Drug and Alcohol detox and treatment centers can provide a full range of medical services for opiate dependents; these services include: managing the withdrawal symptoms, preventing relapse. With some exceptions (for example, heroin or any other illegal drug use), most types of medication assisted therapy (MAT) are currently available at drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinics across the country. A few examples of MATs that are relatively new to opiates addiction treatment programs include: Buprenorphine (Suboxone/Zubsolv); Methadone; Naltrexone Implants (Vivitrol); Contingency Management Therapy.
Treatment medication
There are a variety of medications that have been approved for the treatment of opioid dependence. MAT is a set of drug treatment approaches used to treat substance use disorders in which drugs are substituted with other forms under medical supervision. The reason behind this type of therapy is because some individuals struggling with opioid addiction don’t actually stop using heroin or prescription opioids; they merely switch to another form of opioids like: Methadone; Buprenorphine (Suboxone/Zubsolv); Naltrexone (Vivitrol).
These types of medication assisted therapies attempt to block the effects that opiates have on an individual. The more common opiate treatments include methadone and buprenorphine; antipsychotic drugs are also sometimes used to treat opiate addiction, however this is usually for short term use (for example, to help with sleep or anxiety problems). Buprenorphine (Suboxone/Zubsolv): Buprenorphine can be prescribed by a healthcare provider; it acts similarly to methadone in that it helps an individual fight their opioid addiction. It’s considered safer than other opiates like: heroin; oxycodone; morphine because there is less risk of respiratory depression (which can lead to death if too much of the drug is taken). Bupe is usually only given as a sublingual tablet or film, but some individuals have been known to snort it.
Methadone: Methadone can be prescribed by a healthcare professional and it works as a “blocker” in the brain; it is also similar to morphine because of its effects. It’s been approved for use with opiate treatment programs since 1964. People who are using Methadone typically end up taking very high doses, this increases their tolerance to the drug which may increase their risk for an overdose. Methadone detox or methadone maintenance programs can help reduce an individual’s cravings from opioid based drugs like heroin or morphine.
Opioid Withdrawal Medication
There are a few different medications that have been tested and used by healthcare providers to deal with heavy opioid addiction. For example, if an individual is addicted to heroin or prescription opioids; Suboxone or Subutex have been used in some cases. Naltrexone (Vivitrol): This type of medication has been tested on individuals who are opioid dependent but not on methadone. It’s a monthly injection that stops the effects of opiates at the cellular receptor sites in the brain and spinal cord, this makes it harder for an individual to get high from opioids. Naloxone: This medication can be administered by a healthcare provider during a suspected opiate overdose. If an individual overdoses, a nasal spray of naloxone may help treat respiratory depression problems caused by too much drug being taken into the body. This type of medication has been approved by the FDA since 1971.
Are there other ways of getting off Heroin or Opiates other than taking medication
Yes. A few alternative methods of treatment include: psychotherapy, counseling, acupuncture and acupressure and there has also been some success with holistic methods of treatment. Psychotherapy is a type of treatment that deals with an individual’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors. There are many different types of psychotherapies that can be used to treat substance abuse problems, including: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), contingency management and Motivational Enhancement Therapy. Psychotherapy can be done with less intensity and focus on one area of an individual’s life; it is also more sustainable than other opioid treatments because it’s cheaper and more private.
Counseling is another form of treatment that can be used to help an individual stop their heroin or opioid addiction; it offers a more individualized approach that focuses on the person’s thoughts and feeling towards opioids. It can also help individuals deal with other health issues like: pain, anxiety and depression. Acupuncture and acupressure is a type of alternative treatment that has been used to help individuals stop their opioid addiction, it has been known to relieve withdrawal symptoms and has increased an individual’s tolerance to the drug. Holistic methods of treatment have been used to deal with opioid addiction problems for many years. In some cases, these methods have been found to be more effective than other treatments.
A few holistic methods of treatment include: yoga, meditation, qigong and acupuncture. In conclusion, there are certain types of medication assisted therapies (MATs) such as: methadone; buprenorphine; and naltrexone (Vivitrol). These MATs help an individual fight their opioid addiction by either blocking the effects that opiates have on an individual or decreasing their craving for opioids. If you are struggling with addiction, our counselors are available 24 hours a day. Call 833-364-0736!