Can opium addiction be treated in the same way other drug addictions can?
Yes, people who are addicted to opium can benefit from treatment. In fact, there are medications that can relieve the symptoms of withdrawal (making detox much simpler and more humane). Also, drugs like Naltrexone can be used during treatment to stabilize the brain’s natural production of endorphins, while blocking the effect of opioids. But ridding the body of opium is only the first stage of effective treatment. There are several stages to successful treatment, each building on the previous stage to help assure a lifelong commitment to a drug-free future.
