Treatments For Opioid Addiction

TREATMENTS FOR OPIOID ADDICTION

More than 90 people die each day in the US from an opioid drug overdose, or dangerous dose of a drug. As many people lose their lives to the disease of addiction, others have shown that it is possible to regain a life of sobriety, or the state of being sober. Have you ever wondered how people have overcome addiction? The battle of addiction is not a hopeless one, there are many forms of treatment and rehabilitation to help an individual overcome their problem. The two main categories of treatment for opioid addiction are behavioral treatments and medication assistance. Although there is not a "one size fits all" cure, there are endless forms of help a person can try that may be more adapted to their individual needs. 

Behavioral Treatments

Figure 1 Narcotics Anonymous

One main category of treatment for opioid addiction is behavioral treatments. Behavioral therapy assists in improving mental health of an individual and providing them with strategies to avoid relapse, or to begin use again after a period of improvement.  These treatments include rehab programs and support groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) shown in figure 1, a twelve step program. In this program people who are struggling with addiction get to meet with other people who are going through the same thing. Narcotics Anonymous holds meetings regularly for recovering addicts to attend. People in the group share about their struggles and support one another. Although it is not necessary to speak at the meetings or share your story, it is encouraged as it aides in the process of recovery. Typically followed by treatment in a rehab, NA is a form of support to help an individual stay on the path of sobriety after it has been regained. As support groups help to maintain sobriety, rehab programs helps to regain sobriety. Rehab programs are another form of behavioral treatment to end an individual's drug dependency, or to rely on). The suffering individual meets daily with counselors and therapists to improve mental health and learn strategies to avoid relapse. A person can be in a rehab program anywhere from a few days to even months. Although rehab programs are a form of behavioral treatment, they may also fall into the category of medication-assisted treatments.

Medication Assistance

The second category of treatment for opioid addiction is medication assistance. In rehab programs, along with behavorial therapy, individuals are often given medications to help treat them. Three effective medications for the treatment of opioid use disorders are:

- buprenporphine

-methadone

- extended-release naltrexone

These medications help to slowly detach a person from their dependency on opioid drugs, while minimizing effects of withdrawal, or abnormal physical and mental effects on the body after use of drug has stopped). People who experience withdrawal from opioid drugs may become very sick and can experience symptoms for many months. These treatments are temporarily used to treat an individual until their health is stable enough to be taken off of the medications. Once taken off these medications, the road of recovery is a long one. Behavioral treatments are then used to help the individual regain sobriety. As it is very hard to resist the temptation to use again, a recovering addict must constantly work to stay sober. 

Figure 2 Relapse Rates

Although it is possible to treat addiction, it is not always successful. Many people attempt to recover, but continue to relapse and even die of overdose. Overcoming opioid addiction does not have a high rate of success, with more than 1 out of every 2 people relapsing, shown in figure 2. People in recovery must constantly work to stay clean, but support from friends and family is always helpful to a struggling user.

*The best way to avoid an addiction to opioid drugs is to NEVER try them!  

References

http://www.naindiana.org/ShowArea.php?iAreaID_req=7

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/eb/40/e6/eb40e6dd614f562fe368b575742be49d.jpg

http://www.inspiremalibublog.com/drug-addiction/practical-tips-to-avoid-relapse-after-completing-opiate-detox-recover/

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1)Abuse, N. I. (n.d.). How can prescription drug addiction be treated? Retrieved November 09, 2017, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/how-can-prescription-drug-addiction-be-treated

2)Abuse, N. I. (2017, June 01). Opioid Crisis. Retrieved November 09, 2017, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-crisis