What is rapid detox?

Rapid detox (or Ultra rapid detox) revolutionised the treatment of opiate addictions almost 10 years ago, allowing patients to return to a productive life in a matter of days and eliminating the need to spend months in and out of hospitals or rehabilitation programs.

Today, the name rapid detox has been widely used to describe and advertise many different methods of detoxification. In some cases these methods and programmes do not follow the appropriate safety processes and in some instances the outcomes have been less than satisfactory. Rapid Opiate Detox can be undertaken under sedation or General Anaesthesia. Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. General Anaesthetic always comes with risk and some people have been known to leave prior to completion of detox when using the sedation method.

Professionals who supervise these detox programmes are utilising advanced medical biotechnology that is available today and has been developed over the last decade, and many of these programmes have good success rates.

Also known as ‘ultra rapid opiate detox’, rapid detox is exactly what it says, “rapid detoxification for opiate based substances and addictions”.

Rapid opiate detox is often followed by the use of Naltrexone to support ongoing abstinence.

What is Naltrexone?

Naltrexone is a drug that blocks the effects of heroin and methadone (Physeptone) and all other opiates, such as morphine, Palfium, codeine, and dihydrocodeine (DF118).

Naltrexone is a narcotic antagonist. It works by blocking the Opioid receptors in the brain and therefore blocking the effects of heroin and other opioids. It has also been shown to reduce craving and consumption for some patients who are alcohol dependent. Those who take it know that they cannot achieve a “high” from using heroin and that any money therefore spent on heroin will be wasted. It does not directly stop a person wanting to use heroin, although it may reduce or prevent cravings in some people.

The drug’s success in helping someone abstain is dependent on many of factors, including their willingness to follow a course of medication and the level of available support. Naltrexone is only one part of a comprehensive treatment program, which should include regular counselling. Recent studies have suggested that many clients do not remain on Naltrexone treatment and will often return to heroin use.

You cannot become physically dependent on Naltrexone and it does not produce any euphoric effects.

Naltrexone implants can be used to ensure regular dosage. These are available through private clinics. The implants are about 9mm in diameter and about 1.9cm in length, and can be inserted through a 1-inch incision in the lower abdomen or at the back of the upper arm. Implants are usually effective for six-week periods although longer lasting implants are becoming more readily available.