Whether you are recovering from opium addiction – or dependency on opium derivatives such as heroin, morphine or opiate painkillers – opium rehab can help you embark on lasting sobriety. However, due to their effects on the body’s pain receptors and neurotransmitters, opium and drugs derived from the substance are notoriously difficult to kick. In fact, factors such as rapidly building tolerance, harrowing withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings combine to make opium and related drugs some of the most difficult – and dangerous — to detoxify from without professional help.

Getting the Most Out of Opium Rehab

However, simply enrolling in an opium addiction rehab program will not, by itself, eliminate opiate addiction. Like most addiction recovery programs, successful opium treatment truly hinges on the attitude, commitment level and actions of the individual seeking healing from drug addiction. Here are some ways in which you can maximize your inpatient treatment stay during opium rehab, to better your chances of lasting, relapse-free recovery.

• Seek Out Drug-Free Detoxification Methods
  Many opium and opiate withdrawal programs employ the use of synthetic, chemically similar drugs – such as methadone – to help individuals with opiate addictions withdraw from the drugs. However, while such drugs are effective in reducing physical dependency on heroin, morphine or other opiates, they carry with them the risk of secondary addiction to the medicating drug itself. Additionally, because withdrawal is not fully achieved, individuals using drug-centric approaches for detoxification often can relapse upon the removal of methadone or similar drugs from their systems.

• Participate in Group Therapy Sessions
  Many individuals find themselves hesitant to speak up during group therapy sessions offered in opium addiction treatment facilities at first. Self-consciousness, social fears, shame and guilt often plague many patients at the outset of treatment. However, in order to benefit fully from group and 12-step meetings conducted during inpatient drug addiction therapy, patients should ease into participation in group discussions. Remember that others in the group share your struggles – and many have walked the same road you have, despite differences in background and drugs of choice.

• Embrace a Spirit of Honesty
  Whether during individualized counseling sessions or during discussions with your intake coordinator regarding your addiction history, honesty is exceedingly important during opium addiction rehab. First, truthful answers to questions focused on your medical and psychological history can make a pivotal difference in the development of your personal addiction treatment plan. Secondly, the psychological portion of opium addiction treatment hinges on mental and emotional healing – requiring the patient to lay bare their issues, life stressors, addiction triggers, frank questions or even treatment objections. In order to truly recover, addiction counselors and trained therapists need cooperation and candor from patients – which, in turn will serve to benefit those in recovery and their peers as well.

• Change Your Lifestyle
  One of the most valuable aspects of opium rehab – particularly if you attend a drug addiction rehab center away from your home locale – is the new lifestyle that can be created during your time in treatment. Recovery is about more than simply sobriety, from the establishment of organizational and time management abilities to the integration of healthy eating and exercise into your life. By creating a healthier lifestyle, both physically and psychologically, you can bring healing and excitement to your newfound sobriety.

• View Opium Addiction Rehab as a Beginning
  Remember that inpatient addiction drug rehab is only the beginning of healing – not a termination point for recovery. Continue to engage in 12-step meetings, appointments with your local therapist, regular physician’s appointments and healthy social influences to help foster continued healing. Integrate the healing mechanisms you learned about during opium addiction rehab into your life, including tenets such as positive communication, stress reduction, anger management, journaling, visualization and meditation.

• Remain Willing to Learn
  During your stay at opium rehab, you may find the most poignant and potent lessons come from unlikely sources. Refrain from judging peers or addiction specialists as you embark on your healing journey. Remember that every individual has something to teach you if you remain teachable. Ask yourself what other members of your peer group, therapists, addiction counselors and physicians may have to impart into your personal recovery.

• Partner with Aftercare Specialists
  Most inpatient opium rehabilitation programs will offer aftercare specialists to help prepare you for the transitional period that comes after rehab. By addressing issues of home environment, relationships, occupation, social circles, and physical and emotional health, your aftercare specialist can help you plan for the elimination of addiction triggers, establishment of support systems, and ongoing recovery and treatment methods.