Seeking Effective Opiate Addiction Treatment - What You Need To Know

The high rates of addiction to opiates and the increased cases of overdose throughout America have turned into an epidemic. Millions of individuals are coping with overuse of prescription medications, with some struggling with the use of illicit drugs such as heroin and fentanyl. In addition, there are more than a dozen synthetic opiates that have been created, with majorly addictive qualities. These drugs lead users down a fast road into both physical and mental dependence. Lately, however, scientists have spent much more time studying the opioid crisis and have learned a great deal more about the disease of addiction. This research has worked to evolve opioid addiction treatment to help individuals who suffer from a substance abuse issue, so that these individuals can go on to lead happy lives, free of addiction, while focusing on recovery.

Medications for Treatment

There are multiple modern medications that can help ease the withdrawal symptoms that an individual goes through in order to allow treatment to proceed. This is called Medication Assisted Treatment, and has been demonstrated in multiple studies to be quite effective for recovery. Without these medications, users have to attempt to quit cold turkey, then to fight their way through cravings and the physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal without much assistance. Many of these people attempt to stop opioid use, then relapse, and these relapses are often quite dangerous. These individuals often take the full dose that they were taking before they stopped using, not taking into account that the body's tolerance to the drug has changed. These medications, combined with rest, therapy, and proper self care, can help an individual through the process of recovery so that they can come out well on the other side. 

There are several types of medications used to fight addiction, including the following:

Methadone: This drug has been used since 1947 to treat addiction to opioids. Methadone works to alter the way that the nervous system responds to pain and is used to make detoxing less painful. It must be used under a physician's supervision, and if the patient is fully compliant it can eventually be prescribed for home use.

Buprenorphrine: This drug has been on the market since 2002. It was the first drug for fighting addiction that could be both prescribed and dispensed in a doctor's office. Buprenorphine acts to lower overall dependence on opioid drugs, while also avoiding cravings and symptoms of withdrawal. The drug is a partial agonist, binding to specific receptors in the brain at partial strength to cause these effects, until it reaches a specific ceiling. This means that the drug acts to lower the risk of dependency. The drug is given in a series of dosed phases, and lasts for some time, so individual patients may not need to take it daily.

Naltrexone: This medication blocks the neurotransmitters in the brain that are sensitive to opioids. This means that the user will not find drug use pleasurable, making them far less likely to relapse after they start the recovery process. The medication is non addictive, but can lower an individual's resistance to opioids which makes the risk of relapse at higher doses of opioids an issue. An injectable extended release version is available that is taken monthly, making daily dosing a thing of the past.

It has been scientifically demonstrated that MAT is one of the best methods available for treating an addiction to opioids. A holistic therapy that includes counseling, behavior therapy, and medication often helps a patient work toward long term recovery in the best way possible.