As powerful drugs, opioids are very likely to cause chemical dependency and are highly addictive. Because of this, it’s not common for a user to be able to simply stop taking them. That’s why treatment for opioid addiction is so important. Often, that starts with opioid detox, a process in which the body works through removing the drug from the system.
If you or a loved one is using opioids, detox and treatment are available in several forms. To determine the best treatment for opioid addiction for you, the first step is to have a full evaluation to determine the severity of the addiction and likely withdrawal risks. At our opioid rehab center, therapists and medical staff can then determine the best treatment to help you.
How Is Opioid Addiction Treated?
Opioid addiction can impact every area of a person’s life. The changes it creates in the brain’s function make it difficult for a person to simply stop using the drug. As a result, many people continue to use it until they are at risk of an overdose. The sooner you seek professional care for opioid addiction, whether at a heroin rehab center or a program specializing in fentanyl rehab and other stronger opioids, the more effective treatment may be.
Doctors and medical staff may determine a person needs various levels of care based on their mental health, physical dependency, at-home risks and motivations. Among the opioid treatment options are the following:
Opioid Detox
Because opioid withdrawal can sometimes create high-risk medical concerns, most people with this type of addiction need to work through opioid detox. It’s a necessary step to help the body remove the toxins from the drugs. Detox is an uncomfortable process, often leading to intense cravings and pain. It also creates emotional and mental health struggles.
The best way to treat this is to ensure detox from opioids is completed within a medically supervised program. In these situations, a physician is on hand to help with the process and monitor for high-risk complications. In severe dependency, it’s possible for life-threatening withdrawal symptoms to occur. This includes seizures, paranoia, loss of consciousness, rapid or irregular heartbeats and mental confusion.
A medically assisted detox process may also involve the use of medications. These may help to reduce withdrawal symptoms and pain, making it more likely for a person to remain in detox and long-term treatment.
Residential
Residential or inpatient opioid addiction treatment is very common. It follows detox treatment from opioids for most people. Opioids have such a strong addictive quality about them that just removing them from the body isn’t enough. It’s also important to work through a series of therapy sessions. Residential treatment programs customize the care provided according to the severity of the addiction and the individual’s specific needs. Most often, this will be a combination of treatments that include medication, counseling, group therapy and holistic care.
Residential treatment is intense. Clients stay at the rehab center during the process. These locations offer 24-hour monitoring and can provide help with virtually all facets of both physical addiction and mental illness.
Though most people come from detox into residential care, it is also possible to enter straight into an inpatient program. This may be possible if a person is not using currently but is at risk of using again. Whether residential care is necessary depends on a formal evaluation of health, mental fitness, at-home environment and other needs. For most people, opioid withdrawal treatment and ongoing counseling established in residential rehab create a strong foundation for building a recovery lifestyle.
Customized care is necessary for most people. It generally includes cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as other supportive services through one-on-one work with a therapist. The person learns why addiction occurred as well as how to treat the underlying cause. Strategies are incorporated to help minimize the risk of relapse by providing problem-solving skills.
Care may include:
- 24-hour monitoring for health and emotional needs
- 12-step program
- Individual, group and family therapy opportunities
- Medication management as needed
- Nutritional treatment
- Co-occurring disorder treatment
- Holistic care
- Aftercare planning and support
Outpatient
It is not common for opioid treatment to begin with outpatient care due to the severity of the addiction and the likelihood of relapse; it is more common and recommended to ‘step down’ to this level of care.Outpatient care will follow most inpatient treatment programs and can range from a few weeks to several months. Some treatment programs employ an ongoing model of providing care.
Outpatient care allows a person to remain at home while receiving counseling. It usually involves two to five sessions a week for a few hours at a time. A more common version is intensive outpatient care. Here, a person spends nights at home but receives treatment three to five days a week for four to six hours at a time. For opioid addiction, this is more common.
In either situation, care helps a person to work on problem-solving and decision-making skills. It also helps to understand any triggers that can lead to relapse. During outpatient programs, treatment still includes individual and group therapy sessions. It may include holistic care as well.
