It is widely believed that withdrawal of opiates is unpleasant, but not life-threatening. Can a person die from opiate withdrawal?
Although it does not directly cause death, its symptoms can become fatal in rare cases, usually in prisons. When a patient decides to recover and receives treatment, in the overwhelming majority of cases he feels discomfort.
What is heroin withdrawal?
Heroin withdrawal is when a heroin addict stops taking the medicine. The relationship is related to tolerance. Over time, all opioids develop tolerance in the body. Tolerance means that people need to take more drugs over time to get the same effect. Dependence means that they must take medicine to feel “normal”.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, heroin causes a “deep” degree of tolerance and addiction. When heroin addicts stop taking it, their body and mind are suddenly disturbed. Symptoms may begin within a few hours of the last dose of heroin. Are you dying because of heroin withdrawal? Severe withdrawal symptoms combined with a lack of healthcare resulted in several deaths.
What are the symptoms of heroin withdrawal?
If you’re wondering if you could die from heroin withdrawal, former heroin users described withdrawal symptoms as “worse than the worst flu you’ve ever had.” Early heroin withdrawal symptoms include:
- Agitation and anxiety
- Muscle aches
- Insomnia
- runny nose
- Excessive sweating
- Later on withdrawal, symptoms may include:
- Abdominal cramps and diarrhea
- Gooseflesh
- Nausea
- Vomiting
When withdrawal can be fatal
Withdrawing from certain substances of alcohol, opiates and benzodiazepines carries an increased risk, so it is very important that everyone passing on these substances choose a medical detox. Attempts to detoxify from “cold turkey” or domestic alcohol, opiates or benzos can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
What happens after the withdrawal of heroin?
After the end of the withdrawal period, a heroin addict may begin treatment for addiction, including a male rehabilitation program for young adult men aged 18-30. The long-term use of opiates such as heroin causes changes in body, mind and spirit. Recovery will require healing physical, emotional and spiritual.
How can a patient safely withdraw from opioids?
On a large scale, much of the responsibility for preventing death from opioid withdrawal lies with prisons. Many prisons already have appropriate protocols in place to look after patients who deal with opioid withdrawal. Prisons that do not follow these guidelines can put prisoners in danger.