Opiate Painkiller Addiction Treatment
It’s hard to feel hopeful about breaking the cycle of opiate addiction in the midst of an opioid epidemic that claims thousands of lives every year. However, you should know that it’s very possible to recover from opiate and opioid addiction. We know this firsthand having seen so many of our clients do so in our opiate addiction treatment program.
Signs of Opiate Addiction
Opioids and opiates are in the same class of drugs and the terms are somewhat synonymous. Opiates are natural forms of opioids like codeine, morphine, and heroin. Opioids encompass natural and synthetic or semisynthetic opioids.
Prescription opioids include drugs like:
- Oxycodone (OxyContin®)
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin®)
- Codeine
- Morphine
These drugs are chemically related. They interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain. Opiate pain relievers are generally safe when taken for a short time as prescribed by a doctor, but because they produce euphoria in addition to pain relief, they are commonly abused.
Regular use of prescription painkillers—even when used as directed for pain management—can lead to physical dependence. When misused, opioid pain relievers put you at risk for drug overdose and deaths.
Signs of opiate and opioid misuse and addiction include:
- Unable to cut back or quit using opiates on your own
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms between heroin or prescription painkiller use
- Cravings for opioids
- Preoccupation with how you’ll get more opioids and when you’ll use again
- Work, school, financial and relationship issues due to drug use
- Needing increasing amounts of opioids and opiates to get the same effect
- Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities you once enjoyed
- Taking more opiates than prescribed
- Changes in sleep, eating habits, and weight
- Selling possessions or stealing to fund drug use
- Going to more than one doctor with the intention of obtaining more opiates than originally prescribed (doctor shopping)
Beyond pain relief, effects of opiate abuse can include:
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Euphoria
- Confusion
- Slowed breathing
- Restlessness
- Muscle and bone pain
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Cold flashes with goosebumps
- Involuntary leg movements
- Continuing to use heroin and other opiates despite negative effects on your health and life
If you or somebody you love is struggling with opioid abuse, it’s important to receive immediate medical help and opioid addiction treatment. An opioid use disorder is a serious condition that puts you at high risk for long-term health effects, overdose, and death.
Types of Opiate Addiction Treatment
Residential Treatment
Opioids are highly addictive substances. Opiate addiction comes fast and hard and their powerful grip can be difficult to break. Inpatient opioid addiction rehab removes you from many of the triggers that can feel impossible to resist with such a forceful drug addiction. Not surprisingly, research has found the longer you stay in inpatient drug rehab the better, especially in cases of opiate addiction.
Outpatient Treatment
After an inpatient drug rehab program, it’s ideal to slowly transition back into everyday life. This is accomplished by moving through outpatient levels of care while returning home or staying at a sober living residence. Outpatient rehab levels of care include:
- Partial hospitalization program - Day treatment
- Intensive outpatient programs - 12 -15 hours of treatment a week
- Outpatient treatment - 1-3 hours of treatment a week
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Certain medications for opioid addiction can help ease opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is considered the gold standard in opiate treatment by many addiction specialists. Some research shows medication-assisted treatment can cut opiate addiction deaths by half and helps around 50% of people in recovery from opiate abuse remain sober for at least 18 months.
Medication-assisted treatment requires simultaneous involvement in therapy and support groups as well as regular check-ins with health care providers.To be most effective, it’s important that MAT is part of a comprehensive opiate addiction treatment program that includes psychotherapy and relapse prevention activities. The three types of FDA approved medication-assisted treatments include:
- Suboxone (buprenorphine)
- Vivitrol (naltrexone)
- Methadone
Aftercare
Research confirms that aftercare following long-term residential treatment is a critical part of maintaining sobriety from opioids and other drugs. A comprehensive continuing care plan that includes appointments with physicians and therapists, support groups, sober activities, and action plans when confronted with triggers helps you maintain recovery.
Does Insurance Cover Opiate Rehab?
Many insurances cover rehab fully or partially. Laws are in place that require most insurance companies to cover time at an alcohol and drug rehab center in the same ways they cover other medical conditions. Some insurances will cover detox and outpatient treatment, while others have coverage for inpatient rehab centers. At minimum, you should have benefits you can apply to counseling and behavioral therapy. The best way to determine how your insurance covers treatment of opioid addiction is to call our admissions team. We will work directly with your insurance company to help you understand what they’ll pay for and any out-of-pocket costs.
Opioid Addiction Treatment at Vogue Recovery Center
Comfortable, Compassionate Medical Detox
If you stop using opioids abruptly—also known as “cold turkey”— You’ll likely go into opiate withdrawal within a few hours. Opiate withdrawal can include symptoms like:- Sweating
- Racing heartbeat
- Nausea
- Inability to sleep
- Severe anxiety
- Muscle and bone aches
- Abdominal cramping
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Dehydration
Relapse Prevention
You’ll address underlying issues of addiction such as trauma and mental illness and learn how to manage them. You’ll identify triggers and develop healthy coping skills and self-care practices to help you resist the urge to use drugs and alcohol. Learning recovery skills and developing healthy hobbies are critical in preventing relapse. We prepare you to succeed in opiate recovery by helping you acquire life skills and practice social activities while sober. You’ll learn that recovery can be fun and fulfilling, and you’ll be introduced to drug-free activities that can carry over to life after treatment. This helps prevent relapse.Individual and Group Therapy
You’ll develop a trusting therapeutic relationship in one-on-one sessions with a mental health professional. They’ll work with you on your specific issues and help create a treatment plan that makes sense for your needs. Small groups give you the opportunity to feel safe being vulnerable and working on interpersonal issues. You’ll share with peers and hear from others with similar struggles.Medical Care
Our physicians and nurses closely monitor your health and help you restore physical and mental well-being. We’ll educate you on any medications prescribed and attend to physical discomfort or issues that arise as your body adjusts to sobriety. Opiate withdrawal symptoms are eased during drug detox with research-backed medications.Family Involvement
The whole family needs to heal from addiction. It’s important for trust and healthy communication to be reestablished. Family therapy is integrated throughout treatment and some of our programs offer intensive family weekends. Research shows that people who feel supported by their family and loved ones do better in recovery.Get Help for Yourself or a Loved One
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20669601
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19371918.2016.1188738
- https://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j1550
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/2015/11/long-term-follow-up-medication-assisted-treatment-addiction-to-pain-relievers-yields-cause-optimism
- http://file.scirp.org/pdf/OJPsych_2017011116040744.pdf
- http://jhrba.com/en/articles/19671.html
Medically Reviewed by Jessica Elbe, LCSW