Rehab for Dilaudid Addiction Treatment

Dilaudid is a prescription opioid painkiller. The generic name of the drug is hydromorphone, a substance derived from morphine. Opioids are drugs that are either found naturally in the opium poppy, like morphine or are derived from those natural substances. They are effective painkillers but are also highly habit-forming. The pain relief potency of Dilaudid is two to eight times that of morphine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lists hydromorphone as a schedule II controlled substance. Like other opioids, it has a high potential for abuse and can cause addiction. Dilaudid addiction occurs when a person can no longer control their use of the drug, has developed a tolerance to it, experiences withdrawal when not using it, and continues to use it in spite of the problems it causes. Dilaudid abuse is very serious, not just because it causes addiction but also because there is a high risk of fatal overdose.

The first step in treating Dilaudid addiction is detox, which should be medically supervised. Once detox is over, treatment with therapy and medications can begin. For the best outcome, inpatient treatment at a residential facility should be of a long enough duration and be tailored to meet the needs of each individual. In general, treatment includes different types of behavioral therapies, group therapy and support, stress management and learning healthy coping mechanisms, nutrition and exercise, and alternative and creative therapies.

Medical care for Dilaudid addiction can be helpful but is not a treatment by itself. It should always be used in conjunction with therapy and other types of care. There are a few medications approved to treat opioid addiction, which help relieve withdrawal, manage cravings, and prevent relapses.

An important part of the treatment process is a focus on relapse prevention. Medications can help, but therapy also teaches patients how to take steps to reduce the risk of relapsing in the future. This includes learning how to identify and avoid triggers and how to be more mindful and be aware of an impending relapse so that it can be diverted. Relapse prevention also includes overall healthy lifestyle changes, like eating well, exercising more, and maintaining a strong and healthy social support system, and attending support group sessions regularly.

Dilaudid addiction is a very serious issue, along with other opioid substance use disorders. These drugs have a very high potential for abuse, cause addiction quickly, and can easily be fatal in an overdose. Treatment for opioid addiction is possible and the prognosis is good for anyone willing to commit to ongoing care and to participate in therapy while also using appropriate medications. If you or someone you care about is struggling with Dilaudid use, don’t hesitate to reach out and get professional help. Without treatment, it is nearly impossible to overcome this addiction.

Any misuse of Dilaudid can easily lead to a substance use disorder. Misuse includes using the drug for longer or at greater doses than prescribed or using it for any non-medical purpose. Using Dilaudid in any way that is different from how it is prescribed also constitutes misuse. For example, crushing the extended release tablets or inhaling the powdered medication is considered abuse. Other signs that someone may be misusing Dilaudid include:

• A sense of extreme well-being, euphoria
• Lightheadedness
• Sleepiness
• Impaired physical coordination
• Slurred speech
• Slowed breathing
• Nausea and vomiting
• Apathy
• Depression
• Not participating in normal activities or responsibilities
• Sleeping more than usual

Addiction, or a substance use disorder, can be diagnosed by observing the criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The number of criteria that an individual meets determine if the substance use disorder is mild, moderate, or severe:

• Using the drug more often or in higher doses than intended
• Trying to stop or slow use of Dilaudid, but being unable to
• Spending a significant amount of time on drug use
• Craving Dilaudid
• Failing to meet responsibilities because of drug use
• Using the drug even as it causes relationship problems
• Limiting or giving up activities to use Dilaudid
• Continuing to use it even in dangerous situations
• Continuing to use Dilaudid knowing it causes health problems
• Developing a tolerance
• Experiencing withdrawal

One of the biggest dangers of misusing or becoming addicted to Dilaudid is the high risk of overdose. Opioids can easily cause a fatal overdose because they depress the central nervous system, slowing heart rate, and breathing. Signs of an overdose include slowed or stopped breathing, an erratic or stopped pulse, constricted pupils, loss of consciousness, and vomiting. An overdose should be treated as an emergency. It can be reversed with the right medicine, but if it is not treated right away it can be fatal.

Causes and Risk Factors of Dilaudid Addiction

The ultimate cause of Dilaudid addiction is misuse of the substance over time. Addiction is not fully understood, but it is believed that drugs like this cause changes in the brain that make it very difficult or impossible to stop using them. The more often the drug is used, the higher the dose taken, and the longer the duration of use, the more likely these changes will lead to addiction.

There are also important risk factors that make some people more likely than others to develop Dilaudid addiction. Any use of the drug at all is a risk factor, but there are other factors that increase the risk someone will abuse Dilaudid and therefore be at a greater risk for addiction. These include easy access to the drug, a family history of substance abuse and addiction, childhood trauma, experiencing stressful life events, having a mental illness, and having ever abused substances in the past.

Signs of Dilaudid Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms occur when someone who is addicted to Dilaudid stops using it. Detoxing and going through this process is the necessary first step in recovery from addiction. Detox and withdrawal from Dilaudid should never be done alone and is best done with medical supervision. The symptoms can be very painful and uncomfortable and lead to relapse in many people who are not in a safe place. Early withdrawal causes milder symptoms, which then progress to those that are more severe and uncomfortable:

• Irritability and agitation
• Difficulty sleeping
• Watery eyes
• Muscle aches
• Runny nose
• Sweating
• Anxiety
• Chills
• Stomach cramping
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Increased heart rate
• Tremors

Residential treatment for Dilaudid addiction is the best option for you or your loved one. Our luxury Dilaudid rehab is designed for a safe detox and successful recovery from addiction. During treatment, we’ll provide you with an array of tools to guide your Dilaudid recovery, such as a personalized treatment plan, holistic and alternative therapies, group therapy, family therapy, life skills training, and help with exercise and nutrition. During your stay at Alta Mira, you’ll have an individualized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. This will include comprehensive services for any co-occurring conditions that might be complicating or supporting your Dilaudid addiction.

We believe individuals are best able to focus on their recovery when immersed in a secure, serene, healing setting. That’s why we provide comfortable surroundings while maintaining the most advanced and sophisticated Dilaudid rehab program in Northern California. Clients can expect compassionate care from our best-in-class Dilaudid addiction specialists.

Don’t let addiction control your life. To begin your life-changing transformation, contact us today.