Overcome Addiction to Opiates and other Pain Medications

Addiction to pain medications or other opiates can have a devastating effect on the body. Therefore, in many cases of addiction, the first course of action is to stabilize the user and ensure survival. The role of medical stabilization and treatment is to address the biologic aspect of the brain having had exposure to opiates and provide the individual "time and space" to make psychological and social changes. Depending on the severity of the problem medical stabilization may include but not be limited to outpatient detoxification, partial agonist treatment with suboxone in addition to diagnosing and directing the treatment of other medical and psychiatric issues.

Kicking addiction to pain medications or other opiates can be extremely difficult. Opiate addiction is a "full-time job." A user craves both physically and mentally the effect of opiates at all times. Cravings make other approaches to treatment, including therapy, difficult or ineffective. The goal of medically supervised detox from opiates is to help the patient cope with the physical discomfort associated with not having opiates in their body.

Medical detox plans are created by the clinical team, one patient at a time, based on what the patient has been using, the duration of exposure, the patient's previous experiences and other medical factors. Detoxification may eliminate opiates from the body, but it doesn't restore the body's natural, healthy chemistry or help an individual change their life. To succeed, it is critical that detox be combined with psychological and social changes.

Traditional treatment of the psychological factor of addiction is behavior modification or talk therapy. But since opiate addiction is far more than a "behavior problem," treatment requires more than just therapy. Unfortunately, some opiate users may be hesitant to take part in individual therapy. Some feel that no one can understand their problem. Others go but can't overcome their urge to use or cravings. Even for those who go and benefit, since addiction is more than "behavior," treatment requires more than talk therapy.

For people who are dependent on opiates, group therapy can be effective. It can help with the realization that others share, and understand, their problem. Many people benefit from both types of therapy, individual and group, to overcome their dependence on opiates.

People who need more intensive recovery work may benefit from intensive outpatient therapy, which often includes individual, group, and family counseling, case management meetings, weekly drug screening, and 12-step or similar types of group programs.

Talk therapy, individual or group, is critical in the recovery process, but too often it fails when cravings become overwhelming. In an integrated treatment program, such as the Suboxone Treatment Program, people first receive an advanced medical treatment to help reduce their cravings and restore their natural, healthy chemistry. Then they can focus on therapy to succeed in their recovery. The Suboxone Treatment Program is provided on an outpatient basis, minimizing time away from family and work.

Many of our treatment programs include a relapse prevention program. Effective relapse prevention programs generally combine two kinds of therapy:

:: Motivation Enhancement Therapy (MET)
MET helps people identify needs and goals and build motivation to change. This therapy takes place on an individual basis.

:: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Helps people develop relapse prevention skills. This therapy can take place in group or individual sessions, or both.

Many opiate users have so many related health problems that they require ongoing medical management. Therefore, treatment of opiate dependence also includes treatment of acute and chronic injuries, diseases, and other health disorders caused directly or indirectly by addiction.