Addiction Help

Figure 1: Crippled by opioids

There is no question that you have heard a story about someone near you overdosing on opioids. It is a topic that news stations can't seem to stop covering! There are many people all over the world addicted to opioids and unfortunately, it is not uncommon for you to know someone that is addicted. Addiction is when a drug or alcohol user becomes dependent on the substance they are abusing. This means that the user has trouble stopping the harmful practices. Not only is this drug use harmful, but it is crippling as well (Figure 1).  Unfortunately, it is such a common problem that you may even know and love someone suffering from opioid addiction, and you need to help them before they end up in need of hospitalization or even a lawyer!

Rehabilitation:

People who are addicted to opioids can be helped through a rehab program. A program like this involves the addict moving to a treatment facility far from home for about a month. How would you feel having to live far from your family all on your own? While at the facility, miles from their family and friends, addicts will begin by being detoxed. Detox simply means that the addict will be watched carefully while the leftover drugs leave their body (1). This portion of the treatment is hardest for the individual because they go through what is called withdrawal (1). People's bodies who suffer withdrawal have trouble functioning without opioids and become extremely sick (1). This process is incredibly painful which is why patients are carefully watched. After detox, a patient is placed in therapy. During therapy, people spend lots of their time speaking with other addicts and counselors to help get to the root of the problem and determine what causes the patient to use opioids (1). At the end of the stay at the treatment facility, people are moved to aftercare. Aftercare essentially helps recovering addicts live on their own and support themselves without harmful drugs (1). Many people are also placed in groups with a similar structure to the ones they were in during rehabilitation (1). Some people believe that addicts are truly helped through rehabilitation, but experts find medication to be the true fix.

Figure 2: Cartoon depicting how a user may
feel when using opioids.

Medication:

Another way to help someone addicted to opioids is to prescribe them more opioids! It is not as bad as it sounds, trust me. Many experts believe that a medication based treatment is best (2). All you have to do in order to help an addicted individual is convince them to let their doctor know that they have a problem. Once a person does this, a doctor will give them a prescription for medications that serve a very important purpose in the addict's life (2). When the addict takes these medications, the symptoms of their withdrawals will virtually disappear (2). Although it does not entirely stop the addiction, this is currently the best way for someone to manage their addiction and withdrawal.

It is very important to help get addicts the help that they need because the number of deaths due to overdose is rising, and you can help! Just remember, that these people don't want to be addicted to these drugs, they just can't bring themselves to stop! They just need help, and you need to be the person to offer (Figure 2)! There is a debate on which treatment method works best, whether it be through rehabilitation or medication, it is important to vigilant and caring for people addicted to opioids. Often times they feel that nobody understands them, and you need to be there for them despite the choices they have made. You can be the change our country needs, and help start the process of addiction help! 


References: 

Pill Bottle Drawing [Photograph] (n.d.) Retrieved from http://makepthappen.com/blog/source-causes-of-opioid-abuse-link-between-chronic-pain-opioid-dependancy-addiction

Call of help cartoon [Photograph] (2017) Retrieved from http://registerguard.com/rg/opinion/35870721-78/fighting-the-opioid-epidemic.html.csp

(1) Miller, L. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions about addiction rehab. Retrieved November 24, 2017, from https://www.rehabs.com/about/frequently-asked-questions-about-addiction-rehabilitation/

(2) Bart G. Maintenance Medication for Opiate Addiction: The Foundation of Recovery. Journal of addictive diseases. 2012;31(3):207-225. doi:10.1080/10550887.2012.694598.

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