The need for opioid addiction treatment is all too common in the United States. With this tremendous class of drugs including prohibited street drugs and prescription painkillers, it’s no wonder why opioid rehab is so essential.

In fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimates that between 21% and 29% of people who have a prescription of opioid painkillers are abusing them. But the truth of this drug dependence is even scarier. The NIDA also estimates that up to 6% of patients prescribed opioid painkillers eventually transition to using heroin.

Solving the opioid problem isn’t something that’ll happen overnight. But for those suffering from addiction, options are available.

Opiate rehab has the potential to change the course of an addict’s life. Whether you’re just starting to realize the adverse impacts of your addiction or have a loved one you’d like to help, the treatment options available will make a world of difference.

If you or a loved one need treatment please call us today at 1-800-626-1980.

Your call could save a life.

Seeking Treatment For An Addiction To Opioids

How do you know when you’re addicted to opiates? And when should you seek treatment? Well, addicts can experience a variety of symptoms and exhibit behavioral signs of their addictions.

Generally speaking, some diagnostic criteria aid in analyzing the severity of an individual’s dependence on drugs. The following are some symptoms someone suffering from opioid use disorder might experience:

• Feeling intense urges to use.
• Developing a high tolerance or needing larger doses over time to obtain the same effect.
• Using the drugs for longer than originally intended or taking more than necessary.
• Feeling withdrawal symptoms when ceasing drug use or lessening the amount being taken.
• Responsibilities at school, home, or work are being adversly impacted by drug use.
• Even with adverse consequences — such as overdosing or getting arrested — occurring, opioid use continues.
• Using in situations or environments that are dangerous to themselves or those around them.
• Behavior or attitude changes due to use.
• Work, social, or recreational activities are no longer as important because of use.
• Obtaining, using, or recovering from using takes up the majority of the person’s time.
• Wanting to use less or finding difficulty in controlling use.

What To Expect From Treatment of Opioid Addiction

Treatment generally includes the following:

Admission — Upon arriving, the person in need of treatment is given an evaluation. After this analysis, recommendations can be made and a treatment plan created. The process to admit a patient takes some time as the staff needs to obtain background information on the patient, including substance use history. With this information, the basic treatment plan is combined with the right level of care for the patient. Once admitted, the staff will explain the structure and rules of the program, give information regarding privacy practices, and offer the patient the chance to reach out to anyone they’d like to inform about the progression of their treatment.

Detox — Withdrawal is one of the most challenging aspects of recovery. Some patients opt for medication assisted treatment for opioid addiction. This kind of treatment uses buprenorphine, buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone, or naloxone to ensure withdrawal symptoms and cravings are easier to manage. In turn, this lessens the patient’s chance of relapse.

Addiction Therapy — Individual and group counseling sessions are part of addiction therapy. These sessions carry on as the patient continues to take their prescribed medication. Therapeutic interventions can vary in style. Some of the interventions incorporate evidence-based techniques. Others focus more on philosophies such as religion or faith, 12-step/spiritual, or non-spiritual.

Specialized Care — Each patient is given treatment relating to their needs. Regardless of what the patient’s situation is, each care plan is designed specifically to help them.

Aftercare — Once the patient leaves the rehab program, more group counseling, a 12-step program, and/or individual therapy is still available. After going through rehab, the patient has a network of support that will assist them in getting any aftercare help they need to avoid relapse.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Treatment Centers

Choosing between inpatient and outpatient facilities means knowing what you need to get and stay clean. When you decide to go with an inpatient center, you’ll have somewhere to live, food, and on-site treatment available. With better structuring and more intense treatment than outpatient centers, this is a good option for those suffering from a severe dependence on drugs.

Inpatient treatment could be ideal for a person who:

• Is addicted to two or more drugs.
• Finds themselves struggling with severe opiate dependence.
• Has a history of struggling to comply with addiction treatment.
• Has a co-occurring medical condition.
• Has a co-occurring mental health disorder.

Inpatient treatment rehabilitation can also include the following:

• Individual Therapy to teach the patient to recognize anything that might trigger opiate use and focus more on healthier actions.
• Family Therapy to help with family communication and get the patient on the track to repairing/rebuilding relationships that suffered as a result of their addiction.
• Group Counseling to assist the patient in developing sober social skills and practice using skills to cope.
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) to pair opioid dependence medications with behavioral therapy in an effort to lessen the chance of relapse by diminishing cravings.
• Support Group Meetings to forge relationships with other people going through similar experiences, giving them the mutual encouragement and support they need to thrive.

Outpatient treatment is helpful to those who have:

• A mild dependence on opiates.
• Reliable transportation to attend the treatments regularly.
• A sober, stable support system.
• Little to no risk of having severe withdrawal symptoms.
• Finished inpatient rehab and would like to complete more treatment.

Need help getting clean from an opiate addiction in Florida? It’s time to take the first step towards a better transition of yourself. If you or someone you love are seeking treatment, please contact our Opioid rehab center in Florida today by calling 1-800-626-1980.