disorders in comparison to those who don’t use opiates at all.

Why you should seek treatment and rehab for Demerol abuse and addiction

Demerol abuse and addiction can be difficult to quit, especially in light of how severe the withdrawal symptoms can be. Going through Demerol withdrawal without any medical assistance isn’t only uncomfortable, but can also be painful and can in some cases lead to medical or psychological complications. In order to reduce the chances of this to a bare minimum and lessen the likelihood of a relapse, it’s best to seek treatment and rehab at a reputable addiction treatment facility.

Furthermore, if you try detoxing at home to get over your addiction, you’ll only be managing the physical aspects of your withdrawal and completely ignoring the mental aspects. A rehab clinic with competent medical professionals – as well as the necessary resources – can provide a more comprehensive treatment that covers every aspect of your addiction.

Don’t take the risk of trying to beat addiction yourself. Instead, seek professional help now and ensure you get the best available treatment in your area or abroad.

Applying the following tips can be useful in getting your loved one to commit to overcoming Demerol addiction:

• Do not get into an argument with an addict and remain calm at all times, while trying to convince your loved one to get help. Speak in a calm tone and try to reason with the addict until they understand that quitting is for their own good.
• Avoid being confrontational or accusatory. If you are confrontational or accusatory, you can cause a loved one to become defensive and avoid you. Some might even lash out. So, show compassion while trying to talk a loved one into getting addiction treatment.
• Explain to a loved one how their addiction is negatively affecting the lives and happiness of those around them. This is necessary, because most times, an addict is blind to how their actions are hurting those around them.
• For best results, don’t confront a loved one about addiction on your own and be sure to speak to them when they are sober.
• Last but not least, don’t give up on a loved one. Convincing an addict to quit a substance of abuse rarely works on the first try. So, keep at it and remain compassionate in your approach.

If you would like professional help with convincing a loved one to quit, you can organise an expert interventionist.

At a rehab facility, you’ll have access to specialist treatment that will take care of both the physical and psychological aspects of your addiction. This will be accomplished by first systematically evaluating your condition, before prescribing the best programme of treatment to help you make a full recovery.

If your addiction is severe, you can enrol at an inpatient facility, where you’ll be provided extensive, round-the-clock care, support group programmes and an environment that allows you to focus solely on getting better. Simply put, seeking rehab at a treatment centre is the safest, most comfortable and effective way to make a full recovery from mental and physical addiction to Demerol.

What’s Demerol rehab like?

This is often dependent on the type of rehab facility you opt for. You could choose an outpatient programme that requires you to only visit the facility when it’s time for treatment and then leave as soon as you’re done for the day. An outpatient facility is ideal for people with a less than severe addiction.

There’s also the option of an inpatient rehab programme, where you’ll be required to stay within the treatment facility until you make a full recovery. As an inpatient, you’ll be provided round-the-clock care from a team of dedicated professionals who will monitor your recovery, as well as manage your treatment. There’s the option of a standard inpatient Demerol rehab, or an exclusive or executive rehab.

An exclusive or executive rehab will offer you the height of convenience, where you can make a full recovery in luxury. In such facilities, not only are you provided first class medical treatment, you’ll also receive pampering in the form of massages, gourmet meals and other luxuries, although treatment at one of these facilities will be more expensive than regular rehab.

Treatment and therapy options

Therapy options available in both outpatient and inpatient facilities are as follows:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): The goal of this therapy is to help change your attitude and behaviours associated with your current drug abuse and develop a healthier lifestyle.
• Contingency management or motivational incentives: This form of therapy focuses on providing positive reinforcement and other rewards that will encourage you to stay sober and
  drug-abstinent.
• Motivational interviewing: This is a form of counselling that will help you find the motivation to make positive changes to your life that can keep you on the path to remaining drug-free. Note that this form of treatment only works if you have a genuine will to remain drug-free.

