If you find that you are addicted or dependent on taking prescription drugs – or heroin – you need to immediately attend a reputable rehabilitation facility so you can get clean and learn the coping skills to get your life together.
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The most common FAQs about opioid treatment programs
If you’re new to going to an opioid treatment program and you don’t know what to expect, check out these most commonly asked questions to get an idea of what it is like walking into your first time at therapy or rehabilitation. Just because you are new, don’t worry – everyone starts somewhere! Having your concerns and question answers can help you put your mind at ease and adhere to your personalized treatment program.
What is an opioid treatment program?
The first question that everyone typically has is what is an opioid treatment program and what is it helpful? An opioid treatment program is the ability to provide a service that includes medication-assisted treatment for people who have an opioid abuse disorder. The opioid treatment program typically has to be accredited and certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration. The opioid treatment program must adhere to the laws and regulations in the particulate state and follow the rules of the DEA.
What services can opioid treatment programs offer?
There are numerous services that you can benefit from if you’re considering going to one of the many opioid treatment programs in your local area. See more about what you can get from opioid treatment programs. The main services that can help you get clean and regain your health include:
- Medication-assisted treatment medications – this type of therapy uses MAT meditations, which is medication-assisted treatment medication to help you kick your opioid addiction. Instead of just using withdrawal methods that include no medication, this type of medication binds to the opioid receptors in your brain to prevent these cells from craving drugs.
- Substance abuse counseling – the next step of going to opioid treatment programs to help with addiction is attending substance abuse counseling. This can help provide you with insight as to how to use coping skills to avoid drug use in the future, why you are using drugs now, and the danger of using substances to your mental and physical health.
- Individual and group therapy – using individual therapy is a great way to get to the root cause of the issue and find out why you are using drugs. By dealing with past trauma, you can help solve the issue and mark sure you avoid any trouble in the future. Going to group therapy can help you bond with other patients and get advice from those who have been in your shoes before.
- Toxicology testing – the next step of going to opioid treatment programs is that you can attend toxicology testing to ensure you are staying clean and holding yourself accountable during your recovery process.
What is an opioid?
Before you go to look at the best opioid treatment programs to attend, you might be wondering – what is an opioid? If your loved one is addicted to this substance you might not even know what it is. An opioid is a type of prescription drug that can be prescribed by healthcare professionals to help those who are in pain due to an accident, post-surgery complications, and other chronic illnesses. However, even though they can help with short-term symptoms due to severe pain, they can cause long-lasting dependence and long-lasting health effects. The most common types of opioids include oxycodone, morphine, fentanyl, and methadone.
Another type of opioid that is very common to be used on the streets is heroin. Although this drug is not prescribed by a healthcare professional, it can be found in numerous places around the entire world. In the United States alone, this drug can be found in almost any type of society and community, since it is very popular in the illegal drug world. The dangers of heroin are far-reaching and long-lasting, causing addictive tendencies, dependency, personality changes, and long-lasting health complications that can derail your entire life.
Heroin use can lead to many long-lasting health effects such as irritability, depression, organ failure, blood pressure problems, blood vessel constriction, and mental health decay. Heroin use leads to mental health disorders that can never be reversed, causing long-term brain damage.
What is opioid misuse?
If you’re not sure if you need to attend an opioid treatment program, then you might be wondering – what is opioid misuse, and do I qualify? Opioid misuse, or abuse, is the process of taking prescription drugs more often than you should or when it is not prescribed by your doctor. If you are taking too many per day, you are refilling your respective more than necessary, or you are relying on medication to get through the day, this is a misuse of opioids.
What is opioid dependence?
Another frequently asked question when it comes to opioid use and if you need to go to an opioid abuse treatment program is the subject of opioid dependence. If you take opioids every day, but you’re taking them according to your prescription, are you dependent on opioids? It depends.
Opioid dependence is characterized as when the withdrawal occurs if you stop taking this drug. If you find that there are no withdrawal symptoms, you’re good to go – however, if you have been overusing them and you are suffering withdrawal symptoms, this is categorized as a dependency. Opioid dependence can occur if you have been taking these drugs for an extended period, such as several months, or if you take too much in a short period. If you develop a tolerance due to taking excess opioids, this can lead to dependency and addiction to opioids.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are classic signs and symptoms of opioid abuse that you would benefit from attending an opioid treatment program. By asking questions about the length of the program, what is categorized as opioid abuse, what is categorized as a dependency, and common signs of opioid withdrawal, you can learn more about the program and if you should attend one.
