Opioid use disorder is a health problem that impacts many individuals in the United States nowadays. Tens of thousands of people die from opioid overdose every year, and many more are battling with opioid addiction. Regrettably, instead of going to the hospital to get treatment for substance abuse brings a bad stigma, people try to combat the addiction by themselves. This often results in failure and regression.
The issue of opioid use disorder in Alexandria, Virginia
Although, nowadays, effective treatments for opioid misuse are ending up being more available, a lot of individuals still struggle with this problem. They frequently blame themselves and their absence of determination for the failure to eliminate drug addiction. In reality, this disorder is not a kind of bad habits or a sign of moral failure. It is a chronic medical condition that includes considerable changes in specific parts of the brain, a physical dependence that is extremely hard to combat without professional help. Just recently, doctor came close to understanding the mechanism of opioid addiction and establishing much better opioid treatment programs.
The Alexandria, Virginia, opioid addiction treatment center provides several methods of dealing with substance use disorder. Keep reading to discover the nature of opioid addiction and which kinds of treatment provide the clients a greater possibility of successful recovery.
Opioid addiction treatment rehabilitation services
National institutes for healthcare established various approaches of helping patients with opioid dependence. Some of them involve taking addiction medicine to deal with opioid cravings. In many cases, treatment retention is suggested. It is vital to freely discuss your scenario with health care providers to pick the most effective treatment plan.
Substance abuse treatment include numerous types:
- Treatment retention. Some people want to avoid the environment that encourages opioid misuse. They can not fight drug abuse when they are surrounded by triggers and their family members or good friends have simple access to opioids. The drawback of this method is the necessity to take a break from work. The positive aspect of this program is meeting individuals with the exact same battle and getting their support.
- Outpatient opioid addiction treatment. Patients can continue to work and live as they did while receiving health and human services. They go to medical facility for systematic reviews, therapy and medications. This is a less extreme modification of lifestyle compared to living in the treatment facilities. Such clients do not run the risk of losing their tasks however require to be accountable about staying on track.
- Behavioral therapy. This kind of treatment involves informing patients on how to make favorable changes in their behavior gotten in touch with opioid use disorders. They get access to the entire variety of mental health services such as cognitive behavioral therapy, private therapy, contingency management, family therapy, support groups, etc.
- Medication assisted treatment (MAT): medications plus therapy. Whether it is a residential program or an outpatient healthcare service, any treatment plan can consist of taking medications. This kind of treatment of opioid misuse has actually shown to be very reliable. Regretfully, it is frequently misinterpreted and treated with suspicion. Medications that are utilized to treat opioid addiction come from the group of opioids themselves, so there is a misconception that by taking them you simply replace one addiction with another. This is not true for 2 reasons. Initially, the medicines do not produce the euphoric effects unlike other opioid drugs. And second, the statistics reveal that applying medical assisted therapy assists to significantly lower the number of deaths from overdose
- The downside of this kind of treatment is that it is not widely readily available. Before the professionals can recommend these medications, they need to undergo specific training. And after they complete the course, they can only recommend this treatment to a restricted number of clients. For that reason, centers that supply MAT often have a long waiting list. The advantage of this kind of treatment is that thanks to the medications, the clients do not experience extreme withdrawal symptoms. The cravings are not so strong as well, so many people stay in treatment and are less likely to relapse.
Only an expert clinician informed on substance use disorder can choose the best treatment. The medical professional needs to understand and take into consideration all the aspects that led an individual to drug abuse and mental health issue. Contact the opioid addiction treatment center in Alexandria, Virginia, to get qualified aid.
System of opioid addiction
Opioid drugs hack the reward system of an individual’s brain and make the person feel great if they take opioids. Generally, fulfilling such needs as consuming or recreation results in the release of dopamine. This hormone is accountable for the sensation of enjoyment or fulfillment. It rewards individuals for doing things that are essential for the survival of humankind.
When opioids reach the brain, they connect themselves to particular receptors, which triggers the reward system and creates the feeling of high. People wish to experience that sensation again. More significantly, their brain indicates them that taking opioids is the most crucial thing for their survival. That is how the addiction settles in.
There are two outcomes of this modification in the brain:
- The first one is the advancement of drug tolerance. People require more drugs to reach a state of euphoria. Opioid use disorder frequently begins with prescription painkiller. In some cases patients increase the dosage of prescription opioids to get high, and this causes opioid abuse. Some individuals even switch to stronger drugs like heroin.
- The second result is opioid dependence. People continue substance abuse to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Due to malfunction of the reward system, without the drugs individuals feel uneasyness and have an awful mood.
Other symptoms of opiate withdrawal include:
- Body pains;
- Absence of sleep;
- Queasiness;
- Diarrhoea;
- Goosebumps, etc.
Understanding about the nature of substance use disorders can assist doctors educate their patients on what withdrawal symptoms to expect and how to deal with the yearnings. Depending on the client, medical professionals pick the most effective treatments that may consist of medication prescription and behavioral therapies. It might not be possible to completely get rid of the opioid addiction, but mental health services can significantly decrease the opioid misuse and the variety of heroin overdose deaths.
Opioid addiction must be treated the method one would treat a chronic illness. People experiencing drug addiction are motivated to sign up with the Alexandria, Virginia, rehab programs and improve their health and overall lifestyle. As soon as you stop the drugs, return for maintenance treatment.
Who can get treatment for opioid abuse in Alexandria, VA?
People often feel ashamed to go to the health center for opioid abuse treatment. There are 2 primary reasons for this: they are either scared to have a bad image in the neighborhood or have currently given up on themselves. But these concerns should not prevent clients from combating substance use disorders. Anyone is complimentary to reach rehabilitation centers and see what assistance they can get.
2 main classifications of opioid use disorders are treated with Alexandria, Virginia, rehab programs:
- Prescription drug abuse. Opioids are usually recommended in the form of pain relievers for persistent or severe pain. It is possible to develop addiction to these medications. As a result, some clients begin to misuse opioids and take bigger doses of them. National institutes such as the Center for disease control produced recommendations on how to assist these patients gradually taper off the drug use.
- Heroin addiction. This disorder regularly comes from the previous one. However some people turn to this drug for recreational purposes. Battling heroin addiction is really hard, and patients should utilize all the treatment resources they can access. Even then, it often takes numerous efforts to beat the condition.
The most effective treatments normally include both mental health services and medications.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
Is opioid addiction a mental illness?
Opioid use disorder is a persistent brain condition. Initially, individuals might rely on drugs because of personal issues. That is why substance abuse and mental health are typically treated at the same time. A lot of clients take advantage of counseling, behavioral therapies and support groups. However it is necessary to remember that opioids make significant modifications to the brain, making it very hard to combat the addiction without medications.
What medications are utilized to treat opioid use disorder in Alexandria, Virginia?
National institutes authorized three medications for treatment of opioid drug abuse: methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone. They have different names and effects on the brain. The first two medications change the opiates and smoothen the withdrawal symptoms without making the clients high. Naltrexone blocks the mu-opioid receptor, working as an opioid antagonist.
How do I get medication-assisted treatment in Alexandria, Virginia?
Only a certified clinician can recommend you medications for opioid use disorder. Visit the workplace of a healthcare service provider that finished the required training and look for a program of medication-assisted treatment.
