Opioid use disorder is a health problem that impacts lots of people in the United States nowadays. 10s of countless people die from opioid overdose every year, and a lot more are having problem with opioid addiction. Unfortunately, instead of going to the healthcare facility to get treatment for substance abuse brings a bad stigma, individuals try to fight the addiction on their own. This often leads to failure and relapse.
The problem of opioid use disorder in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Despite the fact that, nowadays, effective treatments for opioid misuse are becoming more available, a great deal of people still struggle with this concern. They frequently blame themselves and their lack of willpower for the inability to combat drug addiction. In reality, this disorder is not a type of bad habits or a sign of ethical failure. It is a chronic medical condition that includes considerable changes in particular parts of the brain, a physical dependence that is really difficult to combat without professional support. Only recently, medical professionals came close to comprehending the system of opioid addiction and establishing better opioid treatment programs.
The San Juan, Puerto Rico, opioid addiction treatment center provides numerous methods of treating substance use disorder. Keep reading to learn about the nature of opioid addiction and which types of treatment provide the clients a greater opportunity of successful recovery.
Opioid addiction treatment rehab services
National institutes for healthcare developed numerous techniques of helping patients with opioid dependence. Some of them include taking addiction medicine to deal with opioid cravings. Sometimes, treatment retention is advised. It is important to freely discuss your scenario with health care providers to select the most effective treatment plan.
Substance abuse treatment include numerous types:
- Treatment retention. Some people want to escape the environment that motivates opioid misuse. They can not combat drug abuse when they are surrounded by triggers and their family members or good friends have simple access to opioids. The disadvantage of this approach is the need to take a break from work. The positive aspect of this program is satisfying individuals with the same struggle and getting their support.
- Outpatient opioid addiction treatment. Clients can continue to work and live as they did while getting health and human services. They go to hospital for systematic reviews, counseling and medications. This is a less extreme modification of lifestyle compared to living in the treatment facilities. Such patients do not risk losing their jobs but need to be responsible about staying on track.
- Behavioral therapy. This type of treatment involves informing clients on how to make positive modifications in their behavior connected 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 counseling. Whether it is a property program or an outpatient health care service, any treatment plan can include taking medications. This type of treatment of opioid misuse has actually shown to be very efficient. Unfortunately, it is often misunderstood and treated with suspicion. Medications that are utilized 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 real for 2 reasons. Initially, the medicines do not produce the euphoric effects unlike other opioid drugs. And 2nd, the statistics show that using medical assisted treatment helps to substantially decrease the variety of deaths from overdose
- The disadvantage of this kind of treatment is that it is not widely offered. Prior to the practitioners can prescribe these medications, they require to undergo particular training. And after they finish the course, they can only recommend this treatment to a restricted number of clients. Therefore, centers that offer MAT often have a long waiting list. The advantage 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 also, so most people stay in treatment and are less likely to regression.
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 illness. Contact the opioid addiction treatment center in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to get certified aid.
System of opioid addiction
Opioid drugs hack the reward system of a person’s brain and make the individual feel good if they take opioids. Generally, satisfying such requirements as consuming or recreation lead to the release of dopamine. This hormone is responsible for the feeling of enjoyment or fulfillment. It rewards people for doing things that are very important for the survival of mankind.
When opioids reach the brain, they attach themselves to certain receptors, which triggers the reward system and creates the sensation of high. Individuals wish to experience that feeling again. More notably, their brain indicates them that taking opioids is the most important thing for their survival. That is how the addiction settles in.
There are two outcomes of this change in the brain:
- The very first one is the advancement of drug tolerance. People need more drugs to reach a state of bliss. Opioid use disorder regularly begins with prescription pain relievers. Often clients increase the dosage of prescription opioids to get high, and this leads to opioid abuse. Some individuals even switch to more powerful drugs like heroin.
- The 2nd outcome is opioid dependence. Individuals continue substance abuse to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Due to breakdown of the reward system, without the drugs people feel uneasyness and have a horrible state of mind.
Other signs of opiate withdrawal consist of:
- Body aches;
- Absence of sleep;
- Nausea;
- Diarrhoea;
- Goosebumps, etc.
Knowledge about the nature of substance use disorders can help physicians inform their clients on what withdrawal symptoms to expect and how to handle the yearnings. Depending on the client, medical professionals select the most effective treatments that might consist of medication prescription and behavioral therapies. It might not be possible to entirely remove the opioid addiction, but mental health services can significantly reduce the opioid misuse and the variety of heroin overdose deaths.
Opioid addiction must be treated the way one would treat a persistent illness. People suffering from drug addiction are encouraged to sign up with the San Juan, Puerto Rico, rehab programs and enhance their health and general lifestyle. Once you quit the drugs, return for maintenance treatment.
Who can get treatment for opioid abuse in San Juan, PR?
People typically feel embarrassed to go to the medical facility for opioid abuse treatment. There are two primary reasons for this: they are either afraid to have a bad image in the neighborhood or have currently given up on themselves. But these issues should not discourage clients from combating substance use disorders. Anyone is totally free to reach rehab centers and see what assistance they can get.
Two primary classifications of opioid use disorders are treated with San Juan, Puerto Rico, rehab programs:
- Prescription drug abuse. Opioids are usually prescribed in the form of painkillers for chronic or severe pain. It is possible to develop addiction to these medications. As a result, some patients begin to misuse opioids and take larger dosages of them. National institutes such as the Center for disease control developed suggestions on how to assist these patients slowly reduce the drug use.
- Heroin addiction. This condition routinely stems from the previous one. But some people turn to this drug for recreational purposes. Battling heroin addiction is really hard, and patients must use all the treatment resources they can gain access to. Even then, it often takes a number of attempts to beat the disorder.
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 chronic brain condition. Initially, people may rely on drugs because of individual problems. That is why substance abuse and mental health are typically treated concurrently. Most clients gain from counseling, behavioral therapies and support groups. But it is essential to keep in mind that opioids make substantial modifications to the brain, making it really hard to eliminate the addiction without medications.
What medications are used to treat opioid use disorder in San Juan, Puerto Rico?
National institutes approved 3 medications for treatment of opioid drug abuse: methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone. They have various names and impacts on the brain. The first two medications replace the opiates and smooth the withdrawal symptoms without making the patients high. Naltrexone obstructs the mu-opioid receptor, working as an opioid antagonist.
How do I get medication-assisted treatment in San Juan, Puerto Rico?
Just a certified clinician can prescribe you medications for opioid use disorder. Visit the workplace of a healthcare supplier that finished the essential training and look for a program of medication-assisted therapy.