Further therapy and aftercare can be received through the following support arrangements:

• Recovery housing/sober living support: This is a sober living facility in which you can reside after completing an inpatient rehab programme. Your stay will only be for a short period, but its purpose is to help you re-integrate into life outside rehab with greater ease.
• Aftercare planning: This involves developing a plan for your life that will ensure continued sobriety post-rehab. This arrangement has proven to be very effective in preventing relapses and keeping recovering addicts focused on healthy living.
• Support groups: Examples of support groups include Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, which are both 12-step programmes, designed to provide recovering addicts with all the emotional support – and much more – that they need, as they move on with a drug-free life. There are also non-12-step programmes available too.

Which to choose: Inpatient vs. outpatient

Inpatient and outpatient programmes are both capable of helping you make a full recovery from Demerol addiction. Each treatment type offers unique benefits that make each better suited to certain circumstances. For instance, an inpatient treatment facility is a better option for people with a severe Demerol addiction, especially those who are likely to experience intense withdrawal symptoms. This is because an inpatient facility provides round-the-clock intensive care. You’ll also have medical professionals available to care for you at all times.

On the other hand, an outpatient facility is a viable option if you have a less severe addiction and do not require round-the-clock assistance with withdrawal symptoms. Also, if you don’t want your addiction treatment to interfere with your daily life, an outpatient facility will let you continue with work, school and other social activities whilst receiving treatment.

Other important considerations are time and cost. Inpatient programmes tend to cost more, but can help you make a full recovery in less time. An outpatient facility typically costs less, but can take longer before you finish receiving addiction treatment. Regardless, it’s best to have an expert properly evaluate you and advise whether inpatient or outpatient treatment is best for your needs.

Choosing the best Demerol rehab centre

Because addiction affects everyone differently, each individual will require a unique type of treatment to make a full recovery. To choose the best Demerol rehab centre to care for your needs, it’s important to first fully understand not just your addiction, but also the factors that led to it.

Aside from your physical and mental health, you need to consider costs, insurance, accessibility and the level of luxury you prefer when searching for the best Demerol rehab centre available.

Going through Demerol withdrawal can be a painful experience, with symptoms ranging from mild to intensely uncomfortable. Individuals with heart conditions should be monitored by a medical professional whilst going through withdrawal, as certain complications can arise.

To ease the symptoms of withdrawal, medication can be prescribed and administered by a health professional. Examples of such medication include Methadone(an opioid agonist), Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, and Clonidine.

Continuing and Follow-up Care

In order to prevent a relapse during recovery from Demerol addiction, it’s best to continue rehab with an outpatient programme once you’ve completed drug rehabilitation at an inpatient centre. Support groups like Narcotics Anonymous can also be taken advantage of to keep you focused on staying sober and living healthily, post-rehab.

To get the right level of follow-up care, it’s best to develop an aftercare plan with a specialist, before finishing your initial rehab treatment. This way, the methods by which you’ll be taken care of and the level of support you’ll need post-rehab will already be in place. People who make use of aftercare services and have follow-up care in place usually have a higher success rate in staying addiction-free long-term.

Demerol treatment costs and payment options

The cost of Demerol addiction treatment is often determined by the severity of your addiction, as well as the sort of treatment you opt for. Treatment at an inpatient facility typically costs more than at an outpatient facility. Also, the cost of inpatient treatment can further increase if you opt for a luxury or executive treatment programme. Either way, you should never compromise the quality of treatment for cost. Therefore, always opt for the best value treatment, so you can receive quality healthcare and make a full recovery from addiction.

When it comes to payment options, you can pay for rehab treatment either by cash or credit card.If you have private medical insurance, it may also cover rehab treatment, but it’s important to verify the extent of your coverage by talking with your insurance provider.

Demerol addiction: Facts and statistics

Opiate narcotics addiction knows no bounds. This is evident in how people from all different walks of life (comprising factors that are socioeconomic, ethnicity and age-related) can develop a Demerol addiction. It is recorded that within a 30-day period in the United States, around 7 million people aged 12 and above abused a prescription drug. More than 5 million of the people within this demographic admitted to abusing prescription opiates. There are also reports that indicate a111% increase in visits to emergency wards caused by complications from abusing painkillers.

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