Opioid use disorder is an illness that impacts many people in the United States nowadays. Tens of thousands of individuals pass away from opioid overdose every year, and much more are fighting with opioid addiction. Regrettably, instead of going to the medical facility to get treatment for substance abuse carries a bad stigma, people attempt to fight the addiction by themselves. This frequently causes failure and regression.
The problem of opioid use disorder in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Despite the fact that, nowadays, effective treatments for opioid misuse are ending up being more available, a great deal of individuals still suffer from this issue. They regularly blame themselves and their absence of determination for the failure to combat drug addiction. In reality, this condition is not a type of bad behavior or an indication of moral 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 eliminate without professional assistance. Only recently, physician came close to understanding the system of opioid addiction and establishing better opioid treatment programs.
The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, opioid addiction treatment center offers several ways of treating substance use disorder. Keep reading to find out about the nature of opioid addiction and which kinds of treatment provide the patients a greater chance of successful recovery.
Opioid addiction treatment rehab services
National institutes for healthcare established various techniques of helping patients with opioid dependence. A few of them involve taking addiction medicine to manage opioid cravings. Sometimes, treatment retention is recommended. It is important to honestly discuss your situation with health care providers to select the most effective treatment plan.
Substance abuse treatment include numerous types:
- Treatment retention. Some individuals wish to get away from the environment that encourages opioid misuse. They can not fight drug abuse when they are surrounded by triggers and their family members or pals have simple access to opioids. The disadvantage of this approach is the requirement to take a break from work. The positive element of this program is fulfilling people with the same struggle and getting their assistance.
- Outpatient opioid addiction treatment. Patients can continue to work and live as they did while receiving health and human services. They go to healthcare facility for systematic reviews, therapy and medications. This is a less extreme modification of way of life compared to residing in the treatment facilities. Such clients do not run the risk of losing their tasks however need to be responsible about remaining on track.
- Behavioral therapy. This kind of treatment includes informing clients on how to make positive modifications in their habits connected with opioid use disorders. They get access to the entire range of mental health services such as cognitive behavioral therapy, private therapy, contingency management, family therapy, support groups, etc.
- Medication assisted treatment (MAT): medications plus counseling. 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 proven to be really effective. Unfortunately, it is typically misunderstood and treated with suspicion. Medications that are used to treat opioid addiction belong to the group of opioids themselves, so there is a myth that by taking them you just replace one addiction with another. This is not true for two factors. Initially, the medications do not produce the euphoric effects unlike other opioid drugs. And 2nd, the data show that using medical assisted treatment assists to significantly decrease the number of deaths from overdose
- The drawback of this type of treatment is that it is not commonly readily available. Before the specialists can recommend these medications, they require to go through specific training. And after they complete the course, they can only prescribe this treatment to a restricted number of patients. Therefore, facilities that supply MAT typically have a long waiting list. The benefit of this kind of therapy is that thanks to the medications, the clients do not experience serious withdrawal symptoms. The cravings are not so strong too, so most people remain in treatment and are less likely to relapse.
Just an expert clinician educated on substance use disorder can select the very best treatment. The physician needs to know and take into consideration all the elements that led an individual to drug abuse and mental health problems. Contact the opioid addiction treatment center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to get certified help.
Mechanism of opioid addiction
Opioid drugs hack the reward system of an individual’s brain and make the person feel excellent if they take opioids. Normally, fulfilling such requirements as eating or reproduction results in the release of dopamine. This hormonal agent is responsible for the feeling of satisfaction or fulfillment. It rewards individuals for doing things that are essential for the survival of mankind.
When opioids reach the brain, they attach themselves to certain receptors, which activates the reward system and develops the feeling of high. Individuals wish to experience that sensation again. More notably, 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 change in the brain:
- The very first one is the development of drug tolerance. Individuals need more drugs to reach a state of euphoria. Opioid use disorder often starts with prescription painkiller. In some cases patients increase the dosage of prescription opioids to get high, and this causes opioid abuse. Some individuals even change to more powerful drugs like heroin.
- The 2nd outcome is opioid dependence. Individuals continue substance abuse to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Due to breakdown of the reward system, without the drugs individuals feel restlessness and have a dreadful state of mind.
Other symptoms of opiate withdrawal consist of:
- Body aches;
- Lack of sleep;
- Queasiness;
- Diarrhoea;
- Goosebumps, and so on.
Understanding about the nature of substance use disorders can assist doctors inform their clients on what withdrawal symptoms to expect and how to handle the cravings. Depending upon the client, medical professionals select the most effective treatments that may include medicine prescription and behavioral therapies. It might not be possible to completely remove the opioid addiction, however mental health services can considerably reduce the opioid misuse and the number of heroin overdose deaths.
Opioid addiction needs to be treated the method one would treat a chronic illness. People experiencing drug addiction are motivated to join the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, rehab programs and improve their health and overall quality of life. When you stop the drugs, return for maintenance treatment.
Who can get treatment for opioid abuse in Harrisburg, PA?
People typically feel ashamed to go to the healthcare facility 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 currently quit on themselves. However these issues must not prevent clients from fighting substance use disorders. Anybody is totally free to reach rehab centers and see what aid they can get.
2 primary categories of opioid use disorders are treated with Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 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 start to misuse opioids and take larger dosages of them. National institutes such as the Center for disease control produced recommendations on how to help these clients slowly taper off the drug use.
- Heroin addiction. This condition routinely stems from the previous one. However some people turn to this drug for leisure functions. Fighting heroin addiction is very hard, and patients ought to use all the treatment resources they can access. Even then, it often takes several 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 chronic brain condition. At first, people might rely on drugs because of individual problems. That is why substance abuse and mental health are often dealt with concurrently. Many clients benefit from counseling, behavioral therapies and support groups. However it is very important to keep in mind that opioids make considerable changes to the brain, making it extremely hard to combat the addiction without medications.
What medications are utilized to treat opioid use disorder in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
National institutes approved 3 medications for treatment of opioid drug abuse: methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone. They have different names and impacts on the brain. The first 2 medications replace the opiates and smooth 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 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
Only a qualified clinician can prescribe you medications for opioid use disorder. Visit the workplace of a healthcare provider that completed the needed training and request a program of medication-assisted treatment.
