Opioid use disorder is a health problem that affects lots of people in the United States nowadays. 10s of thousands of people die from opioid overdose every year, and many more are dealing with opioid addiction. Unfortunately, instead of going to the medical facility to get treatment for substance abuse carries a bad stigma, people try to eliminate the addiction by themselves. This often results in failure and regression.
The problem of opioid use disorder in Anchorage, Alaska
Although, nowadays, effective treatments for opioid misuse are becoming more accessible, a lot of individuals still suffer from this issue. They frequently blame themselves and their lack of self-discipline for the inability to combat drug addiction. In reality, this disorder is not a form of bad behavior or an indication of ethical failure. It is a chronic medical condition that includes significant modifications in specific parts of the brain, a physical dependence that is extremely tough to combat without expert help. Just recently, medical professionals came close to comprehending the mechanism of opioid addiction and establishing much better opioid treatment programs.
The Anchorage, Alaska, opioid addiction treatment center offers several methods of treating substance use disorder. Keep reading to learn about the nature of opioid addiction and which kinds of treatment give the clients a greater opportunity of successful recovery.
Opioid addiction treatment rehab services
National institutes for healthcare established numerous techniques of helping patients with opioid dependence. A few of them include taking addiction medicine to handle opioid cravings. In some cases, treatment retention is suggested. It is necessary to openly discuss your scenario with health care providers to select the most efficient treatment plan.
Substance abuse treatment consist of numerous types:
- Treatment retention. Some individuals want to escape the environment that encourages opioid misuse. They can not combat drug abuse when they are surrounded by triggers and their family members or friends have simple access to opioids. The downside of this technique is the necessity to take a break from work. The positive aspect of this program is meeting people with the very same battle and getting their assistance.
- Outpatient opioid addiction treatment. Clients can continue to work and live as they did while receiving health and human services. They go to health center for systematic reviews, therapy and medications. This is a less extreme change of way of life compared to residing in the treatment facilities. Such clients do not risk losing their tasks however require to be responsible about remaining on track.
- Behavioral therapy. This kind of treatment includes educating patients on how to make favorable changes in their behavior connected with opioid use disorders. They get access to the whole variety of mental health services such as cognitive behavioral therapy, individual counseling, contingency management, family therapy, support groups, and so on.
- Medication assisted treatment (MAT): medicines plus therapy. Whether it is a property program or an outpatient healthcare service, any treatment plan can include taking medications. This kind of treatment of opioid misuse has actually shown to be very effective. Regretfully, it is often misconstrued and treated with suspicion. Medications that are used to treat opioid addiction come from the group of opioids themselves, so there is a misconception that by taking them you merely change one addiction with another. This is not true for 2 factors. First, the medicines do not produce the euphoric effects unlike other opioid drugs. And 2nd, the statistics reveal that using medical assisted therapy assists to substantially decrease the variety of deaths from overdose
- The disadvantage of this type of treatment is that it is not extensively readily available. Before the specialists can recommend these medications, they require to undergo specific training. And after they finish the course, they can just recommend this treatment to a minimal variety of clients. Therefore, facilities that provide MAT typically have a long waiting list. The advantage of this type of treatment is that thanks to the medications, the patients do not experience severe withdrawal symptoms. The yearnings are not so strong too, so most people stay in treatment and are less most likely to regression.
Just a professional clinician educated on substance use disorder can choose the best treatment. The doctor requires to understand and take into account all the factors that led an individual to drug abuse and mental health problems. Contact the opioid addiction treatment center in Anchorage, Alaska, to get certified assistance.
Mechanism of opioid addiction
Opioid drugs hack the reward system of an individual’s brain and make the individual feel excellent if they take opioids. Typically, satisfying such needs as eating or recreation lead to the release of dopamine. This hormone is accountable for the sensation of enjoyment or satisfaction. It rewards people for doing things that are important for the survival of humankind.
When opioids reach the brain, they connect themselves to specific receptors, which activates the reward system and produces the sensation of high. Individuals wish to experience that feeling again. More importantly, their brain signals them that taking opioids is the most important thing for their survival. That is how the addiction settles in.
There are 2 results of this modification in the brain:
- The first one is the development of drug tolerance. People require more drugs to reach a state of ecstasy. Opioid use disorder often starts with prescription painkiller. In some cases patients increase the dose of prescription opioids to get high, and this causes opioid abuse. Some people even switch to stronger drugs like heroin.
- The second outcome is opioid dependence. Individuals continue substance abuse to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Due to malfunction of the reward system, without the drugs people feel uneasyness and have a dreadful state of mind.
Other symptoms of opiate withdrawal consist of:
- Body aches;
- Absence of sleep;
- Nausea;
- Diarrhoea;
- Goosebumps, etc.
Understanding about the nature of substance use disorders can help physicians inform their clients on what withdrawal symptoms to anticipate and how to handle the cravings. Depending on the client, medical professionals select the most effective treatments that might include medication prescription and behavioral therapies. It may not be possible to totally get rid of the opioid addiction, however mental health services can substantially decrease the opioid misuse and the variety of heroin overdose deaths.
Opioid addiction should be treated the method one would deal with a chronic illness. Individuals suffering from drug addiction are motivated to join the Anchorage, Alaska, rehab programs and enhance their health and total quality of life. As soon as you stop the drugs, come back for maintenance treatment.
Who can get treatment for opioid abuse in Anchorage, AK?
Individuals frequently feel embarrassed to go to the health center for opioid abuse treatment. There are two main factors for this: they are either scared to have a bad image in the neighborhood or have actually currently given up on themselves. However these concerns should not discourage clients from combating substance use disorders. Anybody is free to reach rehabilitation centers and see what aid they can get.
Two main categories of opioid use disorders are treated with Anchorage, Alaska, rehab programs:
- Prescription drug abuse. Opioids are normally prescribed in the form of painkillers for persistent or severe pain. It is possible to establish addiction to these medications. As a result, some clients begin to misuse opioids and take larger doses of them. National institutes such as the Center for disease control produced suggestions on how to help these patients slowly lessen the drug use.
- Heroin addiction. This condition regularly stems from the previous one. But some individuals turn to this drug for recreational purposes. Fighting heroin addiction is very hard, and patients must utilize all the treatment resources they can access. Even then, it often takes several attempts to beat the condition.
The most effective treatments typically consist of both mental health services and medications.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
Is opioid addiction a mental illness?
Opioid use disorder is a persistent brain condition. At first, people may rely on drugs because of personal issues. That is why substance abuse and mental health are frequently dealt with concurrently. The majority of patients take advantage of therapy, behavioral therapies and support groups. But it is very important to keep in mind that opioids make significant modifications to the brain, making it extremely hard to combat the addiction without medications.
What medications are utilized to treat opioid use disorder in Anchorage, Alaska?
National institutes authorized 3 medications for treatment of opioid drug abuse: methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone. They have different names and effects on the brain. The first 2 medications replace the opiates and smoothen the withdrawal symptoms without making the clients high. Naltrexone obstructs the mu-opioid receptor, working as an opioid antagonist.
How do I get medication-assisted treatment in Anchorage, Alaska?
Only a certified clinician can prescribe you medications for opioid use disorder. Visit the office of a health care service provider that finished the essential training and make an application for a program of medication-assisted treatment.
